Tag Archives: World War II letters

Christmas Cheer (Roscoe)

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: December 21, 1943 envelope

: December 21, 1943, p. 1

: December 21, 1943, p. 2

: December 21, 1943, p. 3

: December 21, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcripion:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
Dec. 21, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just re read one of your letters and find finances one great difficulty you are having or rather were having at that particular time. The checks I sent will have gotten there by now or soon will and those will help.

I’m glad you weren’t thinking of spending Christmas with the folks. I think that is too far for you to drive at this time of the year and the change is apt to cause colds, etc., which it seems you folk are having lots of difficulty with at present.

Just finished reading the other letters and find there are no questions to answer. You

[page 2] wrote of Christmas greetings. One came from Harold & Coco – a very nice one –

You wrote of a plane coming over and the things it made you think of. That would be swell and some day it may be true. Hope it isn’t in the too far distant future, but I’m still not making plans because as we’ve written no plans and no disappointment but that doesn’t keep a person from dreaming.

Tonite was the regular might for the stage show. It was better than last week, but not too good. It helps pass the time but I wouldn’t

[page 3] pay much money after the first one if I knew what was coming. They seem to be very fond of singing “White Christmas” and I don’t see why the natives would know what they were singing about. Another song I’ve heard recently very much is “Star Dust” and that has an Indiana background also “Rocking Chair” and “My Gal Sal.” They all seem to strike a familiar something of back home.

It is now three days until Christmas and I haven’t the slightest idea of what I’ll do other than the usual work and perhaps have turkey for chow. We probably will have a few drinks if anything

[page 4] turns up drinkable which it usually does. In fact I think there is enough around now for some Christmas cheer.

I’ve been some little time writing this letter – writing a little and then just sitting trying to think of something more and you can see for yourself I didn’t think of much in between the writing periods.

Well, Dear I hope you and the boys are having a swell time around the New Year.
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/22/christmas-cheer-roscoe/

Cracked Skull (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-21-43

Dear Daddy – Two letters came today (Dec. 8 & 9). I had five yesterday up to Dec. 12. Also your cable greeting. Sorry we can’t return a cable but sent a regular greeting and some extra good pictures of David and hope you get them this week. Lucile is bringing Jimmy out and I am going to take care of the two boys while Lucile goes to club – she is on the committee and should attend. It is so nice out today I want to keep the boys out in the sunshine a while. Dr. M. gave Zells the report on the X-ray – Virginia has a crack in the back of her head and he says all they can do is keep her quiet. She has been very ill from the fall and is just beginning to eat, after a week since the accident. I stopped to see Arlene – she hasn’t gone to the hospital. Bill has the flu and Dr. C. told her if she got it to go right to the hospital. She hasn’t any help yet – Louise got the flu and being pregnant hasn’t recovered very rapidly. Dienharts have another baby (girl). I think it came a little too soon. Betty had to have a section done for the first baby – I see Jimmy & Bobby out playing together. The Zell girls are not out today. Betty won’t have to go to school this week – the first & second grades were dismissed until vacation is over due to so many being absent with cold, etc. So with Virginia home, all the Zell girls are home. It’s about time for Lucile to come.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/21/cracked-skull-gladys/ ‎

Best Tennis Player (Roscoe)

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: December 20, 1943 envelope

: December 20, 1943, p. 1

: December 20, 1943, p. 2

: December 20, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 20, 1943

Dear Mother,

Three air mail letters and three v-mails today. Your latest v-mail was Dec. 7. Mark’s v-mail came along but none from John and I believe you said both were mailed the same day. I’ll have to re read your letters again in order to answer your questions or comment on what you wrote. The latest of the lot was Dec. 7.

I still feel like the very Dickins because you were getting no mail and the reason was the leave I was taking. You stated that the last letter was Dec.[sic] 19 and that was the day I left. Of course by now the regular schedule is again going but the suspense of those 10 days.

I overheard some people talking this eve. about the best tennis player weighing around one hundred

[page 2] and I immediately spoke up and said I could go one better. Quote “The best woman in the word only weighed about that much” and when asked who – my answer “my wife.” I may not have my quotation marks in the right place but I hope you understand what I mean.

I hope the checks I sent will help out with the finances because as I read from your letters I assumed that you were very low. Maybe with the little added amount I sent during this month you can again get on top and keep the big bad wolf from the door.

Between now and tomorrow’s letter I will re read the letters

[page 3] received today and see if I can write a more sensible letter using yours as a background.

It seems it’s hard for me to get started writing your letters early in the day and I always have to hurry so I won’t get to be too late for bed and I must get my eight hours every night.

Well, I’ll promise to write a better letter next time.
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/20/best-tennis-player-roscoe/

Christmas is Coming (Gladys)

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: December 20, 1943 envelope

: December 20, 1943, p. 1

: December 20, 1943, p. 2

: December 20, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-20-43

Dear Daddy –

Your five letters of Dec. 4 to 12 came today and your Christmas cable. Thanks. Also several other greetings and one Ins. notice. Those keep coming right along with greetings. Two of your letters contained pictures – you look good in all of them. Mark was quite impressed with the Darby boys. I think they all look very English, am I right?

I addressed greeting [cards] last night and have more to do today. I am placing greetings received on the mantle, standing so they can all be seen. The tree stands by the S.E. living room window. David goes to it and jabbers, or just goes oooh!

[page 2] If we say, “David, where is the Christmas tree? He will go right to it. I was busy in the kitchen this a.m. and he got busy with the packages. No damage done, I got to him before he could open anything. He has never cared for orange juice – you remember he couldn’t take it until he was about a yr. old and hasn’t yet cultivated the taste as he should. I usually have to insist on him finishing his daily cup, and it is a job. Sometimes I am tempted to dispense with the juice and give him Vit. C in tablet form, like I did for so long. What’s your opinion? David is asleep now and when he wakes up I want to take him out in the sunshine which is really bright today. He enjoys his buggy rides so much. Had a card from Art and he is in Bethesda, 14 Maryland. National Naval Medical Center.

[page 3] You might want to send him a greeting. He said after a few weeks there he will go to the Pacific. Said there was more gold braid there (Md) than corpsmen.

John went back to school this morning. Dr. Glick was there examining all who had been out or had colds in the past two weeks. He didn’t examine John very closely when he told him he didn’t have a cough. There are cases of chicken pox around. Not worried about J. & M. bringing that home to D. This epidemic that has been around hasn’t been flu, but milder. However, it was prevalent enough to necessitate closing some schools. Some people think an open winter causes epidemics, but I have never yet been able to get the point. Personally, you know I like the milder weather, and think I am more apt to get flu, etc., in the sub-zero weather.

I saw Bobby out today but didn’t get to ask him about Arlene. I

[page 4] am wondering if she will get her wish about having a baby on Christmas day.

Just had to answer the phone – Chet Van Scoyck just called to tell me he was sending over 2 ton of good coal. I didn’t tell him I got that much last week, but figure I had better take it when we can get it. There is a lot of difference in the way the furnace has operated since getting the better coal last week. Mr. Monroe was out this a.m. to check things & oil. He comes every 60 days regularily. He came a few times off schedule when the pins broke every few days.

Zells are going to take Virginia for an X-Ray today. I do hope she doesn’t have a fracture. She is much better today than she has been.

I am afraid this warm weather will spoil Mark’s sport – skating – He was over there all afternoon yesterday. I’ll remind him to write you this evening. He has started spending the $10⁰⁰ – wanted to get Virginia something nice so bought her a $1⁰⁰ bottle of cologne.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/19/christmas-is-coming-gladys/ ‎

Below Zero (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-19-43

Dear Daddy – Sun. evening. There was to be a program at the church but Mrs. Rathburn was ill and couldn’t play the organ for the music part so the program wasn’t given. I helped Lucile a while this afternoon with decorating the club room for the Tues. meeting. I am intending to keep the two babies Tues. so Lucile can attend the meeting. She is on the program – that is a part of the committee. I kept David out a long while today. There was a cold wind and it made him sleepy. He could hardly wait to get to bed after supper. Mark skated a while – we walked over to the pond to see how he was getting along. Since our winter weather (below zero) last week it has warmed up enough to thaw the pond. All the town skaters have been enjoying themselves. You can bet John spent the afternoon by the radio. He knows what comes on from 1 p.m. till bedtime. He went to Sunday School this a.m. so think he can go to school tomorrow – He stayed home Thurs. & Fri. because of a slight cold. – Mrs. Cox has been ill for some time. I stopped to see her a few minutes this afternoon. She was in the hospital for a long time. I took David in but he soon got restless so I didn’t stay long. Mrs. Krull is staying with Louise. – The radiators froze during last week’s cold wave and Nick had to take care of the “mess” today on the sleeping porch.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/17/below-zero-gladys/

A Weekend on Tulagi (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 18, 1943 envelope

: December 18, 1943, p. 1

: December 18, 1943, p. 2

: December 18, 1943, p. 3

: December 18, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
12-18-43

Dear Mother,

Just one week from Christmas and all my shopping done. You of course know that is a laugh.

Three letters today – one from you dated late in Oct., one from the folks about the same time and a greeting card letter from the Walkups with a family group picture.

In your letter you told of D. getting a kick out of playing in the kitchen with the pots & pans and in Mother’s letter she told of the same thing while you were down there – so he must be rather a pot & pan man.

Undated Christmas telegram from 1942 or 1943

Undated Christmas telegram, likely the one sent in 1943

I sent you and the folks a cable today – hope they get there around Christmas time but I may have waited a little

[page 2] too long because I suppose everyone will have the same idea.

It’s a little amusing to see the influence of the North in the local Christmas decorations. The windows in some of the our buildings have been decorated with candles and snow. The candles are of course universal but the snow seems out of place. It’s just a carry over or a carry down under. Then of course there are some colored bells, stars, etc. I think the wards are probably competing with each other for honors or prizes. The prize probably to be are a snow ball or some such valuable object.

Our show here last night was “The Great Dictator” – remember when we saw that – seems like years ago. The shows here are

[page 3] much behind those we used to see. I didn’t go to see this one last night first because I was on duty – a good reason and of course I had seen it before so wouldn’t have gone secondly.

I’ve wondered lots about Foulkes’ brother-in-law. As to where he was etc. I think I’ve seen most of the places around these parts but could easily have missed him because some of my stops were only short. Just a visit one might say. I spend one weekend on Tulagi and it was a most enjoyable one because it was so different. Maybe it was because the officer I was visiting had beer and I hadn’t had any for a considerable length of time, and it was cold, too. I

[page 4] mean the beer was cold.

A pause of a few hours. In fact evening chow has come & gone. We had steak – good thick and French fried potatoes. The steaks were really good but not rate enough for me but don’t misunderstand I’m not complaining. There was ice cream also but I very seldom eat that anymore. There was a lettuce salad in the beginning and that is still good after being off of that kind of food for so long.

Well, I’ve really run down so solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/16/a-weekend-on-tulagi-roscoe/

Reclaimed Rubber (Gladys)

1 Reply

: December 18, 1943 envelope

: December 18, 1943, p. 1

: December 18, 1943, p. 2-3

: December 18, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but rec’d several this week – Also the boys got their Christmas money. John wrote you a v-mail last night – I’ll get Mark to write this evening. He is out skating this afternoon. He kept David out for about an hour in his buggy then I told him he could go skate. He gets so much fun from skating. We rec’d a box from R. M. this a.m. She wants us to come for Christmas but I couldn’t promise her anything depending on the weather. Before we got the better coal I couldn’t consider going because the furnace needed constant attention. Mrs. Zell said they would take care of it for us but I thought that was too much bother for them. And now that Virginia is in bed think they have enough to do. The Dr. hasn’t taken an x-ray yet. Says

[page 2] she shouldn’t be moved yet. I wonder if she has a basal facture. Will just have to wait for the x-ray to find out.

David has had a long nap. The fresh air made him sleep longer than usual. He is just waking up and sounds a little cross. I am just going to keep writing until he gets demanding. He loves to go out. Yesterday I took him for a walk. It had been so cold that was the first he had been out since Sun. I am enclosing some pictures Ed took of the two babies. It was hard to get them in the right mood together for a picture. I think the one of D. alone is very good. He is turned a little to the side but it’s a good profile picture. Can’t say so much for myself but was trying to get David to behave.

We worked on floors today. This soft reclaimed rubber in the heels mark the floors just like crayon. I took the boys shoes & had leather heels put on. It’s no easy job to steel wool the floors, and this is

[page 3] the third time this fall we have done the job. I hope the new heels eliminate the cause of all this scouring.

The check came today for the dividends on the three policies ($26.52) and a notice about the one policy being paid up. That check will take care of more than 1/3 of premiums due in Jan.

John has been listening to the usual Sat. p.m. opera. I sat and listened a while & knitted. I was tired from working on the floor so took that means to rest. John has a book on Italian operas and follows thru the operas with his book, when it’s an Italian.

The enclosed greeting came today so I just readdressed their envelope. I enclosed the v-mail in a letter one day this week they had sent here to be sent on to you. I have a greeting I am sending to them. I have a stack of greetings to send out and must get busy and get them in the mail.

[page 4] I went to town this morning to buy groc. but didn’t pick up any news but maybe Boonie will write and give you all the low down. He let me read your letter the other day when I stopped in to get the paper (no delivery now). He told me right away he knew where Col. Wilkie is, so you know how he delights in spreading the news.

David is out of doors again with Mark. Mark came home from the pond with being called.
Love Mother

My Belongings (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 17, 1943 envelope

: December 17, 1943, p. 1

: December 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just two bits of mail today. One a letter from Joe Roberts – Written Sept. 5 and mailed Oct. 4 and another a card from the Li Reader’s Digest informing me that the Digest was being sent me by the Rotary Club and the Jr. Women’s Club. It went to the old place also and likewise all the issues will go there until I can get the word to them. It’s been so long since I’ve heard from Joe that I wonder if he is still where he was when he wrote the letter. You have never mentioned him having a change so I suppose he is still there.

When I came here I came by air and naturally couldn’t bring all my gear along and I’ve been worried all this time that it never would catch up but it finally did and now I’m unpacking again. This is the first time in almost a year that me and my belongings have been together. I had to watch my clothes pretty close in order to have enough left between laundry days, and another thing like a dummy I put all of my pictures

[page 2] in the goods I left behind but and now that I have them all together there is a pretty good sized pile of them.

My room is more filled up now than before but when I get things all stored I’ll have plenty of room. There are 8 drawers in this dresser and everyone is pretty well filled up only not neat. Just wadded and I believe I can improve if I try.

Now that I have all the pictures and a fine wall I think I’ll put D.’s pictures up in an orderly fashion as per each month to get a comparison of how he has grown.

I had late duty tonite and it is now getting near 12 midnight so
Lots of Love
Daddy

A Conceited Little Thing (John)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

John Yegerlehner
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-17-43

Dear Daddy,

I want to thank you for the Christmas present you sent me. I received it yesterday morning but I was sick yesterday so I didn’t write you till today. I will have to buy a nice present for Mother and also something for Virginia Zell who is in bed with a brain concussion. I already have what I’m going to give Mark and David. David is a conceited little thing. We showed him some pictures of himself and he looked at them and said “Pretty.” He says “pretty” almost every time he sees a button and when he sees the Christmas tree. He likes to watch it but he puts his hands on it and takes the little lamps that go around off. If things keep on the same he may have callouses on his hands before long. Oh, I guess he’s not that bad. Thanks again,

You son
John

Mystery Pal (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-17-43

Dear Daddy – This has been a busy day. It was nice enough to take David out so left the work and took a walk to air the younger generation. He was wrapped up to his neck so he wouldn’t get chilled. He really enjoyed the trip. We went over to see Jimmy Ed then down town and mailed David’s pictures air mail (48₵) so you should get them soon. Lucile gave me some snaps we took two weeks ago so I will enclose them in tomorrow’s air mail. John stayed home again today but didn’t feel very bed. Had a slight temp 4/5 of a degree this a.m. and 2/5 this p.m. However, I told Miss Kitsmiller I kept him home so he wouldn’t get sick. I think he had a slight cold which would have gotten worse if he had gone to school. I went to the S.S. Class party tonight and we had our annual mystery pal revelation. I got Dorothy Kindig’s name for next year – as John would say – that is just “lady stuff.” Mark had been skating since the pond has been frozen. Seems to enjoy the sport very much. I rec’d a greeting from “Pop” Porterfield today. Said to give you his regards in my next letter to you. He is still in Va. Saw Clarice Hufty tonight. She said she is expecting to go to the hospital any time now. So is Arlene. It may be a tie.

Love – Mother