Tag Archives: World War II letters

New Tree (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-19-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 12 & 13 came today. I was downtown this afternoon 5 P.M. & saw Barry the Mass. Salesman. He had pictures of his twins. They really are some boys. Barry of course wanted to know when you were coming home. He saw David and thought he was growing very much. We saw Lucile & Jimmy Ed. Jim, Thelma & I walked to town for some fresh air. I have been so tired – I thought I would lie down a few minutes this afternoon and went to sleep and John woke me up when he came in from school. He, Mark & Jim have gone to the football game. They were planning on Uncle Jim buying hot dogs for them. They said what fun is a foot ball game without hot dogs. I am not used to cooking for Jim. It’s just like shoveling coal into a furnace to feed him. I don’t see how he stays so streamlined as much as he eats. Thelma told me he has to go back to school Oct. 25 if he doesn’t get his rating changed. He has applied Chief Steam fitter and if he gets that will be sent to some ship building yard – he says the quota where he is is full. The Onarga Co. finally replaced the tree & I had some more shrubs put in the back yard. I had Jim water all of them today – want him to water them before we leave tomorrow. They said that one tree was too dry. It is on a little hill but it was guaranteed so should be replaced. The new one is very nice looking. We are still having nice weather. Hope it lasts this week. It’s about time for the boys to come home.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/20/new-tree-gladys/

More Water Torture (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 18, 1943 envelope

: October 18, 1943, p. 1

: October 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Oct. 18, 1943

Dear Mother,

Blue Monday or rather I should say hot & sticky Monday. I had that same old Chinese torture last night. A drop of water about every 15 min., either in the face, shoulder or tummy. I’m going to try to do something about that today because it is bothersome to have that tent top leak and have that drop of water ever so often. If it were a large stream I guess I’d get my rain coat or something but it isn’t worth while when the drops are so far apart. So much for that nonsense.

Again I’m wishing you a happy birthday and I do hope your next bunch of flowers gets there in time for your birthday. I believe this fellow is reliable and will come thru but according to his schedule it may be later than your birthday so don’t give up hope.

Here it is past the middle of Oct. and I’m

[page 2] still at the same place as in Feb. If anyone had told me then I’d be here this long I surely would have felt as if he were using the truth very careless but time has passed very rapid and I suppose I can say I’ve enjoyed myself as much as am I could have anyplace out of the U.S.A. and possibly more so than at Norfolk. It’s just the distance that makes Norfolk more desirable.

The radio is on in the skipper’s tent and the colored boy is trying to do the “jive” at the same time – trying to clean our tent and neither one is going along so well. In fact my thoughts are going to pot also. He is always asking for something and also thinks I can send him home but he is too healthy for the medical department to have much to do with his going home.

Well, I’m all done up as far as more letter in concerned.
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/19/more-water-torture-roscoe/

The Day After the Funeral (Gladys)

2 Replies

: October 18, 1943 envelope

: October 18, 1943, p. 1

: October 18, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Oct. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of Oct. 5, 8, 9 & 10 came today – one picture – Thanks and reminds me to tell you I haven’t any film and can’t get any for our camera. I will keep trying. Maybe I can find a roll in time for Oct. 23 – (13^th month). David is now sitting in his high chair chewing on a crust of bread – he seems to like to eat just plain bread. I cut his hair today and I like it very much. He jabbers like John used to do. Lucile kept him yesterday until after the funeral and she said he was very good. Slept from 1 pm till 3 – Floyd & Ruth brought him home after we came back to the house for all the family to see. Your Dad, Ralph, Faye, Glendon & Clara came yesterday. Your Mother went back – She had intended to stay but J. & T. stayed so she went home. I am to take them to T.H. Wed and go on to C.C. The boys will be out of school from Wed. noon (teachers convention). Which reminds me – Mark brought his card home with 3 A’s, 1 A-, 5 B’s, 1 B+. John didn’t get his card today. The band teacher had to resign due to a heart condition.

[page 2] As yet I haven’t received the autopsy report but know there was carcinoma of Pancreas & gall stones. I’ll send it as soon as I get it. I asked the Red Cross to get a message to you so hope you got it. I haven’t talked to Dr. Cole since last Thurs. I thought he might be able to explain things fully after the O.M. but the report will no doubt do that.

Jim addressed cards to people who sent flowers, pallbearers, Mrs. Knowlton & Rathburn & Rev. Servies. We both signed – I got a wire for $10⁰⁰ from Glen this a.m. for flowers. Of course I had taken care of the flowers for all the children. Jim had a pd. up pol. for $100⁰⁰ and one for $315⁰⁰ I have here. I paid the hospital bill in full Fri. – The total was $248⁰⁰ but I had kept it paid every week. If I figure correctly I have a bal. of $23 – now in the bank but have no outstanding bills except the drug store and it isn’t much. There isn’t anything I can think of I’ll need to pay before the first. The Ins. is taken care of now until Dec. J. & T. are out right now. Mark is in the yard – John is trying to entertain D. and I must get this finished so it will get mailed. I still think you could write a book. I have your letters to prove it when you come back.

Love Mother

John and Lovina (Schiele) Yegerlehner (Roscoe’s parents, c1946)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/18/the-day-after-the-funeral-gladys/

Tonsil Advice (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 17, 1943 envelope

: October 17, 1943, p. 1

: October 17, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Oct. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your v-mail letters of 9-28 & 10-4 came yesterday and your air mail of 10-3. That made the v-mail one day later than the air mail – That is the last v-mail. They were both printed or pictured on the same day. Too bad Glen had to go home but finances are an important thing in this day & age.

I can’t give you any advice about your tonsils because I don’t know what the condition of your throat was after your illness last winter. So you will just have to rely on Dr. Ade and yourself. I do believe this however that if removed in the spring you will have less trouble with raw irritation during the winter but maybe just raw irritation wouldn’t be as bad as a full blown sore throat all winter long.

I don’t believe I mention or commented on the new great grandchild – no doubt

[page 2] the whole family is proud and even more so since a female turned up at that time.

Your finances were more depleted than you stated in your previous letter but if you had all bills paid up to Oct. 4 maybe you can skimp along until Nov. 1 when your regular checks come in – and maybe by that time I’ll be able to send a little again.

The boy is here cleaning and he keeps mumbling and I’m trying to write in between. He wants my Jeep this P.M. and I have to think of a good excuse because he drives too reckless. The colored boys around here are have wrecked a few so they can’t be trusted to far. I’ll just have to send a driver but they don’t like that.

Well, I have to go treat the natives again this A.M. and it is about time.
Love Daddy

P.S. We heard Sat P.M. football game between Navy & Penn. State a direct broadcast this A.M. at breakfast time – figure that out.

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/17/tonsil-advice-roscoe/

Farewell Emma (Gladys)

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: Gladys did not write a letter on October 17th as she was likely too busy with the funeral and all the visiting relatives. Emma’s obituary appeared in the next edition of the Newton County Enterprise. The paper announced that the funeral had been the previous Sunday (10/17).]

RITES HELD FOR FOUR RECENTLY

Emily Foster, Adda Watkins, Florence Archibald and Dr. Cox Succumed

Mrs. Emily H. Foster

Final rites were conducted from the Hufty-Crane funeral home here for Mrs. Emily H. Foster, 71, Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. V. B. Servies in charge. She died at the St. Elizabeth hospital in Lafayette Friday after a three months illness.

Born at Robinson, Ill., she was married to James E. Foster, in 1894. Surviving are three sons, Jesse, of Arkansas; Glenn, of Nevada, and James, USN, at Norfolk, Va., a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Yegerlehner, of Kentland, and a sister, Mrs. Minerva Metcalf, West Union., Ill. She was a member of the Methodist church.

“Rites Held For Four Recently,” Newton County Enterprise (Kentland, Indiana), 21 October 1943, p. 1.

Emma was buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery, Kentland, Indiana. You may visit her memorial at Find A Grave.

Inspection Time (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 16, 1943 envelope

: October 16, 1943, p. 1

: October 16, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Cal
10-16-43

Dear Mother,

No mail yesterday again but today is young.

My thoughts aren’t well collected this A.M. so I’m just not sure of what might get into this letter.

Just a thought that I overlooked in your last letters and that is the seemingly superiority of our D. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way but I’m glad you feel that way – first because it’s a parent’s duty and second from what you say it seems to be true. Maybe I’m breaking my arm – patting myself on the back. Hope you haven’t any broken bones from that type of thing.

Today is regular inspection day for our own camp and since I have the Island to look after ours

[page 2] is always a little worry some to me because it should be a good example. It usually is in pretty good condition and I have very little to worry about but it is a continuous fight to keep the little things going. Like having the cooks clean their finger nails and having them change their uniforms before they get to slick or slimy. You know men are men the world over, and this is no exception out here.

Now you will have to admit I’ve written something but as far as it being interesting or informative it is nil, but it did serve as a kind of visit with you which otherwise would have been missed

Lots of Love
Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/04/15/inspection-time-roscoe/

Funeral Arrangements (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-16-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but two yesterday. I had to go to Hufty’s to complete arrangements & Bob showed me the death certificate. It gave carcinoma of Pancreas as cause. I haven’t rec’d the autopsy report yet. Will write you details when I get them. I looked up pancreas & after reading description can understand the case better. No doubt the thing was too far advanced for help when Dr. Cole started on the case. Your mother is here and plans to remain until next week then I want to take her home. J. & M. won’t have school after Wed. (Teacher’s convention). I don’t know who is coming. I wired everyone I thought should have the word. Jim is coming to Laf. tomorrow & Mayrose are going to meet J. & T. at the train & bring them on up here – I was thinking about what you said regarding the prescription I didn’t have filled for John – Well, I know what bromides are and to my way of thinking wouldn’t do John any good. The headaches are gone and the nervousness he displayed for Dr. V. is only under such circumstances – I really got a “kick” out of what you said. I read your recommendations to John about his face treatment & chocolateless diet – He didn’t care for either. His face is some better but don’t worry about squeezing anything on his face – you should know better.
Love Mother

Foster, Emma H. (Laughead) - Death, 1943

Indiana death certificate for Emma Foster, October 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: ttp://genealogylady.net/2015/04/14/funeral-arrangements-gladys/

Stomach Happy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 15, 1943 envelope

: October 15, 1943, p. 1

: October 15, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Cal.
Oct. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

No mail yesterday but I hardly expected any since a bunch came the day before.

Was I stomach happy last night? Here was the reason. I was invited out for dinner. The first course was an oyster cocktail; next a combination salad; then the main part of the meal. T-bone steak, nice thick & rare – French fried potatoes, Tiny tender peas, next came apple pie. Then raspberry ice cream and last of all a basket of oranges – I brought mine home on the outside. I forgot both ripe and green olives. Too many for me to eat them all. No celery however, but I won’t complain about that. It was truly the best & biggest meal I had had since leaving the states, and I don’t expect another like it until I get back and possibly not then what with rationing & everything. We left the meal in

[page 2] time to go to the show. “The Crystal Ball” was the name of the show. After the show there was a slight beer party in the ward room. It seems that three of our officers were promoted and they dug up some beer, peanuts, pine nuts, pecans and a few other tidbits. So you see I had a nice full stomach to retire on, but this A.M. I don’t seem to have any after affects and strange as it seems I slept well also.

It must seem from what I’ve written that all we do is eat and sleep. I can assure you it will be a long time before another meal and evening like that rolls around again.

Well, I must get to work in order to get some of that excess food & drink out of my system.
Love Daddy

Mother Just Passed Away (Gladys)

5 Replies

Letter transcription:
Fri – 11:45

I didn’t get this letter mailed last night. Mother just passed away. I am still at the hospital but getting ready to leave. Your Mother just came in on the bus. Alma met her at the bus. Alma has been “old faithful.”

I am having autopsy done – after I get the report will let you know.

I have to go to the telegraph office and dispatch some messages.
Love Mother

Emma Foster, circa 1940s

Flowers (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 14, 1943 envelope

: October 14, 1943, p. 1

: October 14, 1943, p. 2

: October 14, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran C.
Oct. 14, 1943

Dear Mother,

Yours of Sept. 24, 27, 29, 30, Oct. 1 & 2 came yesterday. I’m at a little loss to know why 24, 27, & 29 were all post marked Sept. 29. Probably was a little slip up some place along the line and doesn’t make a great deal of difference. In one of those letters the 7 months pictures and the letter you wrote way back there were present. I can’t understand that either but I guess these P.O. in the field have a lot to do.

So glad you got the flowers – I just knew this friend wouldn’t fail and I don’t feel badly about sending that amount of money. You should get another bunch of flowers along about your birthday from another fellow. In case you don’t get those all I can say is happy birthday. What I meant to say was I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday because I can’t send anything – not even money in time and I didn’t send any sooner because I didn’t have any and won’t until the last of the month. So I have you get the flowers in time.

[page 2] I’m sorry your mother’s condition fails to improve. If it isn’t a carcinoma it has to be a hardening of the liver and the treatment of either is futile but I still think it is carcinous and the Gall stones have nothing to do with the condition. I’m afraid you are going to be pretty short financially because you only had a little over $150 so early in the month. You hadn’t mentioned before about paying the hospital as you went along which I think is a good idea if you can but it if cuts you so low that you can’t make the rent & insurance stall them off for a while – don’t ask Jim for more than half the expenses and I guess Glen isn’t able at this time to aid in that respect. I’m sure the finances will work out OK so don’t let that worry you.

Now about you – Your invoice sounded good but let me warn or prepare you – In sickness an individual who is responsible for the care of sick will often go on their nerves – Then when it is over if proper care isn’t taken a relapse or let down is evident and that is what you have to guard against. Get plenty of rest – sleep and let the house work go for a while. Your indigestion is probably like what I had when

[page 3] Openshaw, Mathews, etc. were out of town and I was run ragged remember. Don’t blame the strep you had last winter too much. Of course you might have a recurrence but you didn’t have a strep the year before and one got you last year so just because you did have that last year is no reason to expect one this year.

100 pounds, dark hair, Green eyes, 5’4”, pleasing features, a little slim but just my type. Do keep healthy Dear – just as if you won’t try?

The one year old pictures were good and but don’t try to send the movie films. Of course I’d like to see them but don’t take the chance of losing them and I don’t know the size nor the size of our machine here. Where is the pressure coming from for D. hair cut? Don’t tell me just let me guess. I won’t express myself on the subject. You probably know how I feel. Isn’t that a big help?

Those letters are such a big help when they come in as late as those yesterday – Thanks and lots of love
Daddy

P.S. I received a letter from the fellow who sent the flowers and he told me he had done so. He is from Reno, Nev.

[Editor’s note: The fellow from Reno, Nevada was mostly likely Roscoe’s former tent mate, George Wingfield, Jr., who was transferred a few months previously.]