Tag Archives: Walkup

A Momentous Decision (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Dear Mother,

Our cool has continued and it is really comfortable – Just got thru taking a bath in the open air shower and reall got cold. I came back and Fred & Dr. P. asked me how it was and I said fine – let them find out for themselves.

I saw an income tax blank today and the surtax starts at 2000 with $260. So try to cut ours below 2000. I believe if you take all the deductions it will cut it below 2000. Don’t forget the insurance – malpractice car Ins etc. All that runs for a year payable in June or July and I left in May so that was that would be 10/12 or what ever the fractional part of the year.

[page 2] I would like for you to figure it whether or not you pay it. Next year the total amount will be 2400 or less and that won’t cost much. So much for that – Only if you do figure it don’t the drugs. The interest – to the insurance co. Interest on house payments. Interest to E. Buck Dave Ream etc. If you have time send me what you can figure the deductions would be. I believe you aren’t interested much in the tax situation but that has to be paid in 3 mo. after we return and that is why I’m interested. And if you haven’t made those other two payments on last year please do because those will all count up.

I’ve explained how these letters are dated several days after writing

[page 3] so that is why the letter you referred to was written on the 29th and stamped on the 31. You see we write one night – passes thru the censor next day and to our P.O. next day and then to the other P.O. so it’s here for a few days before leaving. And I haven’t been able to figure how your comes this way – very seldom comes – I just heard today that all you will be able to write is V-mail. Really I don’t care if it is V mail just so it’s regular and not too old. However. I ‘m not sure that is only hearsay, but I did hear that there would be no more insured pkgs and no more registered letters.

Now – after the show and while sitting on the hill before the show starts – we always go about 1/1 hour early in order to get a good seat. Any-

[page 4] way while sitting there I made a momentous decision – and this is it. Don’t pay this past years income tax. I mean 1942. As I said before pay the other installments of ’41 but forget 1942 and put the money in bonds we can always cash them in and pay the tax. So forget about the income tax period.

Your letter of Jan 4 came today and I sure was glad you could attend Rotary – wish I could have been there – wasn’t that silly – or was it?? John’s letter of Jan 6 came also as well as one from Wayne W. and one from the Walkups at Earl Park. They seem to be real faithful in their letter writing.

Hope your sinus trouble is better and yes the coat – If you are satisfied I see no reason why I wouldn’t only you didn’t use all

Gladys modeling the black seal coat & new hat - January 1943

Gladys modeling the black seal coat & new hat – January 1943

[page 5] the money I sent but that isn’t any of my business. You said you were going to send me a financial statement after the first of the year. I hope you include the number of bonds etc. and whether or not you got a strong box – probably you have already written those things but they haven’t come thru yet. I’ll be looking forward to a picture of you in the coat – and THE HAT.

Hope you and D. are better by now and everything is getting along OK. Please don’t worry about me and don’t get fussed up at anything – Don’t drive the car anymore than is necessary because of the tires etc.

Well, I hope our mail will be half-way regular again and I can hear from you often –

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/11/12/a-momentous-decision-roscoe/

Things about the same (Roscoe)

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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

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

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

Doctors vs. Dentists (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Wed. Dec 9, 1942

Dear Mother,

Got your letters of Nov. 18 & 20 today and one of those had the pictures in. Those were the pictures taken in the house. The one where you were holding David in the chair was the best of him. He looks old in that picture but I guess after all he is getting along. I missed the bottle in the one John was in for a while. The shadow falls across it and it took more careful looking to see it.

The Walkups of Earl park sent me a Christmas greeting and in in [it] she wrote a letter but when she wrote it they had not received my letter to them in answer to the letter she sent while in the hospital. Surely by now they have that. Her greeting and letter was mailed Nov. 16. There have been no packages as yet. Some few have packages but nothing like as many as should come if the letters are all true that the boys are getting because most every-

[page 2] one claims they have several coming.

Had my teeth cleaned last night and have one or two small cavities to be filled. Will try to get that done in the next few days. Haven’t had any shows for several nights now for certain reasons, but probably will again tonight. It has rained only 2 little showers today and when you mentioned fog that sounded funny because we haven’t had any since leaving the States – once in a while it looks a little hazy out over the ocean but no fog here. The last fog we were in was the day we left the States and that morning the fog horns were blowing and there is nothing so dismal as a fog horn as we have heard on the radio – Not here but there. We have a small radio and once in a while we can get Australia but not very clear. So we don’t have to listen to all the plug ugglies or would we rather listen to them. It isn’t my idea to come clear to New Caledonia to get away from the plug ugglies. Nor the fog either for that matter.

[page 3] So far I have never gotten the stamps you sent but we really don’t need them now as our supply seems to be good. We can only get 5 each day but that amount keep us pretty well supplied. In fact I haven’t bought any for several days because my supply was building up too much and I was afraid that in the warm damp the stamps might stick together.

It’s just a little over two weeks until Christmas and it surely doesn’t seem like that time of the year. Sometimes it get real cloudy and a little cool and one expects a front and a ground freeze but after pinching ones self one comes back to life again and takes the hot just the same as on previous days.

We have some heated arguments about who works harder – The dentists or the M.D. and there being two of each in our quarters we never get anyplace only good wholesome discussions. The dentists take patients only by appointment and they are about as

[page 4] independent as in civil life. Of course our work comes in spells and we often play dominoes etc in between times and the dentists think we are lazy bunch. Guess there are arguments both ways, anyway it’s all in fun.

Fred is writing to his preachin’ uncle. He says he is the Fire and Brimstone type. Fred isn’t very religious – calls him the sky pilot. I read a letter he got from the preachin’ uncle’s wife – Aunt Abigail. She was giving him good advice. It was a very fine letter but I don’t believe he appreciated it as much as he should have.

Since the mail came this morning I doubt very much if we get any this P.M. but we will go look anyway. Some of these days mail should come in addressed our new address – but I can’t remember just when I first used that address. I forgot to tell you the Calender came on Dec. 4 So Nov. was lost –

Well, so Long
Lots of Love Daddy

P.S. No evening mail

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/18/doctors-vs-dentists-roscoe/

Tokyo Rose and Orphan Ann (Roscoe)

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In this letter, Roscoe mentioned the attempts made by himself and his tent mates to listen to the news and some entertainment on the radio. They heard some Japanese propaganda over the airwaves. Today we know more about these broadcasts. The Japanese attempted to lower the morale of the American soldiers far from home.  They played American music and they tried to manipulate the homesick boys. Several young, English speaking Japanese women were forced to broadcast under the pseudonyms of “Tokyo Rose” and “Orphan Ann.” The above audio clip is a small sample from an “Orphan Ann” broadcast. For more information about two of the real Japanese women involved in Japanese war propaganda who were captured after World War II, click here.

Letter transcription:

Nov. 6, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this in the middle of the P.M. Shortly after chow. I made the rounds saw my 27 patients (all male). Came back took a bath and am now flat on my back on the bunk with all sides of the tent up and only my trunks on – almost forgot – house slippers. The sun is hot out so it’s better to stay in the shade although a blanket and sheet is still necessary at night. In fact this must be climate very much like California. And I’ve been told it was a sort of a resort during normal times. Just raised up. I can’t write very well on my back.

I just wrote Ruth M. and may try to write another or two today. The Walkups & Allgoods is depends on my vim after I get this done. Got one letter this A.M. Yours of Sept. 1 wasn’t very interesting after getting all the latest later ones. It did recall though – on that day we came into harbor here and it was something to think back what you were doing at that time.

It sure doesn’t seem like fall of the year here and I can’t seem to realize that we are nearing the Christmas season. Of course, that is some time

[page 2] yet but it will be here before we realize it.

In Mom’s letter yesterday she told of how long it took my letters to come etc..and many of the boys say it takes only 8-10 days for their letters to get home. Hope you will give me the dope in that regard as I asked you the other days. So far my letters have been among the latest and the boys ask me how long it takes mine to get there and I can’t tell them.

The wind blew so hard last night it seemed the tent might not hold but so far we haven’t lost one although we do take a beating from the side flaps. It would seem all the mosquitoes would be bashed to death but apparently they just ride along on the waves. The netting keeps them away only once in a while one takes a nip before one retires into the sack.

Our news comes in well each night but the programs that are supposed to be very entertaining to the boys of the South West Pacific are not what I would call the best. In fact we generally try to get Japan to see what they are saying about us. It’s not bad entertainment in a crude sort of fashion. They sing “Home Sweet Home” at the beginning and end

[page 3] of their program and it doesn’t seem to have much affect on our moral coming from where it does – Stopped for a little engagement on the hillside. Guess I’ve been drinking too much beer.

Since I started it’s been an hour or two and it is now cloudy and the wind still blowing pretty hard. Looks like we might have some rain again.

Just noticed in the J.A.M.A. of the death of two of the Drs. we knew in Norfolk. They were in an airplane accident in Virginia. Seems strange that they there should have something like that happen. Right in the heart of U.S.A. but one never knows.

Hope you and the boys are making out OK. My biggest worry is the furnace. I’m afraid it will fill up and break one of the pin that feeds the coal in. The clinkers should be cleaned out well each day and that should be done when the furnace isn’t running. I always turned that thermostat on the front of the furnace back. That would stop it. Then hang something on the draft in the pipe to close it – that caused a draft and the smoke didn’t come out the fire door. Of course, one had to be careful to reverse the process when finished. So if you try to do those things yourself maybe that will help – but have someone come out about once each month and give it a real going over. Guess maybe the babes diapers will keep the moisture up.

Well, my space is all gone
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/09/tokyo-rose-and…han-ann-roscoe/ ‎‎

Marines Face New Thrusts By Japanese (Roscoe)

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Click to enlarge

Since Roscoe was not allowed to say what was going on around him, Gladys was most likely following the war over the radio waves and by reading the local papers. The above article was published in The Vidette-Messsenger (Valparaiso, Indiana) on November 4, 1942. Written by a UP reporter, the article was picked up by papers around the country, perhaps even the Newton County Enterprise, one of the papers that Gladys read regularly.

Letter transcription:

Nov. 5, 1942

Dear Mother,

What with eleven letters yesterday and 10 today I’m getting pretty well caught up. Those yesterday were all from you but today’s letters were varied. One from Mom, one from Walkup’s and one from Allgoods, but all those letters you told me about that were sent to me when David came have not arrived. So Mark calls the baby Davie – seems as if I’ve referred to him as the same, hope I haven’t put too much in Mark’s mind.

I sent you the radiogram I received the other day. Thought you might want to put it in David’s scrap book. I had to cut out one word so that it would pass the censor. You should have received something on that end because the thing needed a reply, but I turned it over to the Chaplin. So I’m not sure what he may have said. Sometimes I don’t trust them too far. I told him to say the word received OK. So anything else will be extra.

[page 2] You will note I haven’t bawled you out for what you haven’t written. I’m not going to. So far I haven’t received letters on Sept. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 18 and from 19 to 26. See from 19 to 26 I missed all the excitement then I haven’t received any from Oct 14 to Oct 23 but did get the Oct. 24 letter. So that brings me up to date pretty well. Some of those days are were probably Sun. and since you don’t write on Sun. there are bound to be a few days missing. I write every day Sun included. I can’t tell which is Sunday after it is past because of lack of calendar as I have told you – You don’t know how much they are missed until there isn’t one around.

I should have told you about wrapping packages. They should be wrapped extra good, because I’ve seen some come in that are in very poor condition. In fact just holding together and that is all. I’ve sent you two packages and you

[page 3] haven’t mentioned them. So I wonder if they arrived. It will take those much longer than air mail letters however.

We may have a change of address in a few days so if you don’t hear for several days you will know. There is nothing to worry about but just keep it in mind. Of course, we don’t know for sure but as I’ve said before even at Norfolk one didn’t know when his address might be changed.

Many of the fellows have Christmas packages already. Seems early but they really got here in time. It’s really very uncertain how and when to mail anything to have it arrive when it’s supposed to.

One of our boys was given the distinguished flying cross in a little affair we had here today. It was a swell thing for the kid and of course the first that I had ever seen. May we have more like him. I could say more but I can’t. Now what kind of talk is that.

I’ll save the rest of the space, got 2 V-mail letters dated Sept. 14 & Sept. 12. They aren’t good – but you might keep writing one or two per mo-

Love Daddy

©2013, copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at:  https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/08/marines-face-n…thrusts-roscoe/ ‎