Tag Archives: United States Naval Reserve

Best Tennis Player (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 20, 1943

Dear Mother,

Three air mail letters and three v-mails today. Your latest v-mail was Dec. 7. Mark’s v-mail came along but none from John and I believe you said both were mailed the same day. I’ll have to re read your letters again in order to answer your questions or comment on what you wrote. The latest of the lot was Dec. 7.

I still feel like the very Dickins because you were getting no mail and the reason was the leave I was taking. You stated that the last letter was Dec.[sic] 19 and that was the day I left. Of course by now the regular schedule is again going but the suspense of those 10 days.

I overheard some people talking this eve. about the best tennis player weighing around one hundred

[page 2] and I immediately spoke up and said I could go one better. Quote “The best woman in the word only weighed about that much” and when asked who – my answer “my wife.” I may not have my quotation marks in the right place but I hope you understand what I mean.

I hope the checks I sent will help out with the finances because as I read from your letters I assumed that you were very low. Maybe with the little added amount I sent during this month you can again get on top and keep the big bad wolf from the door.

Between now and tomorrow’s letter I will re read the letters

[page 3] received today and see if I can write a more sensible letter using yours as a background.

It seems it’s hard for me to get started writing your letters early in the day and I always have to hurry so I won’t get to be too late for bed and I must get my eight hours every night.

Well, I’ll promise to write a better letter next time.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/20/best-tennis-player-roscoe/

Danville (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 19, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just finished writing to the folks. Sometimes I almost forget to write them their regular Sunday letter until too late but somehow I got started at this letter writing early today. In fact it is only 1445 and their letter all completed. I have so many other letters to write that it seems a hopeless task so I just keep putting it off longer and longer. I don’t mind yours in the least – (anyway I’d better say that) because it’s a visit and if there isn’t much news or stuff you won’t be disappointed.

Yesterday I ran into a fellow from Danville, Ind., and his brother

[page 2] works for Jim Alley. He was telling me how cute their kids are – I didn’t ask him what he thought of Mrs. Alley. It had been a long time since I’d even thought of Jim but when he mentioned Danville it just occurred to me that Jim did go in business there. He said he would write his brother and have him tell Jim he had seen me. That is two boys from Indiana now that I’ve contacted lately.

There is some sort of a movie here tonite but I don’t remember the name – good or bad I suppose I’ll go in order to pass the time.

[page 3] There are always news reels on Sunday eve but they are generally weeks old. Even at that they are somewhat interesting.

A few hours later – The show is over and a round table discussion following the show is likewise complete. Just a few in the officer’s ward room – a bull session. The discussion was a general affair – medicine, war, diplomatic procedures and maybe a little smut mixed in here and there.

Tomorrow is Ruth M.’s birthday. I wrote her a birthday letter some time ago – hope she receives it by tomorrow.

It’s my bed time now so
Lots of Love
Daddy

[Editor’s note: Jim Alley was a high school classmate of Roscoe’s. They graduated from Clay City High School in 1922. Jim became a pharmacist, attending the Indianapolis College of Pharmacy.]

Alley, James - Indianapolis School of Pharmacy, 1924

Indianapolis College of Pharmacy yearbook, 1924 (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Clay City HS - Class of 1922 (Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney)

Clay City HS – Class of 1922 (Photograph from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/18/danville-roscoe/

A Weekend on Tulagi (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
12-18-43

Dear Mother,

Just one week from Christmas and all my shopping done. You of course know that is a laugh.

Three letters today – one from you dated late in Oct., one from the folks about the same time and a greeting card letter from the Walkups with a family group picture.

In your letter you told of D. getting a kick out of playing in the kitchen with the pots & pans and in Mother’s letter she told of the same thing while you were down there – so he must be rather a pot & pan man.

Undated Christmas telegram from 1942 or 1943

Undated Christmas telegram, likely the one sent in 1943

I sent you and the folks a cable today – hope they get there around Christmas time but I may have waited a little

[page 2] too long because I suppose everyone will have the same idea.

It’s a little amusing to see the influence of the North in the local Christmas decorations. The windows in some of the our buildings have been decorated with candles and snow. The candles are of course universal but the snow seems out of place. It’s just a carry over or a carry down under. Then of course there are some colored bells, stars, etc. I think the wards are probably competing with each other for honors or prizes. The prize probably to be are a snow ball or some such valuable object.

Our show here last night was “The Great Dictator” – remember when we saw that – seems like years ago. The shows here are

[page 3] much behind those we used to see. I didn’t go to see this one last night first because I was on duty – a good reason and of course I had seen it before so wouldn’t have gone secondly.

I’ve wondered lots about Foulkes’ brother-in-law. As to where he was etc. I think I’ve seen most of the places around these parts but could easily have missed him because some of my stops were only short. Just a visit one might say. I spend one weekend on Tulagi and it was a most enjoyable one because it was so different. Maybe it was because the officer I was visiting had beer and I hadn’t had any for a considerable length of time, and it was cold, too. I

[page 4] mean the beer was cold.

A pause of a few hours. In fact evening chow has come & gone. We had steak – good thick and French fried potatoes. The steaks were really good but not rate enough for me but don’t misunderstand I’m not complaining. There was ice cream also but I very seldom eat that anymore. There was a lettuce salad in the beginning and that is still good after being off of that kind of food for so long.

Well, I’ve really run down so solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

 

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/16/a-weekend-on-tulagi-roscoe/

My Belongings (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just two bits of mail today. One a letter from Joe Roberts – Written Sept. 5 and mailed Oct. 4 and another a card from the Li Reader’s Digest informing me that the Digest was being sent me by the Rotary Club and the Jr. Women’s Club. It went to the old place also and likewise all the issues will go there until I can get the word to them. It’s been so long since I’ve heard from Joe that I wonder if he is still where he was when he wrote the letter. You have never mentioned him having a change so I suppose he is still there.

When I came here I came by air and naturally couldn’t bring all my gear along and I’ve been worried all this time that it never would catch up but it finally did and now I’m unpacking again. This is the first time in almost a year that me and my belongings have been together. I had to watch my clothes pretty close in order to have enough left between laundry days, and another thing like a dummy I put all of my pictures

[page 2] in the goods I left behind but and now that I have them all together there is a pretty good sized pile of them.

My room is more filled up now than before but when I get things all stored I’ll have plenty of room. There are 8 drawers in this dresser and everyone is pretty well filled up only not neat. Just wadded and I believe I can improve if I try.

Now that I have all the pictures and a fine wall I think I’ll put D.’s pictures up in an orderly fashion as per each month to get a comparison of how he has grown.

I had late duty tonite and it is now getting near 12 midnight so
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/14/my-belongings-roscoe/ ‎

Downhill Stretch (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133 F.P.O. San Fran C.
Dec. 16, 1943

Dear Mother,

There was no mail today but we just can’t expect mail every day and really it has been coming in pretty good lately. Rather I’d say pretty regular.

Today for the most part was rather warm but just now as I came into the room I turned on the radiator because it seemed just a little too chilly without some added heat. Maybe it’s because the wind blows rather fiercely at times. Not like the good old prairie wind at home but it’s still rather chilly if one isn’t in the sun.

This being the 16th of Dec. we

[page 2] are now on the down hill stetch of this month. Seems as if time is passing rather rapidly but not as rapidly as at the last place. The time spent there seems to have passed and it’s very hard to really think back and recall what actually did happen. Maybe I don’t want to think of it but after all it wasn’t so bad.

The stores in town are not as elaborately decorated as back there for Christmas, but maybe ours are not so good this year. I was in town only a short time and perhaps I missed the best. This being summer people take more vacation around Christmas than they do at home and that might account for less fixing up of stores, homes, etc.

The check I wrote you about was in the letter of Dec. 15. I’ll repeat that again a time or two so don’t think I’m the broken record.

Just happened to think I never did reply or let you know that I had received your letter telling me that Dolores was married. More power to them if that’s the way they feel about the whole thing. I suppose she is continuing on with her work.

This may be a little late but a Merry Christmas to you and the boys and
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/11/downhill-stretch-roscoe/

Keeps the Wolf Away (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your V-mail of Nov. 4 came today and it made me feel rather badly again because you were in that period where no mail was coming to you due to the ten days when I was away. By now the letters should be coming to you regular again I hope.

No need to mention the check I’m sending because you will find it. Hope it keeps the wolf away from the door until I can get more saved. Use it where ever or for what ever you need and I’m sure you’ll need it

[page 2] or can use it in lots of places. I’ll be anxious to get the detailed financial statement you mentioned. You did in this letter mention the bonds you bought and the Insurance you paid off during the year. I have a pretty hard time trying to remember what Insurance comes due, how much and when but I guess you remember and with the notices coming in I’m sure you can’t forget.

I’m surprised that you compared D. to all men shoppers – Said he was got too anxious to be on the move – you know very well I always liked to go shopping and took all the time in the world. Or did I?

[page 3] It have been a little chilly around here today. From your letter it sounded as if it might be as cold here as there. Last night I had the radiator turned on full blast and it didn’t feel too bad, but tonite the wind is in the other direction so didn’t have to have the extra heat.

You mentioned something about the Christmas tree – Well we are beginning to see a few decorations around here and there. I noticed some decorated bells in one of the wards today. I suppose there will be  more in the next few day. Makes Christmas seem a little more real – if that is possible out here – good night

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/09/keeps-the-wolf-away-roscoe/

U.S.S. LST 487 (Dr. Williams)

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Letter transcription:

F.M. Williams, Lt., MC, USNR
U.S.S. LST 487
F.P.O. San Francisco, Calif.
December 14, 1943

Dear Roscoe,

I know you don’t care a lot for the V-Mail, but is seems to be the nearest things at hand for the moment, so here goes. What goes into this damn letter won’t make much sense, because I’m not doing enough interesting things these days to tell about.

After leaving the place where I saw you last, we tossed about for several days on a turbulent portion of this “peaceful” Pacific and finally came to roost again several days ago. We have had our share of weather, with high winds, torrential rains, and the eternal heat, so one might say that the situation had been fine for windjammers, ducks, and the natives.

I heard from Ray Tharp several days ago, and he gave me quite a bit of scuttlebutt, most of which tied in with some of the bull you gave me. He said that it had been fairly well established now that the tour of duty would be about eighteen months for us, and the news had come from the right source. Mattox had told him that most of the Cub 13 boys had either gone back or were on the way, but that must apply mostly to the line officers. Anyway, I’m ready for the orders, because I am sure that the medical activity on this ship has reached a new low, and I expect to go nuts any day if I don’t get something to do pretty soon.

Today a letter came from Pop that he had mailed from Quantico soon after he arrived at that destination. He had addressed the thing to the LST 488, so the letter went all over the Western and Eastern hemispheres, I think, before coming in the right direction. He said that his wife had the Xray findings of the tuberculosis, but did not have a cough or positive sputum; therefore, adequate rest and care will probably take care of the situation in time. She had been to a sanatarium, but her mental attitude wasn’t so hot after the younger boy left home, so Pop brought her home and the results so far have been very favorable, with the weight gaining O.K., etc. He gets to come home for two days a month to see her, and that won’t be such a bad deal. In case you would like to write him, his address is Post Dispensary, Quantico, Virginia.

The other day three of us were standing on the deck, watching the gunnery practice. One of the anti-aircraft guns was aimed too low, and the shell hit and split a steel railing a few feet away. Some of the hot stuff went down the front of the shorts of the guy on my left, the fellow on my right got a crease across one thumb nail, and I got the hell out of there in a hurry. Hope those trigger happy boys have as good luck on the Zeros and the Mitsubishis as they did in wrecking that railing.

I guess our time to see the big show will come up one of these days, so maybe they’ll make a Christian out of me yet in this damn war. I’ll probably not get to see you anymore in this area, but hope we can get together back in the States for a pow-wow and a comparison of notes. Take care of yourself, mate, and don’t forget to write me a line and tell me the latest from that haven of the South Pacific. Hope this finds you in the best of health; guess we could both feel a bit better if the snow were flying, but a good blizzard out here would be about as rare as a cuss word at a Ladies’ Aid Meeting.

Fraternally,

[unsigned]

LST-487

USS LST-487 (Image from Wikipedia in the public domain)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/07/u-s-s-lst-487-dr-williams/

Local Entertainment (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

It’s a little late again this time. Seems as if I didn’t have time to write during the day and then there was a stage show of native talent and naturally I wanted to go to that. It’s a regular Tue. night program and of course it’s must different than the usual movies we see. I can’t say that I’d pay much to see such back home but it is different and a few of us go just to see what will

[page 2] happen and how it will happen. Possibly the how is as much the entertainment as the what. The thing lasted about 2 hours and everyone was more or less show happy when the last act was presented. They do have some kids that are good dancers and singers but it seems to me they try to over develop 8-10 year olds’ voices. Many of the 16-18 year old actors they have, try to over act, but who am I to be critical of singing and acting?

Tomorrow is Coca Cola day. We get can get a case. It costs us 3/6  I think, and that is very reasonable but we have to

[page 3] furnish the bottles and the case in the beginning, and that is a little more. The 3/6 is about 58 cents I think and the 3/6 is read or means 3 shilling & six pence. A shilling is a bob and a six pence is a sprat. Just like we would say a Jitney and a buck. They have lots of sayings which to us might be a little funny or even a little smutty and that can also be turned around. The word bloody is never used in mixed society. I mean nice society and if someone remarks that they were screwed yesterday – That means they drew their salary yesterday. Imagine

[page 4] what a funny situation that might create back in the U.S.A.

Tomorrow is payday and I’ll be sending you a check. I really don’t know how much is due. However, I won’t get it sent until the 16th so you can be looking for that letter. I just hope it gets to you by the first of the year because I know we always had lots of insurance, etc., coming due around about then.

Well, Dear starting this letter with no thought in mind as to what I would write – I think I did pretty good to fill up this much space so before it’s all gone let me write – “Lots of Love” from

Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/06/local-entertainment-roscoe/ ‎

Lt. Palmer’s Flowers (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 18, 1943

Dear Mother,

Yours of Nov. 4 (v-mail) came today. That really wasn’t so bad. In it you wrote of my Oct. 30 letter arriving in 5 days, and I also noted that you now have my corrected address. The telegram you sent when your Mother passed away also arrived today. So you see letters are much faster.

In this letter you mentioned the flowers Lt. Palmer sent but didn’t say what day they arrived. You had written that in a previous letter. I sure hope it hit your birthday as we intended. I sure wish I could get something like that to you for Christmas but I’m afraid there won’t even be flowers this year because we didn’t have the same service as last year.

I know you are disappointed in the letter from here now. I mean the length of time especially after those few came thru so fast. I’m writing just as often however.

The relief you eng experienced by you, which you wrote of in today’s letter, was mutual I can assure you.

I moved today into another room. There was a better

[page 2] one (I thought) vacated and so I moved in. It was just down the hall so there wasn’t much involved. You might put that in the class of furniture moving of which I wrote about a few days ago. This one gives me a better southern, northern, eastern, or western I’m not sure which anyway I can see more – Most of what I can see is mountains so in the new room I can see more mountains. That is very intelligent writing I’ll even admit myself.

More about Lt. Palmer – He is a-1 – was married a year or two ago – was very sick for ten days and I nursed him as a fellow tent mate and of course learned to know him very well. I was certain he would send you anything I asked. In fact he didn’t want to take any money said he would buy the flowers himself but I wouldn’t give him your address until he took the money. He is not a Doctor but his Dad is, so he knows a lot about the ins and outs of the medical profession.

Dear – please don’t worry if my mail is slow – It’s just one of those things that can’t be helped and it will be OK but one gets anxious waiting for letters. I know!

Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/06/20/lt-palmers-flowers-roscoe/

Football Season (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
Nov. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your V-mail of Oct. 19, came today. It was a little old but I read it just the same. When an old letter does come it doesn’t have the kick that a late one has but they are appreciated just the same. There are a few from Oct. 10 to Oct. 20 still missing but no doubt they will be dropping in sooner or later. Also got a letter from Lentz. I had a chance to see him not long ago and he dropped me a line just to let me know how he was making out at the present time. He never did work very hard and from what I gather from his letter he is still the same.

It’s hard to realize that its football season is here or I should say almost gone. I imagine Jim got as much kick out of the football game and the hot dogs as the boys did. Mark of course would get the biggest kick of all. So Jim’s appetite hasn’t slowed down? He should try Spam, etc., for some time. If he still goes good after that he really is something. I ate so little for so long that a big meal now makes me feel all stuffed up so I just don’t eat so much but I think I’ve gained back a

[page 2] little but I didn’t take off much to start with. Just a day or two ago I weighed exactly what I did when I joined the Navy so I’m not doing so badly but I had last year about this time, gained about 15 pounds.

My regular schedule of writing to you may be broken again in a day or two but the address will be the same so think nothing of it if the letters are slow in coming to you. I’ll write as often as possible.

Another Dr. & I took a long walk this p.m. just to see the countryside and it really is beautiful. It seems to me the green of the growing vegetation here is much more vivid than at home. Maybe there is more of it. I mean less cultivated spaces and the land is more hilly or I should say mountainous and possibly the point of view is what brings out the various shades. I wish I could describe things more minutely but that isn’t possible so it’s only general descriptive terms and those don’t help in painting a word picture.

It’s bed time and good nite time so
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/06/18/football-season-roscoe/