Tag Archives: World War II letters

Last from Lentz

Letter transcription:

May 6, 1945
Sunday

Yegie – Such a quick response deserves a prompt reply. You are doing much better – are you striking for the ½ stripe?

Not much news – but it is my weekend on duty with no one but the maintenance crew – dammit and the C.O. is not very gracious about giving us the PM or evening on Sundays when there is no work. Hell and damnation – you know the old Regular J.I. Navy. Can you imagine a Chief and 2 Ph. Mates on dates & a Med. Officer.

Only news I have is that Bob O’Donnell is now in Recruiting Duty in Jacksonville, Fla. Tues. to Sat. they leave Jax for Fort or Camp Blanning 40 miles away at 0800, back at 1600. Sat. 1300. Nothing to do until Tuesday. (Three M.D.’s & 3 corpsmen). Howard Witter is exec. after being on similar duty at Jackson, Miss. They have 1 night of duty every 5 or 6 weeks – shove patras. What do you think of that for duty.

MacClatchie is still in Brazil – John is still in USNH Phila.

[page 2] Looks like there will be a break up or a lessening of activities everywhere since the collapse in Europe. Perhaps you will be going to China with me. Looks like V-12s, etc., will not be called anymore – will there? What do you think they will do with you? Have you applied for any P.G. work or do you “wanta go ho-o-o-me!)

Met Mr. Beard – remember the transportation officer at Base 4. He is on duty at the Navy yard.

Heard from New Zealand today – all is well. The “old lady” still carrying on at B/casting.

Listen, bub, if I am encouraging you to write too often or too much, let me know or just procrastinate but don’t fail to tell me when you get orders.

May go to Wash. D.C. any day – waiting for Truman to call me. – No kidding, I mean to go soon as arrangements here can be made. We can’t get a relief so it would mean one man has to stay on all the time (26 hrs. a day).

Regards to family – don’t work too hard (Kia Ora) –
Ed.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/30/last-from-lentz/

Baby Rosenberg

1 Reply

April 23, 1945

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Yegerlehner,

Thanks a load for your kind wishes and the cute little booties – they really are fine. Little Robert is doing well and loves his “shoes.” Drop us a letter and give us all the latest scuttlebutt. Regards to the boys.

Thanks again,
Mr. & Mrs. “Rosy”

To learn more about Dr. Julius Rosenberg, click here to view his obituary.

© 2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/29/baby-rosenberg/

Death of Roosevelt

1 Reply

April 16, 1945 envelope

Letter Transcription:

April 16, 1945, p. 1

April 16, 45

Dear “Junior” – It is about time you wrote, wondered what was wrong, whether you were transferred, or had another son.

No news from anyone except I see John Willard occasionally, and talk to him about some of officer patients. He is still SOQ. He did get orders to Key West, Fla., but the C.O. went to Wash., D.C., and had them cancelled because John is the only Dr. who knows how to go gastroscopies there. Wally Reese, if you remember, our cribbage partner, is still in Phila. Naval, but doesn’t like it, too many superior Regulars. Had a letter from MacClatchie who is in Brazil – C.O. of Dispensary 150 beds. A letter from Bob O’Donnell, too, but he owes me one from way back. Has Cat Fever Ward – about 20 admissions daily, etc. On every 4^th night also.

April 16, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Haven’t heard any more from anyone. All are poor writers – but never did expect one from Ralph (Help me) Criss. No news about poor Paul Beard. Heard Buster Hyman was at Portsmouth. One [of] the Marines here was at Bonika.

Had a change of corpsmen – past 4 months, now another [?] picked for X Ray course, 5 mos., he is a chiropractor – big boy 230 lbs and I give him all my colored backaches, pounds hell out of them and they don’t come back. A couple officers – one Hebrew gets it, too. I have a good staff and that makes work more pleasant.

Just finished my ¼ San. Report, and the history of med. activities since war started – Comm. 4 Directive Na Sec Nov. Did you have to do that for your D.M.O.?

April 16, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Soon will be a year since you reported for duty – isn’t it? Mine will be Aug. 1. I wonder where we go next. Have a good notion to go to Wash., D.C., visit my sister and get some dope about billets. Our C.O. of Colored Ordnance Batt. left today for Ad. Base (Colored Personnel) today, goes to Guam, I suppose, understand the officer pool is there instead of Pearl Harbor.

Heard from my bro-in-law – Kunming, China; and my nephew, you met him in Norfolk, has been in Burma since last July – he made paratrooper, was injured, now is in Air Cargo something.

Am happy to hear your family is getting along fine and I am sure you are very proud of them all. You know David is my favorite name, and intended to have one someday.

April 16, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] We had a little bad luck in January, otherwise there would have been one this coming June.

Have been golfing several times, the weather was unusually good. Today it is raining, foggy and miserable, have the heat turned on.

Well, a good man was buried yesterday in spite of the political differences. Comes a time for all of us to be laid away – whether king, middleman or pauper.

Let me hear from you soon, even if a short line.
Regards to Mrs. Y. and family,
Sincerely,
Ed

My Buick is going fine (32,000 miles).

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/28/death-of-roosevelt/

Leila Roberts

1 Reply

March 26, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mar. 26, 1925 [sic 1945]

Dear Friends:

We speak of you folks often, but letter writing just seems to be one of those things we are forever putting off.

We are still in the same spot and from most reports are fortunate to have what we do for there are so many who just can’t find anything.

Our year is practically up and yours is up so I suppose we can both expect most anything but we’ll just sit tight and hope!

We drove down home last week-end and as usual spent most of our time cleaning, but we at least didn’t find any moths on this visit, but there is always plenty of dirt.

I am at our neighbors tonite staying with their baby while they are in

March 26, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Chicago shopping. We trade off once in a while for its next to impossible to hire anyone.

Joe is a “big surgeon” now – he did 40 circumcisions last month! No promotion in view until next summer according to a fairly reliable source for they no vacancies for Commanders at present.

Joe’s Mother asked me for that pair of blue knit pants I let you use for David so she could make some for Adda Mae’s baby. If you happen to have them with you and aren’t using them would you mind sending them, then I’ll return them if David can still wear them.

Commander Kennedy is still at the station.

We’d enjoy hearing from you sometime if you have a spare minute. Hope all are well.
As ever
The Roberts

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/27/leila-roberts/

Another Birth Announcement

1 Reply

Lt. Julius Rosenberg and his wife had their spring baby as was written earlier in a letter from Julius to Roscoe.

Mrs. Glen Hoffman

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: Mrs. Glen Hofmann was born Dorothy “Dot” Salter, the daughter of Denver and and Rita (Huffman) Salter of Clay City, Indiana. Those readers familiar with the letters will know of Floyd & Ruth. Floyd was Roscoe’s youngest brother. Ruth’s maiden name was Salter, and Dot was one of her younger sisters.]

February 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

February 23, 1945, p. 1

Mrs. Glen Hofmann
2032 Bancroft Ave.
San Leandro, Calif.
Feb. 23, 1945

Dear Gladys and all –

Just a few lines to report to the happenings of the “Seabees.” I guess you know by now that my hubby got home on his 30 day leave. He sure did look swell! (to me anyway. Ha!)

When his time was almost up he weakin and said I could come back with him. So here I am sitting in someone’s house writing to you. When Glen first got home he said there was no place out here for me, but as the time got shorter he changed his mind. Glen and his brother Eddie and I all drove back. We have to drive day and night to get here in time. We sure were tired, but now I haven’t gotten anything to do but rest. Yesterday I did our washing and ironing, and to-day I have been working on myself. I shampoo & set

February 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] my hair, and gave myself “the works.”

You should feel honored. This is the second letter I have written. I wrote Mother 1 letter. The rest have all been cards – you know the same old line on every card.

What really brought this on – was the letter I received from you just a few days before Glen got home. I don’t remember whom owed who, so it was OK. I sure was glad to get those hair clamps. I am sitting here with some of them in my hair now.

Glen has not come home yet, and Eddie has been reading all afternoon so I had some extra time to spend. I guess this is as good a way to spend it as any.

Excuse the mistakes, etc. I am still going in circles. We got ready & were here in 4 days (some trip!)

Bye, Bye for now –
Dot

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/24/mrs-glen-hoffman/

Thank You Card

2 Replies

Dear Gladys,

Thanks so much for the beautiful booties you sent to Vicki Diane. We surely thought they were cute.
The baby has been very ill, but she is better now. My mother & Inez are here – they came last Sunday. I am fine, only worried, of course.
We hope your family is fine and our best wishes to you.

Helen Ley

© 2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/23/thank-you-card/

Further News from Lentz

2 Replies

January 14, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

January 14, 1945, p. 1

Sunday Jan. 14, 1945

Dear Yeggie – Just one year ago last nite we made the rounds of the shopping district in Wellington. You took me down because you knew your way around the streets. I remember meeting Billie there and then seeing Howard Witter later – I don’t know whether you remember seeing Howard or not, do you? We stayed with George – didn’t we?

Enjoyed your letter very much and I am glad you had plenty of time to write because it has been so long since I heard from you. Your duties are not so good but there are some worse and some better. When I hear from others I feel that I am not doing so badly here in spite of being on duty every other nite. In fact, you are on call all day & every day, I wouldn’t like the idea of travelling back

January 14, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and forth, especially supplying my own transportation. Here, I am my own boss and my – ahem! – assistant as Lt. Cdr. Arrange our hours, as long as one is on duty, daren’t leave the station exposed. I usually let him go home about 9 or 9:30 a.m. or whenever he chooses. He takes over for me on occasional evenings – we seem to be a pair as far as our domestic problems go, implying that we are in the dog houses; I never confided in you but all has not been well for a number of years. So – it could be worse.

“The Shadow” is on while I am writing, so I may get scared, if you see any incoherence then you will know why. I have one of my radios here. In fact, I practically live here – my corpsmen are well trained, the chief had 30 yrs and does all the paper work and is very conscientious. Two Ph. M. had combat duty and one had hosp. training, have 2 colored Ph. Mates or the OB Battalion

January 14, 194,5 p. 3

[page 3] All are trustworthy and I find no difficulty – we are like one happy family. We have set up a small galley and the Marines supply us with coffee, etc., so we have occasional meals every day.

Am finishing up that damned annual San. Report – had a lot of new construction, – Battalion barracks, etc., to describe. Must submit it in rough to C.O. of station – he is an old fusspot as I do the monthly reports. Can you beat that? No more monthly reports but the quarterlies will be headaches.

Heard from Frank Olrich a number of times and from Bob O’Donnell recently. He has an average of 23 admissions daily, 125 in ward, duty every 3^rd nite. Not so good – all car [?] fevers & pneumonias.

Had a H.R. from Detroit Grosse Point with signed by J.R. Delaney. So he is near home.

Frank said he is on full duty and all are slated to go again – scuttlebutts – His hearing is the same. His boy was operated on for hernia – less than 2 yrs old.

January 14, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] You know he is at Shoemaker Calif. Ted Anderson is at Parris Island S.C. I haven’t heard from tohers.

My brother is still at Charleston S.C. Asst. Dist. Med Officer – soft job, no nite work or Sundays either. My kid brother – is ferrying planes now, has been all over U.S.A. and Canada & Mexico. Is being shipped to Florida for some short intensive course on Bombers – he was a P-47 pilot 81 missions. My nephew is in Burma – you remember him visiting me when I had the typhoid chill – he was a paratrooper, was injured, fracture leg, int. injuries, etc. – but now is in “air dropping,” cargo plane work in China Burma India area. A brother-in-law, Lt. Col., is Dep. Provost Marshall of some area. Got a letter from him yesterday.

I hear from W. and [?] as good and as well as the mail service goes.
My Xmas was quiet – had a few drinks; spent New Yrs weekend on station.

Well – write when you can – Regards to all the family – Don’t work too hard-
Sincerely,
Ed

[Editor’s Note: To read more about Dr. Lentz, his brothers, and nephew from a contemporary newspaper report, click here.]

News from Lentz

1 Reply

December 20, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

December 20, 1944, p. 1

Dec. 20, 1944
MERRY XMAS

Dear Yeggie

Well – about time I wrote you a few lines. Really haven’t had anything new to tell you, everything is quiet, still 24 on & off, every other weekend.

No word from anyone recently – not even Bob O’Donnell. Did get several letters from N.Z.

Just think – you were down in N.Z. a year ago, perhaps in South Island over the Glazeeewr. Just about a year ago I was ComServPac and boarded the ship Xmas eve with “Want any help Criss” and MacClatchie. In a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my first trip to Majestic & St. George.

I hear that all is quiet in N.Z. – all the Americans are practically out, a few stragglers as O.W.I., J.P.B., A.R.C.

December 20, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] get in occasionally. Dammit it would be nice to get down there to do some inventorying.

Our weather is cold & snowy and it was down to 15° last nite. I am not used to it and my feet get cold.

Saw my Brother the other day (Lt. Cd. MC USNR) Ass’t Dist Med Officer, Charleston D.C., lucky son of a gun; he was on a 10 day leave. Won’t get holidays at home, due back in S.C. Thursday this week. The Kid Brother is up near Detroit in a ferrying command now.

My cruise box (Bokis) & sea bag arrived 2 weeks ago, all intact. Lucky! Did you get yours?

Am sorry I didn’t write sooner –
Regards to all the family –
Merry Xmas –
Ed Lentz

WRITE I hear from Frank Olrich occasionally & see John Willard also

Update from Julius Rosenberg

1 Reply

November 27, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

November 27, 1944, p. 1

U.S. Naval Hospital
Chelsea, Mass.,
November 27, 1944

Dear Yeger,

Been meaning to write you for a long time, but I’ve been busier than hell. I took the N-P course at Philadelphia and really enjoyed it immensely. Red Dryer and Bob Walker were there while I was there and we had a swell time. The course was very interesting and I’m now an N-P man.

I was assigned to the above hospital and met Joe McGinn & Perry Snyder who are here too. Recently Stan Myers, who is on duty at Longson [?], came here as a patient to have a herniated nucleus pulposus removed – remember how we laughed at his back ache? He’s OK now. Bob Walker is on duty at Newport, R.I., only 1½ hours from here and I should be seeing him soon. From him I learned that Jerry Goodman was still overseas and crying like hell. I hope I’ve given you all the news.

It’s pretty nice duty here, although I work very hard – this N-P service is really kept stepping, but I’m enjoying it. We had a hot and uncomfortable summer at Philly – did I tell you I met Ed Lentz there? But it’s nice here. We have an apartment in a 2 family house out in the suburbs of Boston and it’s very comfortable. I have a car now and we get around quite a bit.

November 27, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] By the way, I have hopes of having a Junior soon – at least we’re expecting his (or her) debut late in March. Everything is OK, so far.

Enough of me – how are you doing? How is the wife and how are the boys? I hope you are enjoying your duty – I know you like it better than being overseas – I know I do, even though I work much harder. I lost your address so I’m addressing this to your home address, and I’m hoping you get it finally.

Don’t be like me – please drop me a line soon and let me know all about yourself. By the way, when are we getting our promotions?

Best regards to you family. My wife sends her best
Sincerely,
Rosey