Tag Archives: World War II letters

Mark’s Bug (Gladys)

: October 8, 1943 envelope

: October 8, 1943, p. 1

: October 8, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Oct. 8 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but have up to Sept. 29 this week. Mark’s bug must have bit me. When I went to bed last night I couldn’t rest because of discomfort in my bowels. About 12:45 the explosions started and kept up until 4 a.m. – When I got up I was so weak I had to call John to help me and had to lie down. I began taking the white stomach medicine and didn’t eat anything ally day. Alma W. was going to Laf. with me but since I was unable to go she came out and took care of D. Got lunch for J. & M. – went home & came back after noon. She wanted to do the washing because it was such a nice day so I told her how to operate the Bendix and she took the sheets down & put in one tub. I had done a tub yesterday so there wasn’t but one to do today. She thought the Bendix pretty nice. I chilled and had fever alternately all afternoon & slept lots. She put D. to bed and went home a little past 4 then J. & M. came home & took over. Alma had the same thing – the first part of the week. I ache all over but think by tomorrow I’ll feel better. John fixed me some tea & toast and I feel better after getting something in my stomach. There is an epidemic around & several children in the grade school were sick. I just hope David doesn’t get it but he certainly has had ample opportunity. I had been having so much trouble with his bowels being lose until I changed him to pasteurized milk. I think the canned milk was too rich for him. He had just one B.M. yesterday & I thought the situation was well in hand but this afternoon he had two loose stools and I thought he was getting what I had but up to bed time

[page 2] he was feeling fine and ate a good supper. John fed him and got along pretty good. He was covered with cereal but was undressed for bed anyway so the cereal was removed with his clothes. Alma took him out for an hour this afternoon. It was so warm out today. I kept him out most of the day yesterday. I like to keep him out of doors as much as possible this warm weather because it will probably turn cool in a few days. I took up the glad bulbs yesterday – They didn’t amount to much but I thought maybe they would do better next year. I had them by the garage and that soil isn’t very good for flowers.

Hard a card from Glen & Pauline and they were in Iowa the 6^th Left here the 4^th so I think they are making good time so far. I’ll be glad to get word they are safely home. Pauline said James L. wasn’t so good going back. I think he learned some tricks from David while here. He was such an inactive baby but had begun doing things.

I see in the paper that Gretchen Dixon’s husband has a medical discharge from the Army & has been in a hospital several weeks. Also Bus Daily has been discharged from the Marines & is home. Arlene called me this a.m. and said they think Louise’s husband is going to be sent out – Louise is going to have a baby so can’t work for Arlene this winter. Arlene was depending some on her but said now she would look seriously for someone else. Arlene is almost 7 months now & isn’t feeling so good. This help situation gets worse & worse.

Had a letter from your Mother today and she said she would like to come up. She had a chance to come with Geo. Wolf once not long ago – He said he would be down there again soon and she could come then but I don’t know when that will be. Had a letter from Ruthie and she said a letter Floyd wrote in the spring had been returned. Must have been about the time I sent one that was returned. She said she was going to keep it as evidence that he had written. Ruthie is working & after taxes, etc., are taken out nets $20⁰⁰ wk.

I must write to your Mother yet so will call this a letter.
Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/30/marks-bug-gladys/

Scare Tactics (Roscoe)

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: October 7, 1943 envelope

: October 7, 1943, p. 1

: October 7, 1943, p. 2

: October 7, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Oct. 7, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your V-mail of Sept. 14, came yesterday. So you see our mail keeps gradually creeping in. Your latest however has been Sept. 23.

Today or rather this A.M. I had wart clinic – cut off four of the things. They were located on knees, arms, etc., and were always getting bumped so we saved them up and had a field day on warts.

I again find myself in one of those blank spaces as far as anything to write but possibly something will come.

I just happened to remember you said D. broke a slat in the v. blind and wonder how I would correct

[page 2] him as far as his climbing urge is concerned. I think you could pretty well imagine how I would take care of him – Remember the old washing machine stick which was more of a bluff than a hurt, but I think it worked. I suspect one would hear a lot of squeaks from J. & M. in case it looked too gruesome but they went thru the same period. There is no doubt in my mind but that D.’s mother has used some such tactics on the little fellow up to now.

Night before last I had a coke. That was the first in over 10 months. It was warm but still tasted like coke. Maybe I stretched that. I believe 3-4 month ago I had one.

You said I shouldn’t send

[page 3] anymore money for presents thru friends. Altogether I have sent word to you by four fellows. Three of whom I gave money. The first you probably won’t hear from. The second there was no money involved. The last two I gave money and I’m sure you will hear from them. It might be a little early yet but I’m sure these last two will come thru. However, I won’t do that anymore. I just wanted you to get something from friends that had gone back.

I hope by now you have the last $250⁰⁰ check I sent on Sept. 16. I’ll send more from time to time.

Some fellow got something in his finger so must go –
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/2015/03/29/scare-tactics-roscoe/

Cotton Shortage (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 7, 1943 envelope

: October 7, 1943, p. 1

: October 7, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Oct. 7 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Yours of Sept. 28 & 29 came today. Also this letter from Mead Johnson & Co. Thought you might like to see it. I will write them & thank them and if you want any vitamins you can write too. I went to town this a.m. – the stores still close Thurs. P.M. and I needed a few things. I heard that Doris Wilson is going to have another baby – There last is just younger than David. Did I mention that the Bob Hufty’s are also looking for the bird again? I believe some time after the first of the year. It seems this wave of babies is still riding high. The Herb Richcreeks’ have a baby boy several weeks old. I told you before that Louise Krull is expecting again. I saw Mary Thompson Tues. and she looks like she is ready to go to the hospital anytime – and Oct. is her month.

I am planning to go to the hospital again tomorrow and intend to bring Dora Diedam home for the week-end. She is a grad. now & works in O.B. She was on 3^rd north just around the corner from Mother’s room but she was changed to 4^th. Alice is in training now and Dora told her if she intended to smoke and do things Dora hadn’t done while in training she couldn’t come down there. There are three Kentland girls there in the new class: Mary Tuberty, Alice D. and Joan Hall. The hospital is so short of help they are going to put the new class on the floors as soon as they can get their uniforms. The maids have to help with patients sometimes now. Mentioning the uniforms makes me think of the cotton goods shortage on the market now. I tried to buy shirts for John and Loeb’s only had rayon at $2.50 ea. I got two shirts, at B. & B. and they fit except for the arms (sleeves) & John’s arms are so long. I am

[page 2] going to try & get a size larger if they have any. Mark has plenty of shirts – he gets what John outgrows.

I hid Mark’s bike and he thinks it has been stolen. I am going to let him walk to school a few times then maybe he will be more careful – or will he?

Ina May Walkup is going to have an operation on her neck – do you remember her – in John’s class and her head is drawn to one side. The class is having a party for her this evening after school and J. has to take jello & 5¢. John was talking about football today and I discovered he has to play every day in physical ed. I asked him about his glasses & he says he just leaves them on. His hay fever is much better and he hasn’t complained of a headache lately. David’s cold or allergy (I couldn’t tell which it was) has cleared up too. His vaccination is getting along fine. There is a scab forming now.

My throat trouble seems to have cleared up. I told John I was allergic to our company because after they left I didn’t have sore throat – and I hope it doesn’t come back. If it does I’ll go see Dr. Ade again. I was glad to have Glen & Pauline here but I believe I was nervous with someone else around all the time & that contributed a lot to my throat condition. It seemed I was in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes most of the time. Pauline did a lot of work for me – the house cleaning, but there was more or less confusion all the time with two babies to feed & bathe, put out of doors, etc.

Lucile Ortner Jones has been in Manitowac with Ken but is back and is going to work for Nick – I think she is going to cook. – Doris Green is married & Van Scoycks’ daughter Margaret is going to marry a Dr. Klemsmith, a chemist – John Sullivan has the auto license office now & Dorothy Nugent is going to be clerk. – Bill Nugent won first at Hazeldon’s golf tournament. I scanned over the paper and collected these items – almost forgot Joe Fletcher is going to work for the Power Co.

Love – Mother

World War II Cadet Nursing Corps Card for Alice Diedam (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/28/cotton-shortage-gladys/

Medical Advice (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 6, 1943 envelope

: October 6, 1943, p. 1

: October 6, 1943, p. 2

: October 6, 1943, p. 3

: October 6, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Oct. 6, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your letter of Sept. 17 came yesterday. The letters seem to come OK but in a little reverse order but never-the-less they are eagerly received. Many of the “frazzled” ends are picked up by the late letters.

You have mentioned several times about John having pimples. That of course goes along with his age, but have him wash his face good each night with soap and a soft wash cloth. Not squeezing

[page 2] any of the pimples – nor picking them but breaking them only with the wash cloth. Then have one of the drug stores fix up that prescription I used to use with sulfa ointment and carbonis detergens. Kenney’s should have it. Now after a rough wash with the wash cloth and a good cold rinse apply that ointment massaging it in well before going to bed. Use that for 3-4 nights in a row and after that for a few nights leaving off the ointment use some Burrow’s solution. And

[page 3] don’t worry too much and cut out the chocolate cake & candy. As I remember he is very fond of that flavor and it is bad. That might also account for some headache – a type of allergy. Now will you have him follow that or will it be like Dr. VanB’s bromides? I think you were exactly correct in not getting the bromides because his skin would probably be worse if you had given it to him. You have learned well from being exposed to my M.D. degree. I’m not kidding

[page 4] either. Again I think you scored a bull’s eye in using good common sense.

I think if you swabbed your throat with a little merthiolate – (half water) about 2-3 times per day it would help remove some of that irritation. That is in between your treatment by Dr. Ade and as I used to say. Don’t blow your nose if you get a cold – just brush it off as it runs down or snuf it up and spit it out.

Well, you certainly have received a lot of good medical advice. Hope it works –
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/2015/03/27/medical-advice-roscoe/

Too many wieners (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 6, 1943 envelope

: October 6, 1943,p. 1

: October 6, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Writing from the hospital again. I came down today with Mrs. Vanscoyck & Dot. Thought I would save our car a trip. I have to meet them downtown to go back. Mother is about the same, except her abdomen is awfully distended today and she doesn’t eat & keeps losing more weight if that is possible. It is awful to see the condition she is in. Thru it all she seems [to] keep her faculties and talks more than you would think she could. She was very sensible about Glen leaving. Said she knew it would be better for his health to go back. She isn’t getting any medicine now except sleeping pills. She said she wish[ed] she could go back home but I told her I can’t take care of her myself & doubt if I could find any help. She throws up now when she eats more than a few bits of anything. If I could only do something for her. They have a rubber ring under her she is so thin.

I took Mark John & David with me to Sheldon yesterday to get meat then when we came back stopped at Krull’s – The usual 5 o’clock crowd was there – also Louise. She was sitting and I didn’t notice anything but she leaned back and I saw she had on a maternity dress. I looked at her and said “That again.” – She laughed & said “yes” – When I was leaving, I said, “I am glad to see you in such good health again.” She reached up & chocked me. Her boy John is past two now & as large as a 4 yr old. He will be tall like his parents. Lucile was there with Jimmy Ed. He has a cold and she had been to the Dr. & had some pills. Jimmy doesn’t smile as much as David but is cute when he does. He looks almost as old as David & is as heavy – David runs his weight off. He hasn’t had such a good appetite since his vaccination but he does good enough. This vaccination finishes David’s shots.

Mark went to a wiener roast at Taylor’s after school yesterday and couldn’t go to school today. He may have to have something in the way of a laxative if he doesn’t feel better by evening. After he felt too sick to go to school I had to find someone to stay with him so left David at home too. He didn’t want anything to eat –

[page 2] I fixed him some orange juice & that was all he wanted. I told him the next time he couldn’t go to a wiener roast if he couldn’t keep from making himself sick. He didn’t have any temperature. This is the first he has missed school. He has been so good since recovering from his tonsillectomy – but I think this is due to too many wieners.

It’s about time for me to start back to town. Yours of Sept. 27 came yesterday –
Can’t think of any interesting news items just now – maybe I will next time –
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/26/too-many-wieners-gladys/

Blue Suit (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: October 5, 1943 envelope

: October 5, 1943, p. 1

: October 5, 1943, p. 2

: October 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Oct. 5, 1943

Dear Mother,

Yours of Sept. 21 & 23 came yesterday. Those were the ones with the family pictures. All pictures were good but of course the ones of you and D. were best. And you know I agree with you as to how D. compares with other children and why not? Glen hasn’t changed much as I remember him and Jim hasn’t either. His blue suit does look good – sure wish I had a chance to wear mine. I’ve only wore that suit twice. Once in the Eve, when I got to San Fran., and also in the morn, and each time just long enough to

[page 2] eat a meal. Reports that we get back from our clothes are good. Those who have seen them say they are dry, etc. Looks like mine might dry rot before I get back, but every dog has his day so mine should come.

I suppose you will be sending me a financial statement again one of these days. Remember what I said about bills on your Mother’s illness – String them along so you will always have some money on hand. Pay a little on the hospital bill every month. I don’t think anyone will be too severe.

I’m sending you another picture of the natives and myself – I’m in the picture

[page 3] but there isn’t much you can see of me – only what I’m doing. Not the skirt has to be pulled down instead of up. We learned that fast. More The natives are more modest in some ways than the American women. In other ways I would say much less that way especially the brest works. Glamour girls.

A letter came from Boonie yesterday. Seems he is a little money mad in his many enterprises, but maybe it’s just human nature.

Well, lots of Love
Daddy

Glenn holding James L., Jim, Gladys holding David September 14, 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/03/25/blue-suit-roscoe/

Book Review – He Wrote Her Every Day

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[FULL DISCLOSURE: I was not asked to review this book and I purchased my own copy. I am interested in reading books about World War II which are based upon real letters since I have worked to transcribe and publish my own grandparents’ letters as well.]

He Wrote Her Every Day: A Novel Based on a WWII Soldier’s Letters to His Wife. By Gail Lindenberg. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing; revised second edition, 2014. 300p. Photographs. Paperback $12.99, Kindle eBook $6.99. ISBN: 978-1492358657.

He Wrote Her Every Day is a tribute to James William Hendrickson, Jr., who served in the Army during World War II. Years later, author Gail Lindenberg received an old box containing her father’s letters from her widowed mother. The resulting book is part historical fact, imagined fiction based upon the letters, and a memoir of her time spent interviewing her mother about the war years. Lindenberg describes the letters in the book’s preface. ”Thin and fragile envelopes line up in regimented files within the brown box as though awaiting inspection. Each pale soldier, a sentinel of time past, stands at attention still.”

The narrative is essentially told from three points of view: edited transcriptions of the letters, a retelling of the personal journey the author took while retrieving the letters and interviewing her mother, and a fictional (though well-researched) narrative that fleshes out the story between the letters and various oral histories of family members. Eventually, the transitions work seamlessly, but early on in the novel, some of the transitions are too jumpy, breaking the reader’s flow. The novel hits its stride in the second half, when the narrative focuses more on the letters and the fictional narrative. The memoir portions of the story are less intrusive or necessary to the events on the battlefield, and become mostly non-existent. The reader is also warned that the book does not contain every letter that PFC Hendrickson wrote during his deployment; the book’s title is somewhat misleading although images of all the letters can be found on the author’s website.

The book is illustrated with a few photographs of PFC Hendrickson, but a future edition of the book would benefit from the inclusion of some graphics, visual aids, and organizational tools. To name a few examples: the book does not contain an index or a table of contents; it lacks charts of the Hendrickson or Ison families; and timelines of the war in Europe and Hendrickson’s involvement are not included. Within the narrative, several websites were referenced and the book would benefit from a complete bibliography of sources.

Any self-published book has additional burdens placed upon it by its very nature. He Wrote Her Every Day is clearly a work dear to the author’s heart. This World War II story is familiar to many Americans, even if the names are different. While the story was clearly researched and written well, the book would have benefited from more careful editing and formatting of the text. Margins were not justified as one would find in a typical book. Minor punctuation errors, especially with quotation marks, occasionally left this reviewer re-reading passages trying to determine who the speaker was. Odd spaces occur at the bottom of pages, or within paragraphs.

Despite (or in spite of) the non-traditional formatting of this book, the story between James W. Hendrickson and his wife, Irene, is the true heart of this book. The letters and narrative convey the love of this couple and how they endured their separation during the war. Anyone interested in the personal stories of World War II soldiers, in their own words, should enjoy this book. Additional resources beyond the book, including images of the actual letters, can be found at the author’s website: www.HeWroteHerEveryDay.com

A Nap Today (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 5, 1943 envelope

: October 5, 1943, p. 1

: October 5, 1943, p. 2

: October 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Sept. 27 & 21 came today. You mentioned giving the 4^th person money to send me flowers in time for my birthday – well I have rec’d 16 beautiful roses over a week ago – so that is one to make off your list. You also mentioned a white baby in a picture. Of course we wondered about it – It did look conspicuous there.

It is a beautiful fall day – warm in the sun. I put David out for a little ultra violet but he isn’t liking it by himself. He got used to having James L. around. Also he just woke up & not in a very good humor – his arm is red around the vaccination – It is taking good but not too hard. I think that is why he has been a little touchy lately. Doesn’t want to drink his milk so well as when he took it from the bottle but I think he will drunk when he gets hungry enough. At breakfast he drank a cup of milk besides a large serving of cereal but at noon didn’t want much milk but ate plenty of think chicken soup. It had vegetables of several different varieties in it. When he woke up I beat an egg up and put that with this milk and added a little sugar but he didn’t want much. Yesterday however at 3 he drank a cup of egg & milk. Mark is going to a wiener roast at Taylor’s farm. All the 5^th grade is invited. He wanted to ride the bike but I told him I didn’t think you would approve so he finally gave up the idea after John expounded on the

[page 2] idea that he would be too tired to enjoy himself after he got there also would be awfully tired after riding home, etc. John, as I have said before gets more like his Daddy every day in his logical reasoning. I think Mark goes the other way. He gets a “screwy” idea, then I have to talk him out of it, then he sees my way. Sometimes it takes quite a lot of talking to change his mind but when he changes he is just as convinced as if it had been his idea all along. He has been leaving his bike out by the sidewalk & I told him if he didn’t put it in the garage every time he has thru with it I would take it away from him. Today when he went back to school he didn’t ride it because they are riding out to Taylor’s with John Krug. I found the bike in the front yard just where he left it when he came in to lunch – I hid it in the garage – he won’t get home till nearly dark and won’t think about it – He is going to awfully surprised when he gets ready to go to school – I run the bike in back of the screens (storm windows are all one – Glen put them on). I haven’t been to the hospital since Sun. (This is Tues.) I intend to go again tomorrow. I called Dr. Cole today & he said there was no drastic change but that Mother is gradually getting weaker. He isn’t giving her anything now but sleeping medicine. Said she has quite a lot of distention of abdomen.

I took a nap today while D. slept – the first time I have done that in a long time. I couldn’t manage it while I had company. I feel pretty good and don’t’ always feel like I need a nap but the urge was so strong today I dropped right off to sleep. When J. comes home from school we will go to Sheldon for meat. I’ll be glad if & when they get the locker built here. I suppose it will be several months yet because of the red tape they have to go thru to get the materials to build with but it will be worth waiting for. I have been sitting in the garage door by David to keep him quiet since I started writing. He certainly isn’t like J. & M. were in respect to sitting still – even with sitting here by him he

[page 3] isn’t satisfied. I have a strong urge to use a little hand power on his seat. He keeping wanting everything I have – paper, pen, etc. I brought out toys for him & he threw them down. – I just scolded him & he is crying –

Well this is an “off” day so will have to overlook his disposition – It is usually pretty good –
Love Mother

Some beautiful roses…

Are You Tanned? (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 4, 1943 envelope

: October 4, 1943, p. 1

: October 4, 1943, p. 2

: October 4, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Sept. 4, 1943 [sic October]

Dear Mother,

About your picture again – are you tanned? That picture suggests you have a heavy coat of tan – possibly it’s the way you have your face turned away from the light. I would have no comment either way if you were only I was just inquisitive. It’s still a very good picture.

Today was supposed to be native day but we changed it to Sun. In order to catch more at home and it works out a little

[page 2] better for us. They of course like to have treatment but are not too interested. As I said before they lead a simple life but I don’t get it. Day after day just sit with nothing to do but roam around and watch the ocean and wander thru the jungle. That all seems fine for a time but I suppose even that will would in time be very monotonous. They even have their troubles. The chief’s wife died some time ago and he married a slip

[page 3] of a thing and she ran off and left him – just the same old story.

With summer time coming on our radio isn’t so good. Just like at home in the summer time. We do manage to get at least one good news program during the evening. As a rule the Jap programs are good but they even failed us last night.

Well, I’ve some work to do so solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

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

Started West (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-4-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Sept. 26 came today. Glen & family started west this afternoon about 2 o’clock. They figured they would be in Rawlins, Wyo. By Thurs. in case I would want to reach them on their way home. We were all down to see Mother yesterday and she was feeling very uncomfortable. Glen hated to go home but was so chocked up all the time and needed to get back to work because of their low finances. I told you before I gave them the old washing machine & rug I took out of the den. They had both things tied onto the car. Glen made a crate for the machine & had it fixed on the back on a little platform. The rug was on the running board. I will be glad to hear they are home – that is such a long trip. – I gave you a little report on our finances but will repeat my bal. after paying current bills should be around $125 – I said $170 in my other letter but forgot about the piano. Next month there won’t be any large amts. for Ins. Jim will help out on the hospital expenses when I need it. I am keeping all bills paid so far and will as long as I have the money. Haven’t bought any bonds since July but we have 21 – $18.75 & 6 – $37.50 & each boy has 2 – $18.75. I forgot – D. has 3 & J. & M. each have 2. – The Music Dept. is having their opening luncheon tonite & I am intending to go with D.K. I feel it may help me to get away from the house for awhile. The only places I go is the hosp. and to the stores when necessary. I didn’t go to the club opening luncheon in Sept. – went down to the hospital instead. John is baking a cake.

Love – Mother