Tag Archives: World War II letters

Dear Yeger (Rosenberg)

[Editor’s note: Dr. Julius Rosenberg served with Roscoe at the Base Hospital #4 in Wellington, New Zealand. Dr. Rosenberg was one of the doctors who stayed behind after Roscoe shipped out. As evidenced in the letter, the Base Hospital closed down in the late spring of 1944. Military activities were drawing away from the far south Pacific, and maintaining a Naval hospital in the region was no longer necessary. During earlier letters written by Roscoe, he refers to Dr. Rosenberg as his friend “Rosey.”

In a very strange historical twist, Dr. Julius Rosenberg shared his name with a rather infamous Julius Rosenberg, who was executed in 1953 with his wife Ethel for espionage. Both men were New Yorkers, were about the same age, attended the same University, the City College of New York, and served during World War II. ]

: June 17, 1944 envelope front

: June 17, 1944 envelope back

Letter transcription:

June 17, 1944, p. 1

Saturday, June 17

Dear Yeger,

Well, here I am back in the promised land, although it certainly took a long time getting here.

I’ll go back to the beginning, and tell you everything since you left Silverstream. Base 4 officially closed April 1^st but we had practically no patients after the first week in Mark. We sat around doing nothing & just about went crazy. Finally the orders started to come & on April 13^th, 8 sets of orders to the States came in, including mine, Myers, Criss, Witter, Hynes, Reuckert, Schneider & Drennan. They were the only orders that came in from the time you left. We all went to Auckland & found that we had missed a fast ship by 18 hours. After waiting around for weeks we just missed that boat – The old Navy snafu. Then started another long wait – I waited at the Grand Hotel in Auckland for one month – nearly went nuts – and finally Stan Myers & I were ordered as passengers to a slow

June 17, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] Liberty ship out of New Plymouth – so we had to take another train & then started a 25 day sea voyage – at 9 ½ knots – I never thought we’d get here – but we finally landed at San Pedro on June 8^th – almost 2 months since our orders arrived. We were in Pedro one week & I got just what I wanted and asked for – the course in Neuro-psychiatry at Philadelphia Naval Hospital – will report there on July 9^th. I’m now on my way to Chicago & from there to N.Y. Stan Myers is going to Sampson, N.Y., for duty. Was worried about landing at Pedro – but got a good deal there & had a good time.

Are you still at Great Lakes? – Write me all about yourself. Address is below.

Excuse the writing – I’m writing on a moving train – will mail this before I hit Chicago.

Sincerely,
Rosey

U.S. Naval Hospital
Philadelphia, Pa.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/06/dear-yeger-rosenberg/

Hello O’Shaunessy

2 Replies

[Editor’s Note: At this point in the letters, there is no more correspondence between Roscoe and Gladys for 14 months until August 1945. The intervening months can be filled in with letters from fellow officers, family members and former neighbors as well as some Naval documents and periodic entries in David’s baby book. Today’s letter was written by Robert P. O’Donnell, a doctor who served with Roscoe in Wellington, New Zealand, at the Naval Base Hospital #4. Readers may recall that Roscoe wrote of his friend Bob on several occasions, mostly pertaining to his nuptials. This letter features a brief passage written by Bob’s wife Pattie.]

June 14, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

June 14 – 1944

Hello O’Shaunessy,

Got back to San Pedro on the 23^rd of May. Killed some time in San Pedro until my orders came, and then went to S.F. I got there on June 1^st in time to go aboard ship and pick up Pat who had arrived that day by separate ship.

Pat and I were in San Francisco seeing the town until June 6^th and then came on here to Rockford where we are dry cleaning everything we own and trying to repair the wear and tear of travel.

I have Great Lakes for duty. Am supposed to report on June 18 plus travel time. I figure that that will

June 14, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] be June 21 –

Dad and Mother got a swell letter from your wife that helped to pave the way for Pat. I’ll bet you were glad to see the kids again.

Had a letter from the Mayor of Wellington – Comdr. Lentz – He has started home and I think was stuck in Noumea awaiting transportation. I hope we can all get together in Chicago.

I think we’ll stay out here until about the last minute. What is the dope on living quarters? Are we going to be able to get them? If we can’t, can we get hotel accommodations easily for a few days until we have a chance to get quarters? What’s

June 14, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] the story on gov. quarters – Do they have them?

What kind of duty do you have? Are things in general snafu

In other words – get off your duff and start giving me the word on what gives –

Pat sends her love –
Bob

Lt. R.P. O’Donnell
208 Paris Ave.
Rockford,
Illinois

If you happen to hear of an officer transferring or anything just before I arrive grab onto his apartment

June 14, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] for me –

Hallo O’Shaunessy –

Is it going to be good to see you again? Please thank your wife for her letter – and we certainly would be grateful if you can help us out on somewhere to rest our weary little heads come nightfall. Incidentally you can see that married life hasn’t improved my old man.

Till we see you in the near future Yeagey –

Pattie

I have a cousin – John E. Kelly who is in boot came at G.L. got there in last week – Look for him if you’re giving shots –

Bob

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/05/hello-oshaunessy/

Won’t Write Again (Roscoe)

1 Reply

June 12, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 12, 1944, p. 1

June 12

Dear Mother –

The pullman bag was sent out this AM via parcel post, so you should have it in plenty of time.

I hope you are able to get seats on the train OK. As I said in a letter before try to get there early and when the porter gets your bags, etc., ask him about seats and give him a tip of a buck or some such amount to have him get you a good seat or two seats rather. In case you can’t get seats on that train call me at the station so I’ll know you aren’t coming that way. You probably will check the pullman bag and the sea chest and carry the other small bags with you. If the linens and towels don’t come thru right away I can borrow.

So far as I know there is no change in the schedule here for the 16^th and it sure can’t come too soon. This has been the longest 10 days or however long it is up to now. Seems longer than the over sea time. Hope I don’t sound too bad. There just isn’t much to do around here and a hotel room

June 12, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] in a small town is about as friendly as two blonds at a bathing beauty contest. Maybe that is bad by comparison.

You sorta left me up in the air in the last paragraph of your letter today. Makes one wonder what news you are holding out.

It rained pretty hard here today and lasted for some time but it has been pretty warm.

Well, hope you are getting the things pretty well squared away there, but don’t worry too much about things because we can get things them eventually straightened out.

I probably won’t write again because a letter that I’d write tomorrow night wouldn’t go out until Wed. AM and that would arrive too late Fri.

So lots of Love
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/04/wont-write-again-roscoe/

Next Sunday (Roscoe)

6 Replies

June 11, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 11, 1944, p. 1

6/11/44
USNFPS
Liberty Mo.

Dear Mother,

Sunday Eve and I’m listening to the radio. In fact that is what I’ve been doing since leaving the school at 1500 and it is now 2020. I didn’t eat an evening meal – Had a big noon day meal so just skipped supper. I’ll probably get out and have a bar of candy or some such.

The P.O. was closed today so didn’t get the bag sent out. If it’s too big for parcel post I’ll send it express. It should get there in time that way. You might have to pick it up at the Depot if it comes by express. I’ll let you know in tomorrow’s letter how I’ve sent it.

Several of the officers and families seem to have a habit of eating Sunday dinner at the school. Of course I ate there. The head of the commissary is a civilian employed by the school and he doesn’t charge the Dr. He says that is the regulation. I’ve been eating 2 meals a day there and one here at the hotel – Breakfast. Their breakfast at school is at 0600 and that is a little early. Meals cost 35₵ to those who pay.

June 11, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] I’ll have plenty of typing for you to do when we get settled. I’ve almost finished the book.

One of the pharmacists told me I wouldn’t have needed any bed linens because I could borrow enough from sick bay. That might be OK but I wouldn’t want to do that unless in a pinch. That is a course that could used if necessary.

One of the pharmacist mates is a piano player and is planning on taking lessons at a conservatory in K.C. At least he is going to find out about it in the near future. They don’t have much of an Art and Music school here, but do have a voice instructor.

Well it’s been a long and dreary day and I don’t mean rainy. Hope next Sunday will be more pleasant –

Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/03/next-sunday-roscoe/

Big Push Tomorrow (Gladys)

4 Replies

June 11, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
6-11-44

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening and the boys are in after a game of croquet with the Zell girls. David is asleep – Just went up to see bout him and he had taken off his sleepers. I want to retire early because have lots to do next week. I intend to pack dishes, etc., but the men who do Lyon’s moving will move the rest out into the attic. I told Mr. L. we couldn’t lease the house but he said he didn’t expect a lease but would like a 30 day notice. Their refrigerator won’t fit into our kitchen so that won’t have to be moved. They will use ours. I don’t know about the stove, but it they don’t use ours, I will tell them to store it in the attic.

June 11, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] I gave Mr. L. a few instructions about the furnace but will tell him more before we leave.

As far as I know we will leave here on the 5 a.m. train and the 10 a.m. out of Chicago. I haven’t tried to get anyone to take us to Chicago in a car. I don’t like to ask anyone to make a trip that far unless they would be making it anyway. I haven’t seen much of Krulls. I called D. and went down to the restaurant one day but seems they were insulted because you didn’t go past and say good-bye – She wasn’t very friendly – in fact I had to make any conversation that went so I haven’t been back. I was entirely unaware of offending them but found out something was wrong and after getting the “freeze-out” decided to leave her alone until she thaws out.

I was out walking and stopped to see Arlene. She is having to rest quite a bit now. Her heart was bothering her, but she is feeling better.

June 11, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] They (Bill & Arlene) had a family picture made – It was very good. The picture man was around last Mon. but I didn’t have any take of David – Thought we would wait until he is 2 for a photographer picture.

Mark took his exams and got his report card. Got better grades on the exams than he had on his last term. When Al was out he said he told Miss W. he would go over her head and promote Mark, but I felt it wouldn’t hurt Mark to take the exams, then there wouldn’t be any questions or hard feeling on Miss W. part. Or course, I felt Al was right in the way he “put it” – He said “we graduate the Seniors who enter service, after one day of school,” so why not promote Mark, who had only one week to finish – so much for that.

June 11, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I am tired of doing nothing all day so will turn in and get rested up for the big push tomorrow.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/02/big-push-tomorrow-gladys/

I’ve Been Thinking (Roscoe)

3 Replies

June 10, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 10, 1944, p. 1

Sat. 6/10/44

Dear Mother,

Just after your telephone call. I’ve been thinking of some of the things you should do or have done. First – I think you should have an understanding about a notice of something like 30 days in case we want the place back. Ours here is 30 days. They may want to use the Bendix since there are no facilities for laundry in the basement, but that is up to you and them. You explain to them also how Geo. Monroe took care of the furnace last winter and then call Geo. and tell him to keep that up this next winter and send us the bill. And emphasize to him that he should release the trapped air in those radiators ever so often. Much of that junk of ours could be burned. I mean things in the garage

June 10, 1944, p. 2-3

[page 2] and lots of Mark’s mess in the basement. Maybe you have already done that.

You can also explain to them that our basement is not finished neither are there sufficient screens to go around the house but we will not do any fixing now because period. If they don’t want it unless just don’t rent it because we are still paying $20 more than they in an inferior house and off the record in an inferior town, but be that is it may – – -. Maybe I’ll like the town better after you come – I don’t like to create a false impression so that you will have an opinion formulated

[page 3] before you get here.

You drop me a note again as to the time, etc. I’ll be there but just so it will be a double check. Bring that sea chest on your ticket but tie some clothes line around it because that is sometimes handled pretty rough.

I was going to get your tickets and Pullman, etc., from here so I cased a $50 check today but that is OK because the lady we rent from isn’t going to deposit the $65 check until we move in.

Just have the renter there deposit the check to our account at the bank and tell Chaffey about it and also have him notify us if same isn’t

June 10, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] done. I suppose I’ll think of dozens of other things to be done but really I hadn’t even thought of renting. The Smiths will probably think we are a fine pair. Anyway they didn’t want to pay the $45 so.

Well, I’m going to take this to the P.O. and maybe it will go out tomorrow. I found I couldn’t ship the bag tonight but could ship send a letter.

Fri. the 16^th seems a long way off – wish you were here now.
Love Daddy

P.S. Get to the train early and get a good seat. Generally those trains form about 15 min. before starting time.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/03/01/ive-been-thinking-roscoe/

Release Clause (Roscoe)

4 Replies

June 9, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 9, 1944, p. 1

June 9

Dear Mother,

Just wrote a letter to Geo. inviting him to come thru our town on his trip East. I told him we would be here after June 15 or 16.

I did all my talking with the mother of the lady who owns the house when I rented it. And today I got a call from the owner relative to a lease. The reason she wanted that was because her husband is in the Navy and in case he would come home she would want her home in 30 days – the lease is for 3 month. I’m taking it to a lawyer here at the station to see if it is OK. There is a clause in it which releases me in case orders come thru. I haven’t signed and won’t

June 9, 1944, p. 2-3

[page 2] until I get advice from this fellow tomorrow.

The piano will stay in the house and she has an ironer which she if going to leave. The boys will like this – She has had an old colored man take care of the lawn in summer and the snow in the winter and she is going to have him continue at her expense. She is afraid if she lets him go she won’t be able to get him back again.

The drain board around the sink as I recall is a composition substance and isn’t in good condition. That is about the only thing not nice and of course the color of the outside isn’t anything to shout about in fact I think

[page 3] it yells right back at you. I now know why your letters were slow. You missed Tue. because of Zell and the train schedule. You’ll let me know more definite later as to time & place.

My Free letters go just as fast as your air mail letters so I’ll just save my money.

I don’t know what to advise you about the trip. There is a train from Chicago leaving there at 7:00 PM, arriving here at 7:00 AM and the bus trip to Quincy isn’t good. That is about a 5 hour trip from here. I believe the train would be much more comfortable for all concerned.

June 9, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I mean 5 hours each way. Of course I’ll make the trip if necessary.

I ate plenty of green onions for dinner today hope you can’t smell them from this letter. I thought I’d get all those things out of my system before you came down.

Well, Dear I hope this letter writing will soon be over –
Love Daddy

Monthly Update – February 2016

1 Reply

Wow! I can’t believe February is almost over, even with it being a short month, the days seemed to have sped by very quickly. Here in northern California, the temperature has been rising modestly and several species of cherry trees have begun to blossom and bloom. They look beautiful but they reek havoc with spring allergy sufferers.

The WWII Project

The Letters

I have officially transcribed and/or posted the 1,200th WWII letter (or related post). I have begun transcribing the letters that were received by Roscoe and Gladys in the 14 month gap in their correspondence. Between June 1944 and August 1945, Roscoe was stationed at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. The college was the home of the Naval Flight Preparatory school. During that time, Gladys and the boys lived with Roscoe in a rented house at 324 W. Kansas Street. The house was owned by another Naval officer who was stationed elsewhere. This student article gives a brief overview of William Jewell College’s roll during the War.

Dear Mother, Love Daddy

The first volume of letters has officially been in publication for over one year. I recently entered the book in a local authors exhibition, and I am waiting to hear if the book has been selected. Keep your fingers crossed! I know the book has a very small niche and is often overlooked or discounted by traditional publishers so any publicity is welcome.

Lots of Love, Daddy

The first draft of the second volume of letters has been submitted to the book’s website. The book now has its ISBN numbers assigned. I am currently editing the proof manuscript and constructing the book’s index. I have sent photographs to my cover designer and am waiting to see what he comes up with for the next book cover. I am hoping to have the completed manuscript ready to turn over to my editor by the end of March.

Sacramento Library

My volunteer program at the Sacramento Library continues to grow. I have been volunteering since last June, one Saturday afternoon a month dispensing genealogy advice and assistance. I have learned that my sessions are now booked out a month or two in advance.

This February’s session was yesterday. While I feel prepared to answer a variety of questions, I think I have met my nemesis! This gap in my knowledge is two-fold. I had two clients yesterday who were interested in pursuing their Mexican roots. I know very little about the geography of Mexico as well as what record types are unique to that country. I also don’t speak or read Spanish. It was disheartening to be unable to assist those patrons more fully. But it is a lesson for anyone who is interested in seeking genealogy assistance. Most genealogists have specialties, of one kind or another, and a single genealogist can not possibility be familiar with every type of record. I view my volunteer sessions as an educational experience for both the patron and myself. The more varied research opportunities I encounter, the better genealogist I will become for my clients. Hopefully, over time, I will become more familiar with the records south of the border.

The date has been set for my next lecture – May 7th. I am planning on giving a presentation on free online genealogy resources. I continue to be amazed by the number of people who have never heard of the LDS church’s free resources at FamilySearch.org. Their website is just one of hundreds (if not thousands) of resources available online for free.

Certification

Land deed index from Greene County, Indiana

Because I was so focused working on Lots of Love, Daddy this month, I did not do much towards certification. I had ordered two microfilms from the LDS library in Salt Lake which arrived at the local center near the beginning of the month. The microfilms were indexes for land records in two counties where my ancestors lived. One I plan on using for my KDP project and the other for my Proof Argument. One film appears to be a total bust. I was estimating when I thought my ancestor might have purchased land. It was a 50/50 shot and I chose the wrong reel. The second film appears to be more promising. I will have to return in the near future to continue looking through the reel. Unfortunately, I suffer from motion sickness and when I went to view the films I was still suffering from bronchitis so my body was definitely under the weather. The motion sickness hit me hard this time around and I had to leave in a hurry!

Requirement five for the application portfolio is a “Research Report Prepared for Another Person.” The report has several guidelines which must be adhered to in order to meet certification standards. Among the requirements necessary are skillful analysis of evidence and the use of a variety of sources. However, equally important is the fulfillment of the client’s commission. Did the genealogist work towards achieving the client’s goal?

I have written several client reports at this point in my career, and I do not fear this aspect of the portfolio. Unfortunately, I do not have permission from any client to use their report for this purpose. Client permission is a key component to this requirement. If you don’t have it, you can’t submit it. I am currently on the lookout for a client who would be willing to grant me this privilege as well as a project that I would find meaningful.

To download a copy of the Board of Certification application, click here.

Upcoming Events

I will be attending the Saturday seminar on March 12th at the Family Search library in north Sacramento. This is a day for learning about African American resources from the Freedman’s Bureau records to oral histories. The keynote speaker is Kenyatta Berry, one of the hosts from the PBS Genealogy Road Show. Registrations will be accepted through March 5th. Register online at www.AAFHS.com

Early bird registration for Jamboree continues through April 23rd. I have signed up as an official Blogger (hence the logo on the sidebar). I hope to see you there!

Train Schedules (Gladys)

6 Replies

June 9, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 9, 1944, p. 1

Kentland Ind.
6-9-44

Dear Daddy –

Went of Laf. today & got a Sante Fe schedule – I found that I can get a train out of Chicago at 10: a.m. as Jacobs told us that gets into K.C. 8:35 – Now we can get the train out of here at 5 a.m. if we can’t get someone to take us to the train in Chi. Ed is going to Hammond one day next week and if it isn’t too soon we will go up with him – I inquired about the train from Laf. and it goes to St. Louis and we would have to change trains so I checked that off the list. I suppose I’ll call you and talk all this out over the phone, but will write anyway.

Just listened to the Amos & Andy

June 9, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] show. Mark has been out chasing lightening bugs – He worked on his exams today. I found that the report cards hadn’t been mailed – Miss W. refused to give Mark his card unless he took the exams. She said if Mr. Cast wanted to go over her head and promote him he could and probably would – I found myself in the midst of a tempest I had precipitated (unwittingly). It seems there wasn’t the understanding about Mark’s promotion I was led to believe. At any rate I didn’t argue with Miss W. but told her he would do his exams and he did them today.

I have cleaned out a lot of trash to burn but it’s too late tonight so will leave it for tomorrow.

Not much news I care to write but will have a lot to tell you.
Love Mother

Very Much Absent (Roscoe)

1 Reply

June 8, 1944 envelope

Letter transcription:

June 8, 1944, p. 1

6/8/44
U.S.N.F.P.S.
Liberty Mo.

Dear Mother,

Your letters have been very much absent. Maybe I’m expecting too much but I haven’t hears from you since I talked to you on the phone. I suppose there will be 2 or 3 tomorrow. So far only one letter has arrived and that was written on the 4 & 5^th.

There are a few things I wish you would bring. No. 1. The part of that lesson you typed is not here and that book with the first 3 lessons and the envelopes the lessons have to be sent in are all missing. No. 2. See if you can find any of those feeding charts for babies. It seems I’ll have a few of those to put on a feeding schedule.

I took my medical bag over to sick bay today and had it all fixed up for house calls just in case. There was one call this eve. I had to go out to the other Dr.’s house to see their little boy – he had had an accident. Nothing serious. As I told you they have three. The oldest 3 yrs. old and if I’m not mistaken she is again that way. Maybe she just hasn’t returned back to shape since the last – if so what a shape –

The address I gave you last night should read West Kansas street but I think most people here

[page 2] go sorta by instinct like they do at home.

I wish you would be here in time to meet the Dr. and his family before they leave. They are Jewish from Brooklyn. The people here all seem to like them very well. However, if you come too soon we’ll have to camp you out because it will surprise me lots of these people get out by the middle of the month, but I jess things will work out somehow.

It rained a greater part of today and has been pretty cool. Good weather for chiggers – Mine are still with me but not as bad today as yesterday or the day before.

I guess I’m about run down and maybe I’d better take your advice and drop the folk a line this eve. I should have done that before but it just seemed I couldn’t get started –

Love Daddy