Tag Archives: V-mail

A Christmas Tree (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-4-43

Dear Daddy – No mail since Mon. & this is Sat. Maybe some will come Mon. Just cleaned up after cleaning some in the house. The new heels of reclaimed rubber make marks on the floors and the only things to do is use steel wool ever so often. The marks soon reappear but I keep after them. Arlene wants me to go to town with her. Mark has kept David out in the yard in the sunshine two hours. He is in now and is to stay home while I go to town – He gets a lot of attention when I take him to town but I am a little tired to struggle with him. He is like the men of the family – doesn’t care to shop and gets a little hard to handle at times. We got a Christmas tree yesterday. The Grab-it got a supply in and I think from the way they were going when I got ours they would soon be gone. I put in the holder and it is in the living room untrimmed – however it will soon get dressed up the boys have their way about it. It is very warm today for Dec. I hung out one tub of clothes and they dried very well for this time of year. This weather is easy on our coal supply. I was checking our finances for the past year. I will make a detailed statement and send to you in a day or so. Besides paying off $420⁰⁰ loan we bought 7 – bonds ($18.75).

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/15/a-christmas-tree-gladys/

Jeep Waiting (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: September 24, 1943 envelope

: September 24, 1943, p. 1

: September 24, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Sept. 24, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mail of Sept. 1, Sept. 7 and air mail of Sept. 11 came yesterday. You wrote the air mail while in the hospital and said you would call Dr. Cole before you left and I thought you would give me a report on what you found out but you mailed it before you called. I guess you will explain to me in the next mail.

It sure was great hearing you tell of someone returning. Mr. Dye as I remember was over there before I left the States. Of course duty at a place like he had would be great as compared to what I’ve had but

[page 2] other people could say the same about the duty I’ve had. I guess everyone thinks his work is the hardest and his task is the greatest and there will always be a chance for an argument on both sides. I’ve been in this place now for over going on 8 months and it does get a little old in spots but it’s interesting. I’ve been all over the place on land all around on the water and even in the air above so it’s almost as well known to me as Newton o. but it’s not nearly as beautiful from some standpoints.

I have a jeep waiting for another trip so must get going in order to cover the territory today –

Love Daddy

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/03/jeep-waiting-roscoe/

Birthday Letter (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
9-13-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Aug. 26-29-30-Sept. 1-2 & 6 came and David’s birthday letter. I read it to David and he jabbered something I couldn’t translate. He is drooling again so must have more teeth coming in. I’ll put the $2⁰⁰ on another bond. Jim & Thelma got to come home again. Thelma is in T.H. today. Jim & Glenn are in Laf. at the hospital with Mother. Jim got 5 days again. Will be here tomorrow then start back. Mother was a little better yesterday so let the night nurse go – just had her two nights. Have supper ready waiting for Jim & Glenn to come. John is snuffing – Seems his allergy, hay fever, whatever it is, is worse this eve. He came home from school sneezing, nose itching. Mark is getting his vegetables ready to take to the 4-H exhibit at the fair this week. It is cloudy toady – won’t be dusty or hot for the fair this week. Have been so busy with everything here haven’t had much time to think of the fair – Jim & Glen are here now – They talked to Dr. Cole – He said he couldn’t give much encouragement about Mother’s condition. However she was pretty good today – Will go down Wed. if not called sooner – Mark is busy again baking a cake for the exhibit at the Fair. David is tucked in for the night and I am ready to go to bed too, a bit sleepy.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/06/birthday-letter-gladys/

Best Regards (Jim)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

James L. Foster, CSK
AREA B3-101 N.C.T.C.
CAMP PEARY
WILLIAMSBURG, VA
9 SEPT. 1943

Dear Jake –

Glad to get a letter so quick, think nothing of not answering my other letters. I was not sure just where I would be by this time, although I will no doubt be here for a few months, having trouble with my feet and legs.

Mothers’ case has us all very much on edge. She returned to the hospital this past week for a possible operation or ex-ray to try to correct her trouble. I am going home again Saturday to be with her while Glenn and his family are there, we will try to all be together once more altho I can not help believe she will fully recover.

Yes I have been wanting to get out but since I have developed this foot and leg trouble I am not so anxious to get out until I am fully recovered.

Jake, I can really appreciate your feelings towards your faithful wife, it did me good to read that in your letter, she is doing a grand job, I know her well, she is my sister.

Best Regards,
Jim

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/01/best-regards-jim/

The Check Is in the Mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Note: It appears that the v-mail of June 26th is not in the collection so the exact details of Ruthie Parttens’ accident are currently unknown.

: July 19, 1943 envelope

: July 19, 1943, p. 1

: July 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S.Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
July 19, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mail of June 26 came yesterday and in it you told of the accident of Ruthie Parttens. I know you had from the way one of your later letters read.

I’m writing this out in the yard and the darn flies keep landing pretty heavy. They are the most persistent things – try to fly into your eyes nose and ears. They aren’t nearly so bad now as at first. A few sanitary measures really do help keep the critters down.

This is repeating and I’ll do the same again in one or two letters. I sent a check in the letter of July 17. It was issued July 16 by J. B. Condron of the supply core US NAB Navy 60 – check number 28 and symbol numbers 51209. I think that gives the dope so if it is lost we can reapply for it. I expect an answer from you that you have received it by Aug. 16. Giving one month for a

[page 2] letter to make the round trip.

Went to a movie last night the first on this place for me – It wasn’t a bad show but I don’t care for shows anymore than I used to at home. It was something to do but I’d rather read if there was something to read and some place to do it. I probably should write letters to a number of people but with subject matter so limited I just simply abhor writing other than to you and I might say a large part of the day I find myself thinking of what I might write and you can see what poor results.

Just weathered a long series of conversation from some of the neighbors dropping in but that is the usual rather than the unusual – It still doesn’t help letter writing.

You mentioned something about Joe Roberts setting Christmas as time to return. I’m not setting but hoping – Not placing a time limit.

Well that’s all for now.
Love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/20/the-check-is-in-the-mail-roscoe/

Out of Forms (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
7-17-43

Dear Daddy – This is the first v-mail I have used for a long time. Was out of forms & the boys would forget to get a supply. We had a hard rain today about noon. Came down in streams. Everything was so dry we needed rain. Now should have beans in abundance. Got yours of June 30, also J. & M. got theirs of that date. I see Link pulling a branch down the storm brake loose. If we could cut up all the limbs that have fallen would have enough to burn next winter. This summer seems to be flying by. Just 6 weeks still school starts. I am going to dig potatoes for use next week. Carrots are big enough. Also green beans & cabbage. Tomatoes will be soon but they don’t interest me much. Mother ate a pretty good lunch today – She is still in bed. I think she will get up when she feels strong enough – Arlene told me yesterday she going to have a baby in Dec. Mary F. is due in Oct. Don’t know of anyone else who is booked for fall or early winter. Arlene said to tell you to hurry back so we could catch up with them – I don’t believe I would care to keep up that fast. Donnie will be just 16 mo. old in Dec. John is practicing. Mark is out playing in the yard. David is playing in his pen. He is graduating to 3 meals a day.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/10/15/out-of-forms-gladys/

A Keen Interest (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 9, 1943 envelope

: July 9, 1943, p. 1

: July 9, 1943, p. 2

: July 9, 1943, p. 3

: July 9, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O.
July 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mails of 6-21 & 22 came yesterday as well as the ones the boys wrote for Father’s Day. So v-mail isn’t so terribly slow.

I have all the dope regarding the checks I sent and also the Insurance loan etc. So that will or rather can be dropped from the subject matter of future letters. Yesterday an officer was here from my old stomping ground and he told me

[page 2] Drs. Porterfield and Williams were still coasting along as per usual. I’m still very much pleased that I was able to leave there because this has been a much more exciting and enjoyable duty. It however now is beginning to come monotonous but I suppose we can stand that OK.

The rats have taken a keen interest in our then tent and seem to be everywhere at all times during the night. Here and there they can be heard jumping around and one

[page 3] “sorta” expects them to make a mistake and land right in the middle of nude anatomy but so far all has been well.

I didn’t know that there were any pea fields around Kentland. That must be something new – maybe a war measure that has been developed since I left there.

I got a v-mail letter from Red & Ruby Brewer. It seems funny but I was just thinking of them only a day or two ago. She said the boy was nearly 4 years old – Just doesn’t seem possible but I guess it’s true.

[page 4] I keep think[ing] of those babies and kid as I knew them over a year ago now.

The conversation started and the letter writing almost stopped – The conversation was nothing to brag about but it was enough to slow down writing.

So far no time set for pay day but I think it will come in a few days I’ll let you know when

So Solong Love Daddy

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

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/29/a-keen-interest-roscoe/

Rat Trap for the Chaplin (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: June 7, 1943 envelope

: June 7, 1943, p. 1

: June 7, 1943, p. 2

: June 7, 1943, p. 3

: June 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

June 7, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Here it is 0845 and I have my morning chores all done and my weeks laundry all on the line drying – with good prospects of them being dry in pretty short order because the sun is shining nicely.

Last night at 2400 I was awakened by a messenger calling one of my “cell” mates to go on guard. Then I for some reason wasn’t able to go back to sleep so I began thinking of what I might write

[page 2] you out of the ordinary and try as I might no subject would come so you see even after concentrated effort I’m unable to do any better and I hope you will understand. This subject matter of weather and laundry is a bore even to me as I write it so often.

I’m certain now that v-mail is faster than air mail and you might say make up your mind but things change so to be on the safe side why don’t you make them half and half? And then they there will be no doubt.

By the way of repeating – about

[page 3] one month ago I sent two checks one for 150 and one for 100 – the uniform money and then a few days later one for 32⁶⁰ for your travel. All were in separate letters and the first was unsigned which I forgot to do but you should have no trouble if Ed Barce had your power of att. fixed correctly.

I must go see Chappie today as he is having no results with his rat trap. He claims there are dozens in his tent every night – so we went into details on how to build one but so far no luck in catching them. I stopped by last evening

[page 4] and he had it all wrong according to my way of thinking so I’m going to suggest drastic changes. I’ll let you know the results later – you know the old saying “If you build a better rat trap the world will beat a path to your door.” Well visualize if you can a path thru cocoanut trees and other obstacles ad infinitum. But why worry about that because the improved version will probably not be so hot either?

Well, I’ve mixed rat traps, laundry, insomnia, mail and finances into one letter – hope you can wade thru without holding your nose or getting in over your boot tops –

Love Daddy

Photograph likely from the Russell Islands when Roscoe was stationed there in 1943

Which Is Faster (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: May 31, 1943 envelope

: May 31, 1943, p. 1

: May 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

May 31, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

Just finished re reading your air mail letter of May 8. That is two days later than you latest v-mail but the v-mail came 3-4 days ago. So I can’t tell which is faster. So I guess maybe if you wrote a few of each it would be better. U

You mentioned about the bank balance – I wouldn’t buy bonds at present with the balance that low, and if I can ever get my money I’ll send it to help. Not being paid since Jan. makes a

[page 2] a little balance on hand. Hope the boys’ colds are better and by this time the warm weather should help.

The second box you sent hasn’t arrived as yet but maybe it will be along. The chicken bones were still in the box but they weren’t in too good condition. All tough and stuck together.

And I didn’t write that v-mail letter like I said I was going to. I forgot whether I told you in yesterday’s letter – I got radish, lettuce, carrot and turnip seed from Mom yesterday.

It’s chow time will write more tomorrow
Love Daddy

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

Sunrise (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: May 12, 1943 envelope

: May 12, 1943, p. 1

: May 12, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

May 12, 1943.
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m a little disappointed about the mail situation because many of the fellows got mail and I did not. I think it’s because of the changeover from V-mail at least I hope you are writing some air mail rather than v-mail.

The way my bunk is located the sun shines right into my face each A.M. and of course wakes me but I often awaken before it is up and the various stages are a sight to see. The first knowledge I had this morn of the sunrise was a sort of a brownish color just as it was getting light – That then changed to a lighter color and finally just before the sun appears the whole area was a blood red color. (That is the way it looks every morn) The sun drives that color away when it begans to appear – after that it looks just like it does in Indiana.

A letter came yesterday from Bob H. but it was written way back in Mar. He seemed to think Dr. Openshaw was pretty much settled somewhere in Penn. – seems like some people have all the tough luck – who would want to be stationed in a place like that with all the trains, autos and cold weather are apt to be hard on one’s health – I’m telling you it’s dangerous to have those handicaps. Take the above as you wish.

Imagine me wearing shoes now for the past

[page 2] several months. Really my ankles will probably be so weak I won’t be able to wear slippers again and another thing – lately I haven’t been wearing any underware and since I have no P.J. you know how that means I sleep at night. That will also be a hard habit to break when back in the States.

I saw in the Newton Co. E. that John had won $2.50. Of course I showed it around and most of the boys asked if I had sent for the $2.50 or if I would let him keep it. My answer was varied. Of course, you had told me of the whole thing in letters but I just happened to find it in the paper. Two issues of the paper came yesterday Mar 11 & 18. In the Mar 18 issue there is a synopsis of the article – “They Were Expendable.” I’d almost forgotten about that and it has so much more meaning now than when I read it before.

I don’t know if I told you or not but our Chaplin left Japan in June of 1942. Yes the date is correct – he has some pretty good experiences to tell.

Well, I’ve beaten my gums enough for the time being –
So solong until Tomorrow
Love Daddy.

P.S. Sent 150⁰⁰ of the uniform money home – The 100⁰⁰ will follow in a few days – Just a repeat.