Tag Archives: World War II letters

Last Day of 1943 (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-31-43

Dear Daddy –

The last day of 1943. Received yours of Dec. 18 & 19 one day this week, but no letters today. I mailed you the financial statement I made out for 1943. Since you sent the $300.00 I think I’ll get 3 – $37.50 bonds today and that will make #243.75 put into bonds this year or one over our $18.75 a month. I just came up from the basement and do I feel dirty. That Ind. coal certainly did mess things. I need to mop the entire floor, but not until I have plenty of pep. I did sweep up the furnace room which isn’t any good for my sinus.

David hasn’t any temperature today but his nose is still running and his bowels are moving good. I think nature

[page 3] is helping him eliminate his cold. I have kept him in his bed all day except for meal times. He has a pretty good appetite. When we say something to him he often responds with “bah” – I hardly think he knows just what that means but it sounds cute. I dug out the little chairs John & Mark used to play with but couldn’t find all the table – I’ll look again because I think it was all in one place. They are in pieces but I think they can all be put together again. I am sure he will enjoy playing with them.

John has been helping me wash today. He is reading Tom Sawyer again. He is old enough to catch Mark Twain’s humor which he thinks is very good.

Mark has been building on a $1.00 model I gave him some time ago. He hasn’t done much else today, but I want him to rest as much as possible.

[page 3] He went to Buddy’s to play yesterday, stayed for supper and went to a movie last night with them.

I dismantled the Christmas tree last night. It had been up since the first of Dec. and was very dry. I like to put them up but always anxious to get them down & things put away again.

I see in the paper that Jack Dye lost a leg and has been discharged from the Army. He will soon be sent home. He was awarded the order of the Purple Heart.

Mrs. James Illingsworth died this week – You remember her I am sure. Old Mr. I.’s wife – they lived in town.

Tony Schuh was operated on for gall stones before Christmas. While he was in the hospital, Bill was taken there with pneumonia. Tony is home and able to be around. I suppose Bill is too by now.

[page 4] The locker plant has been approved for Kentland. They are to start building as soon as possible. I don’t know who will run it but no one from here. A John Eilts of Crown Point will install the locker – There are 300 paid subscriptions. We have $10.00 in that. Our locker rent at Brands is just pd. for 6 mo. (to Feb.). Maybe the new locker will be ready by Mar. 1. I hope so then we can come out about even.

Mark got his electric train out but couldn’t get it to run, so Mr. Zell took it and is going to see if he can get it running. He went to Kokomo (his parent’s home) to see his (only) nephew, who is in the Navy and soon to go places. Took the train along – Said his nephew had all kinds of electric trains he used to play with. Thought both of them could work on it. Mark hasn’t had it out this winter – I hope they get it repaired so Mark can play with it again. I believe David would enjoy watching it too.

Happy New Year & Love Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/11/last-day-of-1943-gladys/ ‎

A Few Pictures (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this letter in between the usual times but since there is no show tonight I’ll write during that time. To begin with there was no mail today so there isn’t much to serve as a basis for writing. Secondly nothing has happened since yesterday so I guess I could stop here and now but with so little written that wouldn’t be proper so I’ll just keep writing something until something else comes into mind.

After the trip I sent you a few pictures and promised to send others. I thought I had gotten all of them sent but found two three in the drawer. I guess you have no difficulty picking me out of the group. The one is taken at the entrance of the small hotel with Mrs. McCormick the manager. In the other is Mrs. Mac. again with her two sisters and one of the sister’s boys. The mother of the boys is between Bob & I. The boys were thrilled at being able to talk personally with Americans.

You will note the teal tea table between Mrs. Mac. & I. That seems to be a very

[page 2] necessary article with them. It “sorta” reminded me of being out in the yard on Sun. PM and at home and having a round of cokes, but this is an every day affair, however, this happened to be Sun.

The one where I had my hat off I wasn’t going to send because it looks like the devil but it’s good of the others. Everything is the same only the father of the boys is taking the place of the sister who I taking the picture. Mr. Mac. Hadn’t gotten there as yet but his picture is in one of the pictures I sent before. That was the one with the frayed edges. Mrs. Mac opened the camera before turning it up the film.

I’ve certainly filled up space and hope I haven’t been too tiring. I probably could tell you more in the way of names and places but perhaps I’d better not or it might get the censors ax. Maybe some of this won’t pass.

Well, maybe the old year going out tomorrow will bring mail with it. I hope
Love Daddy

[Editor’s note: The photographs mentioned in this letter are not in my collection so they may no longer exist.]

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/10/a-few-pictures-roscoe/ ‎

Finances 1943 (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

12-29-43

Dear Daddy –

Here is that long promised statement – I was just wondering where I could have spent $330.00 – the amt. I didn’t dep. (over 12 mo.) every month when the cks. come – but you know how little amounts count up. A lot of that went into gas & oil. There is an item under checks for car expenses but that included license, Federal sticker, etc. I know I spent a lot going back & forth to Laf. besides the few other trip we took to Clay City & Wilmington. I dep. the $170.00 & cash the $30.00 – by the end of the month the $30.00 is gone, for music lessons, gas, oil, papers, etc. – Doesn’t seem possible, but somehow every month something comes up to require something extra. However I think our statement shows enough gain, in loans pd. off, bonds & piano bought. You will notice I got the Ins. & groc. Items reversed. That bal. I carried over from last year included the $250.00 you sent me while I was in the hospital when D. was born and the $100.00 for Christmas. I didn’t have an adding machine so some of my figures may be off slightly but not much, and since I don’t keep books by ledger or budget I didn’t balance things to the penny. The money banked is according to the banks figures, and most of the ck. figures are to the penny but in some instances to make adding easier I used round numbers.

[page 2] David’s temp is normal again. I think he has a tooth causing some of his trouble. We kept him on the studio couch most of the day, but he got to feeling so good I finally put his shoes on him and turned him loose. He was very happy to have his freedom. I am enclosing some pictures taken just before Christmas. The one of the 3 boys isn’t very good but you can still see some resemblance. David was being particularly difficult that day about posing with J. & M. He did very well by himself as you can see. We have been trying to train him in his toidey habits – every time I take him to the bathroom I say, David is going toidey – Today he was walking around and I asked him if he wanted to toidy – and he went right to the stool – maybe he will soon tell me some way when he wants to go. Christmas & the day after at Ruth’s I could watch him closely and had only 3 pants for the 2 days.

I told you in a v-mail that Arleen & Bill have a girl named Joy – 8 lbs. Alma W. was in Laf. today – went to see Arlene and said she was fine. The visiting hours have been shortened to 1 hr. in the afternoon & 1 hr. in evening – Sometimes that is too long.

Love Mother

[Click on the image of page 3-4 of the letter to view Gladys’ accounting for 1943]

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/09/finances-1943-gladys/ ‎

Chow (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 29, 1943

Dear Mother,

The only mail today was a package from Mead Johnson & Co. A bunch of Vit. A, B, C & D. I’m not sure that I need them but will keep them just in case I feel as if I’m getting low in any one of the said vitamins. Right now I feel I should really take some of some kind because the food for me today was bad. At noon we had corned beef and I’ve eaten lots of that. This isn’t so bad because it wasn’t canned but I don’t like it as well as chicken. This eve. for chow we had spaghetti and lamb stew and I just simply would not eat. I did, however, eat a few raw cucumbers with vinegar and a small, very small piece of cake – Tomorrow is another day and the food will be better and I won’t fall off too much in weight for not having eaten much as of Dec. 29. I’ve drank a few cokes and those will help keep the system going.

Just stopped to kill two great big flies, and when I say big I mean just that. They remind one of bombers. We have no screens and they come in and buss and one really feels like he is being blitzed. I don’t pay much attention to them at night but early in the morning they are a real menace to

[page 2] one’s sleeping routine.

The box that came from Ruth & Floyd yesterday had parts of an Indianapolis Star in it and the fellow that I wrote about from Kentland got a Star from someone and he traded me that for the Newton Co. E. so I have some reading to do especially the funnies. There was three comic books and I have read those so am now ready to start on the funnies.

It’s late tonight as I didn’t start writing until after the show and the show was rotten. That last part had nothing to do with the late start at writing but I just added it for affect or something.

Well Dear I’ll take a vitamin pill, get the funnies and retire – so solong until tomorrow –
Love
Daddy

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©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/08/chow-roscoe/

Joy Funk (Gladys)

1 Reply

1943-12-29 #01 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND.
12-29-43

Dear Daddy – Your letter of Dec. 18 & 19 came yesterday. I planned to go to Laf. today but David developed a cold and had a temp. I had Dr. M. come out. He said it was all in his head and left some pills (not sulfa) for him. His temp is down but he is cross. He is asleep now. I think he must have gotten a bug from Earl or Mark. There still seems to be a lot of flu around. David is getting a lot of attention now to keep him quiet – but it doesn’t always keep him so – but so far we have kept him on the couch with his toys around him. He still has plenty of pep and likes to play with his toys. Bill called last night and said the new baby had arrived, a girl, 8 lbs. – named Joy. Said Arlene was doing fine. I do hope she is, because with the help situation as it is now she will want to get up as soon as possible. J. & M. aren’t doing much during vacation. John has to take a music lesson tomorrow. Mark isn’t quite over his cold yet – I was going to take him to Laf. today – but since David isn’t feeling so good didn’t go. Maybe I can go Fri. or one day next week. It is still cold enough for the pond to be frozen. David Diedam came by for Mark to go skating, but I told him Mark couldn’t go toady. It isn’t too cold but just good winter weather – for people who like winter.

Love, Mother

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/07/joy-funk-gladys/

George Wingfield, Jr. (George)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Dec. 28, 1943

Dear Mrs. Yegerlehner,

It’s been over two months since my return and in the meantime Jake (that’s what we called your husband) has been transferred to the cooler areas someplace, I think, in New Zealand, although I’m not too sure.

At any rate a lot of mail that has been following me for three months caught up – finally and in it, a letter from the Doctor. He said to be sure and drop you a line

[page 2] an believe me I wouldn’t fail him.

His 18 months should be up the first of February although it may take a little longer in that things aren’t quite as automatic as they sound. Jake was fine when I last saw him in August.

We had a lot of fun out there amongst ourselves along with the harder side of life as the Solomons (Russell Islands to be more specific) aren’t exactly a playground even in peace time.

Jake is not only a good doctor – and that I mean – but a good friend as well – and he spoke so much of his wife that I couldn’t help but admire you both for what you are to each other. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you when this is over. Happy New Year and the wish for your husband’s quick

[page 3] return. You must all stop off in Reno sometime when you are out West and we’ll “fight the war” in retrospect as it should be fought. We’ll all sing “Indiana, Indiana” in Nevada.

Sincerely,
George Wingfield, Jr.

P.S. Jake was so anxious that you got the flowers. I hope they arrived in good shape.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/06/george-wingfield-jr-george/

Re-read Your Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

I’ve re read your letters. The latest from you was the v-mail Dec. 13 and the next was your greeting card and letter – Dec. 12. The other v-mail was Dec. 11 and the letters were back to Dec. 5 but not all were present back that far. Some are missing.

I was amused at what you said wrote that John said about the money situation. Does he take after his Mom or his Pop? He should have a vote of thanks for thinking of the family finances. And the finances – what with those large chunks coming out for the piano, the loans, the hospital, etc., I think you have really done well. Next year we won’t have those things, but there is always something to th take the place of those things. You mentioned your mother’s hospital expenses. What are you or have you done about the funeral expenses. I assume you had Bob H., etc. and you have some arrangement with him. You perhaps wrote all this but it hasn’t arrived. Did you have take her to Shelburne? Or What? Maybe you would rather not write those things but I’d like to know.

[page 2] I hope you and the boys don’t get the flu – you mentioned in your last letter that it was pretty thick around. I suppose Dr. M. is worked pretty hard during conditions like that. He probably does what he wants to and lets the rest go to someone else. How about the Drs. in Sheldon? There were three there when I left, and our friend at Earl Park? And do you ever hear from Jim Openshaw?

Miller must have been sent out quick because the last time I heard he was in Tenn. or Mich. and had just been transferred.

Seems as if I’ve asked lots of questions in this letter rather than answered those your letter but those are some of the things I’ve thought of while reading your letters.

The mail hasn’t arrived as yet today or I should say it isn’t time for the mail to arrive so I’ll finish later – Later –

Yours of Dec. 9th came – a greeting card letter from Ruth & Floyd and a box from them also. So all in all it wasn’t a bad mail call –

Love Daddy

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©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/05/re-read-your-letters-roscoe/

Second Letter (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Dec. 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I have been working on the financial statement – but having no adding machine I didn’t go into such details as groc. bills, lights, telephone, etc. but here is a list of Ins. – $443.55 – House $508.48 – Piano $300.oo – Loans paid $243.91 & $173.69 – Bike $35.00 – Hospital $128.80 – Bonds – $131.25 – coal $100.00 – The total of the above amounts to $2064.68 – The balance necessary to meet expenses is long & detailed and I’ll try to get the columns added so I can give you a complete report. As you will note I have not paid any Taxes (except $6.60 for the first of the year) but Agnes M. said for me not to. I think I have explained all about the taxes before. Even the gross isn’t paid by people in Service. The $330.00 you sent will take care of Ins. coming due the first of the year and I think I can buy some bonds, too. Our present bal. is $301.81 – and with the Jan. 1 cks. coming I’ll dep. $170.00 – There are bills amounting to $174.00 to be paid in Jan. – that doesn’t include groc. Bills which should amt. to about $30.00 – so I should be able to buy some bonds and still keep a comfortable bal. Does all the above sound complicated and as clear as a woman would make it? Thought I would give you food for thought – let you figure some of it out for yourself – I think you can add and deduct the right figures.

The other evening we were listening to Red Skeltons’ program and Ozzie & Harriet sang a song that sounded like double talk, but it is something like the tobacco auctioneers chant –

[page 2] It is Mares eat oats, Does eat oats, little kids lambs eat ivy, little kids lambs eat ivy – a kid’ll eat ivy too, wouldn’t you – Now just say it like this: Marze dotes and dozee doze, liddle lamz edivy, liddle lamz edivy, a kiddle dee divvy too, wouldn’t chew – I wish I could tell you the tune too – We all go around here singing Marze dotes. It’s just one of those silly catchy things. I know if you could have picked it up you would probably be humming it too.

It is getting late and I need some extra sleep to make up for getting a little tired over the holidays. We just listened to Dogwood and it was all about snoring – Imagine anything like that being funny. Sometimes David makes a noise in the night if he doesn’t sleep soundly – I don’t know what makes him do it, but Earl said he heard him all night Sat. when we stayed there. I really believe he heard him just a little while because I heard him, I think, about 4 a.m. but you know people think they hear things all night long, when they don’t – and especially if they aren’t feeling well.

Your Mother’s box came today and there was a picture of her & dad, done by a photographer. I hope she sent you one because it’s a very good picture. Pjs for J. & M. and a dollar for D. With the ten you sent & the 1.00 Mrs. P. gave him I am going to add enough for him a bond.

This is my second letter to you today, but the first one was written early this a.m. We’ll add a line in the morning.

Love Mother

Tues Morn – Yours of Dec. 18 & 19 came today. Also a letter from Glen & Pauline with $20.00 – $5.00 for each of us – They couldn’t find anything to send for gifts so just sent money. I sent them a box about two wks. before Christmas.

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/04/second-letter-gladys/

Trouble with the Furnace (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 27, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received several letters from you today – Yours & the boys Christmas greetings – a letter and box from the folks and a greeting card letter and picture from Dolores. The picture was of she and he taken in Washington. I’ll have to re-read your letters before I write next time because I’m on-duty now and the letters aren’t where I am. And that is also the reason for the pencil.

You mentioned the check – That was the first one I sent. Hope the other one have arrived by now. Your mail service that way must be pretty good – almost as good as when I was back up the way.

A Newton Co. E. came today – The one telling of C.O. Riggs. That was the first I knew of the whole thing and in it was an account of the Simison girl having her appendicitis – Lots of news – Even Grace Cox was in the hospital. You haven’t mentioned lately whether Dr. Van Kirk is back at work or not – Maybe you aren’t interested in him. Not even enough for him you to write about him.

It seems you are having trouble with the

[page 2] furnace and Indiana Coal. Can’t Geo. Monroe get the thing regulated? Why don’t you have him make trips out there about every hour some day to check on it to see if he can really get things going?

I’m going to check the figures on the finances you gave and probably will have some comment about those but I read the letters so rapidly I couldn’t tell now a single figure you mentioned.

Do you remember a long time ago I mentioned sending an officer home with a bad eye? About June first. He is now back out at the first station when I was first located. He was back there U.S.A. for 5 months, so I guess he doesn’t have too much to complain about.

Well, next time I’ll answer more of your letters.
Love Daddy

P.S. also got a letter from Wayne W.

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/03/trouble-with-the-furnace-roscoe/

That Old Biological Urge (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 14-15-16 & 17 came this morning. I was feeding David and when he quit eating I read your letters before I had my breakfast. The ck. was along in the letter of the 16th. I will get it banked today and work on the statement I want you to have. I am so tired today, should be able to get some written work done because I haven’t pep enough to do much else. I did too much hurrying around for Christmas, but I think a day or two of relaxing will fix me up. I am supposed to go to Laf. Wed. to get my lenses or rather left lense replaced so will take Mark to have the X-ray you suggested. Mark is a little run down now too. Had a little cold Christmas day but I think with a few days rest will be ready for school Monday. He is just like he was when you were home – runs himself ragged if I don’t hold him down. He was so good after he got over his tonsil operation. All signs of nervousness had gone, but after he was in school a while he began jerking his head again and going other little things nervously. I know from past experiences, rest is the best thing for him. I think he skipped his cod liver oil before Christmas several times and I think that is one reason he has a cold.

The new Digest came this morning and John is reading it while I write this, then he is going to the P.O. and bank. There is a package at the

[page 2] P.O. It could be from your mother or Glenn. Your mother didn’t get his gifts sent to Ruth’s or to us. She had the flu pretty hard. I hated that because she had been feeling so extra good.

David is in his bed playing with some of his new toys. – I just looked in and he has thrown toys on the floor and is playing with the box they were in. He woke me up about 6 this morning and I had to change his pants – he went back to sleep and I did too. It was past 8 when he got me awake again. I got up and brought him down for his breakfast. The shoes you mentioned have been returned. We will talk about someone else to wear them when you come home – but you know me – that old biological urge has always been strong. I have had a lot of time to think about “things” since David came. So many people have voiced the opinion that baby raising is harder on older mothers, but I don’t agree with that theory now, that after a ten year pause, I have had 15 months of baby care. I find I have more patience with D. than I had with J. or M. Maybe I have had more time to devote to D. – or have I? At any rate I have enjoyed taking care of him – and don’t think I could get tired of it. He is walking around now with his new Christmas bathrobe on. He is a nosey little fellow and keeps someone busy saying no! no! All the time he is out “on the loose.” We have him “almost” trained to leave the coffee table alone – not quite.

Mrs. Z. came over last night. She says Virginia is getting along fine now. I knitted a bag & mittens for her and cap & mittens for Betty for Christmas. I brought home a job from Ruth’s. I am to knit a sweater for Romaine – I told her maybe I would get it done for her graduation.

“Love Mother”

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Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/02/that-old-biological-urge-gladys/