Tag Archives: World War II letters

What’s the Matter with Irene? (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-6-44

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening – listening to the radio and sitting by the fire. John and Mark are out in the kitchen eating cake. They went to youth fellowship and didn’t have time to eat before going. I have the radio tuned in on the Henry Ford Sunday evening church service – it’s held in the early American village Ford had rebuilt. John wants to listen to Charlie MC so he has the kitchen radio tuned in on that. David is in bed and I hope asleep. He does something new almost every day. Yesterday, Betty Zell showed him how to talk over his telephone. Now he acts like he is talking over the phone. I took him to church this a.m. He didn’t do

[page 2] as good as the last time, but J. & M. sat with us and I think he is better when they aren’t with him.

Zells asked us to go out to see Portteuses this afternoon. When we got near their place discovered they had company. Five or six cars were parked so we drove on past. We drove down past the new Kirkpatrick house. The old one burned to the ground and they have a very modern looking new shingle house. Mary P. said some time ago that it is a well planned house. They could only get a certain amount of material but must have made good use of what they could get.

I saw Irene and Link get into their car this morning with a traveling bag. I suppose

[page 3] Irene is back in the hospital in Chicago. She certainly looks the picture of health. She also looked like the latest word from Vogue. You might think I am being a little catty, but I think if her mother would quite over there and leave her with the responsibility of Jimmy and everything else she wouldn’t have so much time to think of herself. So many people say, “What’s the matter with Irene? She doesn’t look sick.” If ever I have seen a case of imaginary illness, she has it, but I believe her makeup is such that she craves attention and she goes thru different phases to get it and I think this is a phase. I wonder what she would do if Link had to leave and go into the Army – Maybe if she had to buckle down she would. I think I have philosiphised enough for the present.

Mark has a scare since the rabies in Krull’s dog. He is afraid

[page 4] to go out. I allowed him to remain home from school Fri. because he was so upset. He was talking a little while ago about being afraid to go to school tomorrow. I told him he has a bike and most of the children don’t have. I think he will get over this as time goes on. I just hope this will help get rid of stray dogs but that is a lot to hope for. The people who own dogs are ordered to keep them in but the stray dogs are still at large. The Town Board should take care of the strays but they won’t do that – you know what I mean, Bang, bang, dead dog.

The pin in the stoker broke today. Had to rebuild the fire and told John to watch it while I was gone but he didn’t so had to take the coal out and start the fire again. I have a bucket of coal & clinkers mixed. I will have to feed in by the door. I think there is a little Ind. coal mixed in that was on the floor when the better coal was put in. That Ind. coal is hard on pins.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/22/whats-the-matter-with-irene-gladys/ ‎

Notice the Date (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
USN Base Hospital #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 5, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m starting this on Sat. and if I can think of enough to write I’ll mail this one and write another for tomorrow even though they will both leave at the same time.

So far today I haven’t been warm because it’s one of those cool wet damp rainy days. I’m really not complaining because when I think of that hot steaming place it’s a pleasure to shake a little with the cool breezes.

Our show last night was fair – Rosalind Russell and someone in “Borrowed Wife” – a comedy that moved rapidly and filled with wisecracks. Tonite there is a

[page 2] double feature with two western pictures. No doubt they will really be good, but when one doesn’t like the show he can always get up and leave – There is no money involved so it’s one’s own pleasure.

You will notice the date on this letter – It seems to be getting around to that certain time and I don’t mind telling you that I’m not going to get much discussed until the month of Mar. rolls around and then I can’t promise. I’ve often written of the time, etc., but I find the anxiety increasing by the inverse rule, which means the shorter the time the more anxious. I guess I need say no more because

[page 3] you are perhaps experiencing the same reactions. When one is away from civilization it seems a more or less routine to see only persons in Khaki, but when one sees kids, women, men in civilian clothes with colored ties and numerous other things it is a little harder to have the time pass rapidly. Now I’ve said some things I didn’t even mean to say because I’m afraid they might make you feel badly. Please excuse I’ll be over this odd moment in a short time.

The radio in the rumpus room is going full blast and the dice of 3-4 Acey Ducey games are clicking. I’ve played a game

[page 4] or two since chow but one gets little tired of that also. It generally takes 20-30 min. to play one game – fun but there is lots of luck along with some science. Right now the Beer Barrel song is on the radio – a good song I’d say.

So far I have said nothing about mail – You guessed it there hasn’t been any but the P.M. is rather young.

Now that I’ve gotten so far along with this I’ll post it and write another tomorrow – That way I can say

Lots of Love (one time extra)
Daddy

 

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/21/notice-the-date-roscoe/

Where’s Daddy? (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-5-44

Dear Daddy –

No letters since Wed. If I thought it meant one thing I wouldn’t care but am almost afraid to build upon that idea. I will hope just as I have been all along.

It is windy today but not very cold. However it may get cold. The weather has been unusually warm for this time of the year. Some days the grey overhanging sky seems very bleak and I long for sunny days and to putter around in the yard.

David just awakened from his nap and Mark took him to the bathroom. He doesn’t show much tendency toward helping us train him. If we take him to the bathroom at the right time we save a diaper, otherwise it has to be washed. Mark & I were in the nursery with him and Mark said, “Where’s Daddy?” David was on the couch and got down as quickly as possible and went to the living room I such a hurry we followed to see where he was going.

[page 2] He went to the table and tried to get your picture. I gave it to him and he pointed to it and said “Da.” His picture & yours sit side by side but he seems to know which one to get when we say, “Where’s Daddy?” He understands so many things we say, we have to go around spelling things that concern him. I suppose he will soon catch on to the spelling.

John is listening to the opera and doesn’t want to be bothered. Mark and I are keeping David in the nursery, because you can’t concentrate on much when he is bothering around. Mark is entertaining him while I write. Now it isn’t as bad as it sounds, but he is a live wire.

Mark was so afraid he had been exposed to Rabies he was ill. Fri. morning he said he didn’t feel like going to school so I let him remain home. I tried to tell him he couldn’t get rabies from just touching Sammon’s dog, but he was too scared to

[page 3] be convinced. Buddy & Betty are having to take shots because their dog died from Rabies. Fortunately Mark hadn’t been around Krull’s dog recently. Tommy Britton seems to [be] very glib in telling stories. He was telling that Buddy had rabies. Dorothy was so angry with Tommy she said he was a little so and so and she would like to slap his face, etc., etc., etc.

– My nurse maid ran out on me and D. is up on the couch climbing around me and how long I can write before I stop and put him down is a question.

I saw Nick’s car pull in down at his Mother’s. I suppose he was bringing her back from her mother’s funeral which was held this morning in Rensselaer. Mrs. Ramp was visiting here with Mrs. K. when she died Thurs.

Dorothy Cobb Stevens’ husband is in the Navy and at present is in Base Hosp. #5. She doesn’t know where he is except in the S.W. Pacific. He had an operation recently for hernia.

The sun is shining faintly so think I’ll put D. out in his buddy and let M. watch him. Mark is out skating with Virginia.

[page 4] We baked a cake and cookies this A.M. – John mixed the cake before he went to take his music lesson. It is chocolate. That isn’t good for John’s pimples – he still has a few but we go lightly on the choc. most of the time. The Gym Class took some new exercises this week and John was sore for a day or two. They took a hike around Kent Pond. I told him it was a good thing for the class to do something like that, otherwise he wouldn’t and I think he needs more exercise than he takes.

Zells are still working on the upstairs. They are going to put a dormer in the front where that little decoration on the roof is. They will have quite a nice room when they get it finished. Mr. Z. had to take a physical but doesn’t know whether he will have to go because Purdue says the Co. Agents are to be deferred for occupation. However it is known that he has taken the exam and the stories are circulating. One story Dorothy told Lucile for positive was he had enlisted in the Navy. Lucile said she didn’t think he had but D. said it was so. Well the truth is he hasn’t enlisted and didn’t have any intention of doing so. When

[page 5] he talked about enlisting he was told he should remain on his job as it is considered very essential. He isn’t taking all the “gossip” very well. He says he wishes he had gone to Brookville and gone with that group and no one here would have known anything about it. He is registered at Brookville.

I haven’t seen Art Kenny. He has been home several days. His mother is very ill and he probably is spending most of his time with her, because he is on his way “out.” He says he will be in the South Pacific.

I haven’t heard from Jim but once since Christmas. I wrote him not long ago and told him to let me know if he is sent out. In that event Thelma would return home and I am sure would let me know.

I must get this finished so it can be mailed.
“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/20/wheres-daddy-gladys/ ‎

Packages (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 4, 1944

Dear Mother,

Finally I got the M.O. for Mark and it will go out in the mail tomorrow so that is that.

I’m writing this before mail time today again and will add a note later letting you know if anything comes along. Now I’ve written that same line that appears in every one of the letters.

There is an ambitious Dr. outside my window practicing golf. I mean just swinging a club. No he has a ball tied to a string.

[page 2] He seems to be enjoying himself lots. Lentz is out playing again this P.M.

The mail came it was packages. Your other Christmas package came this one had socks. I didn’t know you had sent tow. This one today was crushed up a bit with a little candy on the socks and some sticky on all the boxes parts including some on the writing paper, but I’ll be able to use the paper I think. I’d hoped the picture of D might arrive but no such luck.

A letter also came from Joe R. He seems to be doing OK and still wondering about the 18 mo. just like all of up us are doing.

[page 3] Geo. Wingfield also sent me a Christmas present. A sterling silver name plate with chain for around the wrist. You know an identification tag. It sure is a swell one. Needless to say all these packages went to Navy 60 and that is the reason for the lateness and the bad condition. Your packages are always in worse condition than those from anyone else. I can tell that you secure them as well as anyone else but I think they must read who they are from and then someone gets them down and stamps them and then

[page 4] use them for a football and then just for good measure gives them a final kick. Maybe I’m a little hard on the mail carrier.

It seems to me that chewing gum has changed or maybe it’s the heat but it really don’t seem the same at least this that you sent doesn’t/ They don’t have the stuff here so I really get a kick out of that. I possibly won’t need the socks but I can always use them sooner or later.

Well Dear thanks loads for the package and

Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/19/packages-roscoe/

Post War Planning (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-4-44

Dear Daddy –

The third day without mail but tomorrow is another day. I attended the Post War Planning meeting at the high school last nite. Al Case acted as chairman to start the meeting, then appointed Howard Washburn, Stu Beatly and H. Healy to select a chairman, Vice and Secy. The committee nominated Al for Chairman, Mary Roe, Vice and Bud Weldon, Secy. Others present were Newell Lamb, Judge R. Bower, Bill Ross, Mr. Brandt & Mrs. Brandt, Rebecca Cannon, Lucile Rhude, Howard Hiestand, Ira Dixon & Kenneth McCarty. The State is asking for such committees to be organized all over the state, in every town and city, and the purpose is to help take care of re-adjustments,

[page 2] etc., after the war. The think the committee decided to begin working on now is a recreation center for everybody, to be built next to the high school. Other projects were discussed but it was decided it would be better to concentrate on one thing. They are going to invite one of the Funk men to represent the company, Harold Foulkes, the Cheese Co., and Link having already been appointed to the committee to represent D. Davis Co. Since all three are sizeable concerns, for this size community, should be represented. I don’t know how all mentioned were appointed. I was asked to represent the Woman’s Club and Mary Roe the Jr. Club. I imagine Rebecca Cannon is from the Amer. Legion. – One thing that was mentioned was the ditch, and Bill Ross doesn’t want

[page 3] anything done that will interfere with his farm drainage, but I doubt if anything will be done about the ditch soon. We have had it this long so why hurry. To get along with the meeting, Judge Bower having a poker party in progress at his home had to leave before the meeting was over also Mrs. Cannon had to leave to attend same poker party. I wanted to tell the rest of the committee I was glad they could remain. Of course I didn’t say anything, but you know how important it is to our townfolk to keep up their poker, etc. I thought Rebecca was unusually quiet for her and I suppose she didn’t want to say too much when she didn’t intend to remain thru the whole meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for

[page 4] about a month from now. Will give you more dope on it later. I don’t know what you think of the whole thing, but I believe some good can be accomplished if this same group work on it.

It is warm and sunny today. I hung clothes out. There is just enough breeze to swish the clothes a little.

Nick’s grandma Ramp died yesterday at Mrs. Krull’s. She was 88 years old. I suppose you met her sometime. I never did. She was quite a character from all accounts.

There is a rabie scare around. Krulls had a dog that died and it was determined that he died from rabies so now all dogs are to be quarantined. Mark was so worked up over it he thought he might get rabies because he touched one of Sammon’s dogs. I told him he could only get the disease from the dog biting him or getting saliva into a cut – His imagination ran away with him for a while. John said he didn’t like dogs and they don’t like him.

Love Mother

P.S. David it out in his buggy getting some sun. Must go see how he is getting along.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/18/post-war-planning-gladys/ ‎

Central Heating (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 3, 1944

Dear Mother,

You will have to explain to Mark that his birthday present might be a little late because due to something or other the P.O. isn’t issuing money orders just now but I’ll get one as soon as they are and maybe it will get there in time I hope.

It has rained a little this P.M. and is rather cool in fact so cool I’m thinking of adding a little extra heat. That is another thing

[page 2] these people here don’t believe in – central heat. Each home has several fireplaces and I don’t think they are used much at that of course I have no way of know[ing] if they are used or not. We have one in our lounge here and it hasn’t been used over once or twice and we have one in our officer’s club which has never been used.

I suppose you and the boys use our fireplace pretty frequently these days. I know how you used to like to do that in the evening.

This is before mail time – fooled you this time but not

[page 3] starting the letter with those few simple remarks. We should be due for some good air mail one of these days, but I believe I’ve said that on many occasions before.

I seemed to have stalled for it’s been about 10 min. between the last two sentences. I have a big map on the wall next to me of the Pacific Ocean and I keep looking at the latest war developments and then my eyes drop to N.Z. and off hand we are a considerable distance from the war, not to say, a more considerable from home.

I’ve often wondered about Gale Dye’s husband. I believe

[page 4] you said he returned to Hawaii after his 10 day leave. Who knows I may get a 10 day leave some of these days – I hope – That some of these days is a vague indefinite thing but a reality which will be an actuality in some not too distant future I hope.

No mail so let’s change the subjects and say –
“Lots of Love”
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/17/central-heating-roscoe/

Local Military News (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Feb. 3 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

No letters again today, but have up to Jan. 21 letters, so can’t complain.

It is foggy today and not cold. The sun came out for a little while but it’s cloudy again. It was so foggy this morning we could hardly see the trains go by. David likes to watch the trains. He isn’t tall enough to see them so unless he is in his bed we lift him up so he can watch. When the boys come in and give him their caps, he takes them to the closet to put away.

[page 2] I hope he keeps the good habit when he is old enough to put his own clothes away. He has a habit of pulling his bye-bye clothes out of the drawer most any time during the day. Unless it is bye-bye time, Mother has [to] put the things back and say, “No, not now.”

I see in the Democrat this week that Lt. Dale Jones has been promoted to Capt. and is in England. Gene Wilson is overseas, no address given. John Milligan is in the same place Floyd Remsburg and John Couch are stationed, somewhere in the S.W. Pacific. Pinky’s 10 furlough is up and he has gone back to Grenada, Miss.

Art Kenney is home now. Says he is on his way to the Pacific. He was wishing you would

[page 3] be home before he left, but evidently that won’t be. I heard over the radio news today that the Army is going to bring the men back for a furlough who have been out 18 months. That is news, because that is the first I have heard about the Army having such a program. It wasn’t so very long ago that an announcement was made that the Army promised no leaves for the men in the Pacific, but the Navy men would come home after 18 months.

Mrs. Zell told me yesterday that Bob Schurtter’s application for a commission in the Navy has gone thru and he is waiting now for his appointment. There was some mistake about

[page 4] it and he thought he hadn’t been accepted, but that was cleared up.

I think I wrote this before, that Al Cast is going to resign from the school system and take over Ellsworth’s business while E. is in the Army. E. is still home on deferment.

I hear a faucet dripping – so I must go and shut it off.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/16/local-military-news-gladys/

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
2/3/44

Dear Dr. Yegerlehner,

We planned to send you a Christmas greeting, but lots happened around here about then and mothering but mere essentials got our attention. Although we have not met, it seems I know you fairly well by knowing the rest of your family.

Mark and I do some swapping of work. Not long ago we cleared off and burned the gardens one evening after school. Another evening he burned brush and helped me saw up a maple top on Rinehearts lot to the North of our lot.

Ed Johnson and I had fun fixing up the electric train. Ed did some soldering and I got a new screw for the engine. Last Sunday all of us had dinner with your family. While the women decided some big problems, Mark and I put the train in operation here. He said he had some trouble this week but changed transformers and all is OK.

We want to tell you how much Virginia appreciated your letter last fall. She has faithfully kept it. It seemed to ease her. All of us regretted the whole incident so much.

You probably know Al Cast is going into Prairie Realty at the end of this school year.

[page 2] “Socky” is reported to be due for service soon, so I suppose Al will take over. Al and I were closely associated last summer on Farm Labor work. He is tactful and can put a lot of “fire” in the job when he wants to, so I think he’ll make good. The back porch “chorus” will be short at least one voice when Wilson leaves.

Sometimes I’m doubtful about being in the good grace of your family, especially you, after hearing reactions to other specimens known as county agents. I do work though and even get dirty at times. We are trying to do a lot of 4H club work including livestock and cropwork. Much of our time in the past 2 years (even before I came here) has been spent in helping farmer with labor and production efforts. The favorable weather, and the fact that farmers know no hours have done the job. Better seeds and methods have helped some I hope.

Speaking of active service, I passed my final physical last Tuesday. When I am called will depend upon how my Employer’s policy works out with Selective Service. Purdue (my Employer) has been requesting that experienced men stay on, but I know nothing except Army-Navy Doctors say I’m healthy.

Our office often helps organize “Drives.” Attended Red Cross planning session today. County Quota is $11,500, 150% of last March. Ira Dixon handles publicity. I know he would appreciate any story of Red Cross activity you have thought outstanding.

All of us join the members of your family wishing you a speedy return to the States.

Sincerely,
Russell Zell

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/15/dear-dr-yegerlehner/ ‎

Birthday Letter to Mark (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner (MC) USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mark,

It seems to me you have a birthday this month so I guess I’d better send you the same as I did John & David. This one is different however because it will be a mixed up one. Bought in shillings and then when you get the money it will be in dollars. How do you like that? Wouldn’t it be a surprise if when you went to cash it you would get 12/9 instead of the two bucks?

I guess I received a letter from you just the other day thanking me for the Christmas present I sent you – That just about slipped my mind. So I really owed you a letter.

Well, I hope I won’t have to send John any present for his birthday from overseas but one never can tell.

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/14/birthday-letter-to-mark-roscoe/ ‎

That’ll Be The Day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 2, 1944

Dear Mother,

Before mail time again today but I’m not expecting much since your two letters came yesterday. However there are several missing between the last two bunches.

I went to the P.O. just before starting this letter to get Mark’s M.O. and found that it didn’t open for about an hour so will have to make another trip later. I’ll try and finish this and then write his letter before going back.

Again bringing up the subject of what Tommy Britton told his mother. I’ve always wondered just how or what I’d do by

[page 2] way of informing you that I have arrived. I suppose it won’t be hard to figure that out once I’ve gotten on the USA soil again. It probably will be strange because things have changed but we should be able to get used to those changes if we were able to get used to the foreign situations.

Transportation across the country probably will be hard to get and that is going to seem like a long trip – but why am I writing all this? Well anyway it doesn’t matter if one wants to daydream now and then or should I say think ahead. As we say in New Zealand – That’s be the day.

As I wrote you often and long ago the term of duty out here

[page 3] is still a very favorite topic of conversation and everyone is vitally interested, however, much one might like this country.

That is a question on is often asked here – How do you like our country? If one meets a native before long that question is going to be asked, and of course they like an answered which is good. The average New Zealander thinks Americans are supermen. I mean those that haven’t learned. One could make lots of money selling buying Americans for what they are worth and selling them for their actual value. The “Bloody” Yanks do spend lots of money here and that gives the people a false idea, and incidentally don’t ever use the word Bloody in nice company because it’s considered definitely

[page 4] ungood.

You will note that I’m writing on this paper just a little funny but I don’t like to unfold it. I guess you can find the key to read it I’ll at least number the pages and that will help.

I’m sipping a coke while I write. Today is coke day so I bought a case. The price was up to 4 shillings but that isn’t too much to pay for a case. Cigarettes are down in price 6/2 2/6 and that makes them cost around 5 to 7 cents per pack.

When one rides on a tram here he has to tell them how far he is going because the fare is different for different distances. Seems logical doesn’t it? Tickets to service men are reduced – I don’t know how much.

I hope John reads lots about the country because I don’t know much about it and I’ll be able to learn something when I get back.

Well, I’ll write Mark now and get the M.O. later.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/13/thatll-be-the-day-roscoe/