Tag Archives: United States Naval Reserve

Brand of Perfume (Roscoe)

: August 29, 1943 envelope

: August 29, 1943, p. 1

: August 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 29, 1943
Lt. R.S.Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

Now I can start writing because I have finished reading your letters or rather rereading. Those of Aug. 3, 8 & 9, 11 Aug. 13 came as well as three v-mails of Aug. 7, 12 & 14. And John’s letter with Mark’s of Apr. The v-mails did not arrive until this morn. The P.O. always separates them last. You can see how each travels so I’d suggest you keep writing just like you have been in about the same ratio I mean. There is one thing you can’t put in a v-mail that was in two or three of the others. What brand of perfume are you using now? I said steak smell but you explained why that could not be done so I understand. That perfume did bring back some of civilization because it wa is something very much omitted at a place like this. So Thanks.

Shall I repeat, after you again told me, how good looking D. is that he must and does take after his mother – I know. I can see by his pictures that he is a good looker and also that he is growing. The last pictures I have had are those taken just before his accident and I believe that is the last you sent.

In one of your letters you gave a short financial report but In a letter I received earlier you had given me a more detailed report but

[page 2] I don’t mind the letters coming later because there is always something that wasn’t in the others. I’m surprised that your mother hadn’t been taking Vitamin B shots long ago as well as liver. I do believe they will help her lots. She I believe is doing as well as can be expect and as I told you before her recovery will be slow. I hope she didn’t take offense at the suggestion I made that she had been drinking too much bad beer. She knew of course I knew that wasn’t the cause.

I like the coy way in which you informed me of the coming blackout and you may rest assured I didn’t tell anyone. They all got a big kick out of that part of your letter. I’m not one of the birds who says “listen to this” and then expects you to sit and listen to his wife’s letter but occasionally I do read or tell some of the things.

I’m glad the boys were able to get a short vacation and I’d like very much for you to be able to do the same and maybe you will if plans work as you stated about Juanita. I think a little relaxation would be a great help to you. And something else you wrote – “I will keep from eating tomatoes if I can” my my and in a later letter you again wrote that you had eaten them again. They are good, aren’t they? How would I know because it’s been well over a year since I’ve tasted anything like that.

I do hope you are getting along with the allergy and also keeping your health in general –
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/10/brand-of-perfume-roscoe/

No Hedy Lamarrs (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 28, 1943 envelope

: August 28, 1943, p. 1

: August 28, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 28, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.

Dear Mother,

I wish I knew what I would have in this letter because just now I have no idea what to write – paron me I believe I’ve said that before. So far the word or letter “I” has appeared 6 times so you can see my ego is still present. So far fives lines have been used and nothing said.

The show last night was rather a comparison of our own conditions – “White Cargo.” Of course there was are no Heddy Lamar’s at this place so the comparison is not complete. It really is a scream to hear these enlisted men and some officers react to characters and places. A jungle scene or a tropical setting brings loud boos while an actress or a thick steak sends cheers indescribable. Even a picture of a street in Chicago, New York or San Francisco brings loud cheering. It really is a wonderful place to study character in its unadulterated form, and since one has plenty of time for study it is an escape mechanism for me to entertain myself. That whole thing sounds like I’m a psychologist or something but a train of thought will often times make hours pass as minutes and if I

[page 2] were clever and verbose I could write some of those thoughts to you but when I try to put them into words the whole thought system crumbles just as if termites or damp rot had taken the upper hand. Termites of course you have heard lots about – but damp rot is something else. The term itself is self explanatory but living back in Indiana it isn’t a reality as it is here – just a few common examples – tin if not properly painted rusts very rapidly – screen for screen doors will last only a few months. Wood unless it is hard wood seems to soften and crumble – The whole process seems as if nature is rapidly destroying so that she can rebuild and exploit her achievements, but only for a short time because it isn’t long until those flowers, coconut frauns [fronds] etc. began to die and there goes the dam[ rot again. It’s only the huge banyan trees of the jungles that are able [to] break or slow that round robin down, but again maybe nature is just using another way to show her ego when one of those trees is started.

Well, I’m sure no I in the beginning of this letter I had no idea these words would form themselves into such nonsensical arrangements. So I’ll try to finish this with a little more intelligence and the best way that I can express this is by saying

Lots of Love
Daddy

Hedy Lamarr, 1938

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/08/no-hedy-lamarrs-roscoe/

Things about the same (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: December 12, 1942 Envelope

: December 12, 1942, p. 1

: December 12, 1942, p. 2

: December 12, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Dec. 12, 1942

Dear Mother,

Sat. P.M. and things about the same as usual. Same old hot etc. This is about the middle of the P.M. and nothing much to do for some time. Last night show was The Aldrich Family – pretty good show but like the radio – don’t think I’d like it too often. There probably won’t be a show tonight due to a combination smoker and boxing show between army and navy. I’d rather have a movie rather than the smoker but I guess it isn’t what I’d rather have. Anyway I don’t have to go unless I want to so I’ll suit myself.

I have a comic book to read – read one yesterday P.M. and saved this one until today. It’s mighty heavy work but I guess I can take it. Hope it’s not the same as the one you said you were sending or I thought you said you were sending. Some of the surprise will be taken out of the

[page 2] Christmas package if it’s the same. There has been no mail again today but we hear that there is plenty around but being around doesn’t help much.

Wrote to the Walkups last night and I don’t owe anyone any letters at present. In fact I’ve gotten so few since Dec. 1 that is isn’t hard to answer what few that have arrived. Maybe more will come thru the latter part of Dec. We still have the 5:00 P.M. delivery today and that may bring something.

One of the boys just came in with a loaf of French bread. Those long hard crusty loaves. I think the crust OK but the inside isn’t so hot. In fact, I’ve almost stopped eating bread. Probably haven’t eaten over ½ dz slices since arriving on the Island. Even on the boat coming over I didn’t like bread – because it was baked in U.S.A. Then frozen and served

[page 3] that way and the whole thing tasted much like ice box food. That was true of all the food we had. We have lamb 2-3 times per week and that is pretty hard to get down but it’s fresh meat. Some just won’t eat it but I at least eat some.

This whole letter up to now is a mess but that’s more or less the way I feel right now. You know those days come now and then and then things get better etc.

There was a ball game this P.M. but I had to take a bath etc – it being Sat. Doesn’t take that long for a bath but it is pretty far to walk and return in one afternoon –

I’ll finish later & we did have a show – don’t remember what the name was but something about a Saint. No P.M. mail

Love Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/24/things-about-the-same-roscoe/

Christmas Greetings (Gladys)

1 Reply

: Christmas Card, p. 1

: Christmas Card, p. 2

: Christmas Card, p. 3

: Christmas Card envelope

Letter transcription:

Dear Daddy – I just finished writing a letter, but since it is uncertain as to when you will get this, and wanting you to have it by Christmas thought I would send it now. It is very simple and not in the least pretentious but I thought the verse would convey my feeling about Christmas. We go from one Christmas to another and build our own little traditions around it perhaps without fully realizing how important those traditions have become to us. It is unnecessary to say how much we will miss you this year, and our Christmas Eve guests, the trip to C.C. [Clay City]

[page 2] but we must have Christmas tho not as usual, and hope the next one will be different than this. So as the little verse says, we will honor Christmas in our hearts and our thoughts will be with you and hope you will enjoy your festivities there, because I am sure you will make special observance of the day. I am not gifted in putting my inner thoughts on paper but hope I have conveyed my feeling to you for this special occasion. I feel more words are unnecessary

With All My Love
Mother

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/08/christmas-greetings-gladys/

A case of cold beer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Destry Rides Again is a movie staring Jimmie Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. The movie has a rather infamous fight scene between Marlene Dietrich and Una Merkel and Jimmie Stewart. Although I have never seen the movie, here’s a clip of the big fight from the movie.

: November 27, 1942 Envelope

: November 27, 1942, p. 1

: November 27, 1942, p. 2

: November 27, 1942, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Nov. 27, 1942

Dear Mother,

The dates on my letters are a little confusing since I write in the P.M. The letter goes thru the censorship routine the next morning and to the P.O. about noon then to the main P.O. in the P.M. and then leave the next day so you see a letter is about 3 days off old before it really leaves the island but I guess that doesn’t make much difference in the long run because of the length of time it takes them to get there. I never seal the envelope until it is ready for censorship so if anything important comes up I can add it and that takes off one day. There is no point to the above whatever only just telling you the procedure.

I’ve been very lazy in the letter writing business the past few days. It seemed that when I wanted to write there was something else that had to be done and when I had time I wasn’t in the mood. The nightly shows cut into my writing schedule but they are pretty good past time. Last night’s show was a little odd. I guess. The name “Destry Rides Again.” Don’t know what the one is tonite we always have pretty good house even if the title isn’t

[page 2] known ahead. Most everyone goes even if they have seen it before. And many persons who go to the movies often have seen them, but as for me they will have to hunt pretty hard if they find one I have seen, as you are well aware.

Our living quarters are pretty good now. We – Three of us – have a space 12 feet by 16 feet. Have Iron bunks with springs. And electric lights. I’ve told you that before but I’m so pleased. We were up last night until 11:00 P.M. We seem to be in a part of the outfit where lights out don’t affect. So we can read write etc. And too the mosquitoes aren’t so bad but we still use our nets at night because the little bugs slip in some way.

Today outside the heat is very oppressive and the sun really burns. Inside the hut it is rather comfortable and there is a slight breeze, but standing perfectly still in the sun is almost unbearable.

So far today I received a copy of the Newton County Enterprise dated Oct. 22 and two V-mail letters one from you and one from John – Yours was dated Nov. 5 and John’s Nov. 3. That’s two V-mails from John and none from Mark. The one I got from John on Nov. 1 sounded more like Mark but it had John’s name.

I haven’t written Bart yet about the paper

[page 3] but I intend to in the very near future and I also intend to write Boonie again. I got his letter 3 days ago but wasn’t in the mood to write and have been a little busy what with moving etc.

Was interrupted for a time – Have just been to the P.O. but no mail or packages. I brought two packages for another Dr. but none for myself. Guess mine will be along sooner or later. It is now 1700 and still the sun is very hot. It’s supposed to be the dead of summer or very near it and by 1915 it is dark enough to start the movies so that proves the period of twilight is shorter here than there because it still very light there at 1915 in the Eve. As I remember it.

Just got a case of cold beer and is it good. Most of the time it is warm but once in a while we are able to get a cold one. Our beer supply is running low and I’ll be sorta glad because it put on too much weight.

Well, I’ll save the rest of the space until morning. It isn’t morning yet but the show was short. The name “Gold Rush Mazie”. It was about as good as it sounds. I’ll add more in the morning.