Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 17, 1944
Dear Mother,
Nothing new to report this A.M. All we are doing now is just waiting and stewing. Jim & I. I mean. We went to see Red Skelton last night and had a beer or two. The food here is terrific. For breakfast I had a serving of Dry cereal and a cup of coffee 35₵. The way we eat you’d think we are on a diet, but it won’t be for long I hope. Today we are going to get around & see if we can get reservations for some sort of transportation but we are behind the eight ball because we don’t know when or whether it will be under orders, etc. We hope it will be under orders so that the price of the ticket won’t be on us but we just have to wait, but and maybe we can do but it is hard after 19 mo. to be this near and then just have to wait.
March 17, 1944, p. 2
[page 2] Jim is writing to Detroit and since his name is Delaney he probably is filling the whole thing with that good old Irish stuff (Mar. 17).
Well, Jim is through so we will be getting along
Love Daddy
Hotel Bellevue
Geary at Taylor
San Francisco
Mar. 16, 1944
Dear Mother,
Thur. P.M. and everything seems to have gone very well – we have applied for leave and requested duty in the 9th Naval district and now we have to wait for word to come from Washington – we were told it would take 5 day at least. Under those circumstance all we can do is keep cool and be as contented as possible which is hard to do. I’ll try to let you know by phone, etc., as I told you in the letter last night when and where.
The Red Cross picked us up at the pier and arranged for rooms and again provided us with means for getting our gear to the hotel. My gear is really a mess. The clothes are the same as when I left the states so you can imagine the condition they are now in and besides part of my ward
March 16, 1944, p. 2
[page 2] clothes had to be left in the laundry at the last station because I had only 2 hours to start from scratch and be underway but Ed promised to send them on to me. I had only three white shirts along. One is in the laundry, another is black instead of white and the one I’m wearing now was washed in the bathroom on ship, hung on a coat hanger and worn without blessing of an iron so you can imagine what I look like but somehow I care very little about those things.
I hardly think it will be necessary for you to write because your letter would hardly be here before I left I hope. I mean I hope I can get underway by that time.
FOURTH ENDORSEMENT USAT “WILLARD A. HOLBROOK”
Fort Mason,
San Francisco
California
1 March 1944
From: The Transport Commander
To: Lieutenant Roscoe S. YEGERLEHNER, MC-V (S), USNR
Subject: ORDERS
There are no known surviving documents describing Roscoe’s return trip to the United States at this time. Since the trip originated in Auckland and concluded at Fort Mason, San Francisco, Roscoe crossed the equator and the international date line. One item which survived the journey was Roscoe’s membership card from the Domain of the Neptunus Rex. Roscoe described this ceremony in detail on his journey across the Pacific in 1942. While the card is undated, it bears the name of the ship USAT “WILLARD A. HOLBROOK.”
THIRD ENDORSEMENT U.S. NAVAL OPERATING BASE,
P16-4/00 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
28 February 1944
From: The Commanding Officer.
To: Lieutenant Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, MC-V (S), USNR.
Subject: Orders
Reported 27 February 1944
On or about 1 March 1944 , you will report to the Commanding Officer of the vessel or plane verbally designated for further transportation in accordance with your basic orders.
Lt. R.S. YEGERLEHNER (MC) USN
RECEIVING BARRICKS
NAVY 132
℅ F.P.O. SAN FRANCISCO CALIF.
2-27-44
Dear Mother,
Just a line to let you know all is progressing satisfactory. Hope you received the cable a few days ago.
I think I wouldn’t write anymore until I send you an address because this one might cause my mail to be delayed.
You will be hearing from me as soon as I can get word to you
Love Daddy
[Editor’s note: This is Roscoe’s last letter on foreign soil. He did not write any further letters until he arrived in the United States two and a half weeks later.]
Roscoe received his orders to return to the United States on February 26, 1944. The journey would take a few weeks. Before he left Wellington, he presumably sent a cable home to Indiana as he makes reference to one in a v-mail written on February 27th. The cable has not currently been located, if it still exists. The first stop on the way home was to the north, in Auckland, New Zealand.
LT R.S. YEGERLEHNER (MC) USNR
NAVY 133 BASE HOSP #4
F.P.O. SAN FRANCISCO CALIF
2-25-44
MRS R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA USA
Dear Mother,
This is V-mail number one conforming with the wishes of the postal department. It seems to be a good idea if everyone will oblige. I’m just as anxious to receive your v-mail or air mail but I do hate writing them. Possibly after I’ve written a few it won’t be so bad. Your v-mail dated 2-11 came today and it really was a treat to be informed of snow and snow drifts, but I do hope it won’t keep up too long.
I’m looking forward to the picture Bart put in the paper for it must be a wow. I’ve seen the pictures he has printed of the Beagley boys and the Rowe boy and I can’t say so much for the artistic work of the Newton Co. E.
Maybe tomorrow I can write another air mail so solong
Love Daddy
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 24, 1944
Dear Mother,
I’m writing a little early today and hoping that mail will arrive later, and writing of mail there is a notice out that we may be restricted to two letters per week. That is air mail letters and we are also encour informed to tell people at home to write more v-mail. So if you begin to get v-mail from me you will know the reason and possibly it would be a good idea if you used a few more. My excuse for not writing v-mail is very good. I don’t have any forms and cannot remember to get any when I’m around where they have them but if I
February 24, 1944, p. 2
[page 2] have to I guess I can make an extra trip.
One of the fellows today was chewing the fat and went into great detail in telling me how lucky I was to be here where it is nice and warm rather than back in Ind. where the winds are cold, probably slush on the ground and flu all around. My only reaction to that was Bull Dickey and I still think I’m right. Of course I’ll have to admit that a few of his points were well taken in so far as the weather is concerned but further than that I can’t agree. In fact I think he didn’t even agree with himself but was just idle conversation.
Just stopped long enough to open a coke, only my second so far today
February 24, 1944, p. 3
[page 3] but probably not be the last as I generally have one somewhere near bedtime and they don’t keep me awake. Probably would if I went to bed early but as a rule it’s near 1200. A habit gotten into at home – partially broken on the islands but restored when reading was again possible.
You probably have read about the Bush fires in Australia – well they have them here also but they are not so destructive as in Australia but bad enough for pasture land is often destroyed. They are sure a weird sight at night, almost beautiful. Maybe those two words don’t fit in any description but that is about the best way I can describe a mountain side burning.
February 24, 1944, p. 4
[page 4] I have to watch a group of corpsmen for an hour this P.M. while they take their exams for higher rating. It really isn’t my regular job but one of the fellows wanted to be off so I told him I’d take over for a time. It means just being there so the boys won’t cheat much. I gave enough of those exams before so I’m glad that that is not one of my duties here – too much like teaching school and if I’d wanted to stay with that I wouldn’t e here, but I’m here so why teach. That may be mixed a little but you probably get what I mean.
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 22, 1944
Dear Mother,
This being the 22nd we did have the turkey as I said yesterday. It was roasted – cranberry sauce also but you know – That didn’t appeal so much as one might imagine I mean to me. Anyway I had plenty to eat without that sauce. Cherry pie also but I also passed that up. In fact all I ate was some mashed potatoes and turkey. Not much variety but plenty of it.
Our continued warm weather still holds on and it has been trying to rain most of the day but so far a little sprinkle is all that has been forthcoming.
February 22, 1944, p. 2
[page 2] A few hours later – Had to go up on the compound and I wasn’t in any particular hurry with this letter hoping that some mail might arrive but no such luck so far. It’s about 4:00 PM and about that time. I believe we are more anxious for mail now then we were a year or a year and a half ago. I guess we didn’t know what to expect then but after mail comes regular it’s a little hard to understand why it doesn’t keep coming. Well it’s not hard to know why but it is hard not to get it. The mail topic really come in for its share of the letter today – almost ½ page. Something has to be used to fill up the space and really I can think of no better subject.
I’m going to try to get the pictures today that Rosie and I had taken last week,
February 22, 1944, p. 3
[page 3] provided I can get into town. That after all is a real problem with us. I can’t explain just why but the trams, buses, etc., don’t exactly do like they do in the States and we are a little distance away. I’ll try to write the rest after I see if we get the pictures.
Later – I got the pictures OK but due to a misunderstanding there was only one print made of each so Rosie and I will have to toss to see who will get to send which. I’ll try to send those of me by myself and later send the remainder when we have other prints made. I think one or two of them are fair of me and also of him but you won’t be able to tell of course whether his are good or not.
To have a roll of films developed and one print made of each cost 2/11 which
February 22, 1944, p. 4
[page 4] adds up roughly to 42 to 45 cents. That as I remember is about the same as back there unless they were sent to some of those quarter joints we used to send them to.
While in town I went to the show “Above Suspicion.” I’d say it was only a fair show but I hadn’t seen it before and it was a little different getting away from the compound for a while.
Well it’s getting well onto bed time so after I show Rosie the pictures in the A.M. I’ll insert one or two for your approval –
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 21, 1944
Dear Mother,
There was a little mail today but none for me. It was dated the same as mine was last week so really I’m ahead because mine was about 3-4 days earlier than theirs. So much for mail – we’ll hit one of these days again.
Tomorrow being Geo. Wash. birthday we are supposed to have turkey in some form. I noticed on the menu it was turkey, candy, cigarettes, etc. Of course the natives aren’t well acquainted with our holidays nor are we with theirs. As I understand their holidays come mostly on Sat. or Mon. so they can make a weekend of the whole thing. I’ve never been in on any of those affairs so I don’t know
February 21, 1944, p. 2
[page 2] how long they last. I have been to their horse races as I probably told you. It reminded me of a big over grown county fair with betting of course legalized. Yes I bet and dropped a few shillings but that helps pay the tax so I just contributed about $2.00 in round numbers. Service men get special passes to the races – all free so it was work $2.00 just to get into the place. Of course everybody takes tea along and here and there among the cars one can see many picnic lunches spread and someone getting a bucket of hot water from someplace to make tea.
The races have been cut down much since the war – now they are generally held on two successive Saturdays but before the war a full week of racing – each day.
February 21, 1944, p. 3
[page 3] You just knew it was coming someplace in the letter – you guessed it. There is nothing more to offer on the 18 mo. business. We still do a good job of talking and wondering but nothing happens.
Rosie my Jewish friend told me today it was 18 months ago today that he last saw his wife so evidently she didn’t go to the port of embarkation with him either. This is also an anniversary for me it being one year ago today that we landed in our new home. The situation sure has changed both for me and the war in general. This eve we had good fried lamb chops and last year I don’t remember but it was something prepared with a can opener or probably just a plain hunting knife because I don’t remember having a huntin can opener.
February 21, 1944, p. 4
[page 4] The radio is just now blasting out with “My Old Ky Home.” Last night we were able to get Jack Benny – That was the first time I’d heard him in a long time. Possibly you have heard the program. Jack it seemed had purchased a swimming pool and the whole episode was about that.
Yesterday and today have been two of the hottest days we have had. I think I mentioned in yesterday’s note about the heat. Maybe I’m just used to being out of the tropics and am a little used to cooler weather – anyway it’s been warm.
Well Dear I sure wish I had some news for you about the 18 mo. I’m really getting the urge to get out of this place and of course the urge is in the direction of Indiana –
Genealogy Lady 