Tag Archives: World War II letters

This Is August (Gladys)

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1943-08-05 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-5-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of July 27 & 28 came today – Hope you have been getting mine in order. It is very cool today for no apparent reason. I suppose there was a storm that has caused the change. Yesterday it was so sticky hot I felt a little wilted but it is more like fall weather now. Mother is feeling better today. I hope it doesn’t get so hot while she feels so bad but this is Aug. and hot weather to be expected. Mark has David out in his buggy. He saw Donald out in the pen in the yard so he wanted to take David to see him. David likes to be out of doors and has been lots this summer. Two weeks are almost gone from his four to have his leg in a cast. He gets along fine thru it all. He is more patient that I had expected. Had a letter from John. He is having a good time with Dwane & Glendon. I am to meet him in Laf. Monday. Mark is going with the 4-H Club to camp at Dunes State Park the 16-17-18-19 – and Bob Shurtter the ag teacher from here. I think Rev. Servies will go – he went before. Mark went to band practice last night – the first time all summer due to tonsillectomy – He is all enthused about a new horn – I want to get him a reed instrument – I believe he would do better on an easier horn. He is much better in his nervous habits, at present he seems normal. I have had to keep him in with me much of the time this week and he hasn’t played so much. I think part of his trouble was playing too hard.
Pd. Ins. Loan 173.69
Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/20/this-is-august-gladys/

Like Some People Talk (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Again there is no mail – That letter (v-mail) I received on Aug. 3 seems to have been a mistake because I don’t know of any other that came anyway it was appreciated very much.

Two of our original officers are leaving so that leaves only a very few of the old guard. They are being transferred to other locations. Just a good old Navy custom, and maybe not so bad for I find myself getting a little tired of this place. There is a slight shower this AM and

[page 2] that cuts down the heat but if the sun comes out is sure will be sticky.

I wish I could write like some people talk – Just ramble from one subject to another and it would all make good reading. I can well enough ramble from topic to topic but it’s just a bunch of junk. The other day I heard a Marine Major talking and when the conversation lagged he always had or brought up a new line – Most of the subject were insignificant but interesting.

Well, seeing I’m having a hard time writing I’ll leave off before starting a new page –
Love Daddy

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/19/like-some-people-talk-roscoe/

Too Much Noise Not Enough Music (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 22 came today. It is hot & sticky today – It has been cloudy & raining for two days now the sun is making the ground steam. It is more oppressive out of doors than in. It is very pleasant upstairs. There is a good breeze thru and isn’t as hot as I thought it would be. Mother doesn’t feel so well toady – I would fix her a bed downstairs but she would rather be up. She stays in the little bedroom most of the time. I try to get her to stay in our room but she likes that bed in her room the best. It’s softer and also I put a feather bed on for her. As cool as it is I thought she would feel better today but she isn’t so well. She ate about as much today as usual which isn’t much. She is entirely on a soft diet and I sometimes think I’ll run out of things to fix because she soon tires of one thing.

David is taking a nap. He is coming along fine in his cast. Doesn’t seem to mind it. He certainly knows how to get people to admire him. He smiles so much & seems to like everyone who will smile at him. He stands now that we will allow him to. He pulls up very good considering the heavy cast on his left leg. The worst thing about it right now is the odor – can’t help that but I keep him powered & that helps lots.

[page 2] I haven’t been away from home except to take D. to the Dr. & get Mother’s medicine, so don’t know much news. Ellsworth Wilson called me about the renewal on the car Ins. He says his no. is 13 and he thinks he will have to go this fall. There were headlines in the paper to the effect that all pre-Pearl Harbour father’s would be subject to call. I told him I thought the Army would be a good place for him and some others. He said you women just wait until the men are gone – and I said “What do you think I have been doing for the past year.” He said “Oh you have an officer’s salary to go on” – I said “yes, you people think we get rich off our salary.” He said it was better than a buck privates, and soon and on. He said something about the allowance for each child being $1⁰⁰ per mo. – said he would have to go into mass production to get anything at that rate.

I gave you the finances yesterday but will give a little repeat – With the ck you last sent and my allotment I have a bal. of $444, but haven’t paid the groc. bills yet – I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds lost month & pd 100⁰⁰ on the piano – wrote to the Ins. Co. for the amt. to pay off that loan but haven’t heard from them yet. Will give you a full report when I get the bills all pd. & Ins. loan pd. off.

Mark had his cornet out in the yard – I think I’ll have to call him in. He makes too much noise & not enough music with it. He says he is going to band practice tonite. If I can find a reed instrument for him I think he will do better. John says a reed is easier to blow and I think he would practice better on something not so hard.

Love – Mother –

YEG1943-07 Gladys, Mark & David

Gladys, Mark & David, 1943

 

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/18/too-much-noise-not-enough-music-gladys/

A Radio (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

Bucking conversation this AM but it doesn’t seem to be any chance of slowing off so just as well get going.

Your v-mail letter of July 17 came yesterday – It seemed to just slip in because there was very very little mail and along with it came the Clay City news of May 14. So figure that out.

Seems as if the Funks are trying to populate the wor[l]d in a big hurry – we may be getting behind but I guess that is OK. No guessing about it.

[page 2] Seems as if the conversation is getting thicker instead of thinner. Another of the originals came in and the stuff is getting deeper and deeper. I think I’ll be able to buy a radio today. One of the fellows who is leaving has one and the He is asking 50⁰⁰ and the three of us are going to buy it – a little expensive but that is about the only luxury we have – and I think we can sell it when we leave – when we leave –

Well, The Convo is still going on strong –
Love Daddy

Lt. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, mostly likely in the Solomon Islands

Roscoe at New Caledonia, 1942

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/17/a-radio-roscoe/

August Finances (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had July 21 & 23 yesterday – Some more unusual weather we are having. It started to rain last night and it’s still raining today and much cooler – Before the rain it was hot. We have the doors & windows closed today so you know it’s cooler. I am glad for Mother it is cooler – She suffers so when it’s hot. Dr. Cole said yesterday to continue with the same medicine. She doesn’t seem to do anything much either way. Only on hot days she feels worse. With John gone this week it’s rather quiet around here and with the rain today the neighborhood all around is quiet. Mrs. James & Jimmy are back & so are Arlene & Bobby but so far Bobby hasn’t been around this week. He had a start of hay fever but as soon as Arlene got him to Green Bay it stopped. While Arlene was gone the Lubberty girls took care of Donnie – Sunday Theresa had him out and stopped here. He is the picture of Bill – He is still larger than David but D. has more hair. When they get together they take each others’ toys – not exactly exchange – if one takes a notion for the toy the other has he just reaches, grabs & pulls – the one that can pull the hardest wins. Of course since D. is in his cast he isn’t a match for Donnie. I believe Donnie will like to fight when he gets old enough. I think Bobby has taught him a few tricks.

[page 2] Sister J. said it wouldn’t hurt David’s leg for him to stand so I allowed him to pull up today and enjoy standing and did he love it. He sat some but that breaks the cast across his bottom so I try to keep him from doing that. I was surprised to see how well he handles himself with that cast on but it doesn’t bother him any. Margaret Kruman brought him a soldier doll from Culver – she said she didn’t know whether he could have a soldier’s doll or not. It’s about half as big as he is but he like to pound it.

I checked on our finances this a.m. Our present bal. is $455 – but I haven’t had a reply yet from the Ins. Co. so I am sure about 180⁰⁰ will come out of that bal. I went ahead & got the piano & hade a bal. of 188⁰⁰ to pay on it by Dec 1 but think I’ll clear it off before then – I pd. 100⁰⁰ on it and got 15⁰⁰ for the old piano but had to pay 6⁰⁰ on the hauling. I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds last month and will try now to keep buying one one a month. That makes a total of 21 – 18⁷⁵ bonds & 6 – 37⁵⁰ we have – and John has 2 – 18⁷⁵ – David 2 – 18⁷⁵ & Mark one 18⁷⁵ – The difference there is that Mark didn’t save his money & John did. I have car Ins. to pay this month and your Laf. Life pol. Comes due in Sept. and as soon as the Lbr. Co. gets coal in we should get a supply – I am no on the waiting list. Of course I won’t pay for coal until we get it – I haven’t been to town yet and our monthly groc. Bills will have to come out of the bal. above. If I see there will be a surplus I’ll buy bonds. I ate some sliced tomatoe at noon and feel a little itchy so I won’t eat any more if I can help it – and I think I can.

Love – Mother

YEG1943-07-26 - David with broken leg

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/16/august-finances-gladys/

A Short Trip (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 2 & 3, 1943

Dear Mother,

First I must apologize for not writing yesterday. It seems what with getting back from my trip to see Commander Frericks & Dr. Joe and with routine stuff to do after coming back I didn’t get a chance to write. I spent Sat. night with Joe and Sun. and Sun. night with Frericks. It wasn’t a pleasure trip but one in which business could be tied in with a slight visit. My Sunday’s letter was written from there so you can see if their mail is faster than ours.

Comdr. Frericks wrote told me that his

[page 2] wife had received some newspaper clippings from Mrs. Howell in Reno Nevada. Mr. Howell told me his wife would send some to you at the same time. I’m just wondering if she failed to send them to you or whether you thought best not to write about them. It would not be out of order to mention them if you did get them but she might have over looked sending them to you. Those would be interesting if you had a chance to read them.

I suppose bet by the time this gets to you the boys will be preparing to get their school togs ready – just doesn’t seem possible that that time has rolled around again. Or does it? It’s a little hard for me to remember what grades

[page 3] the boys will be in. However, I remember D’s grade – You might say the walkie Talkie grade or the crawley jabberin grade.

Our mail again – There isn’t any but it will come floating along in a great bunch. My mail to you according to your letters isn’t quite as spotty as before but still isn’t as good as you or I would like for it to be.

I’ll have to send John a some token of some sort for his birthday – I’ll send it the next day or two and I guess that will be plenty of time. I’ll have to remember D. a little later when his year is up.

Well, I guess that is about all for today –
Love Daddy

YEG1940s - Roscoe #1

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/15/a-short-trip-roscoe/

X-Rays (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 2 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 21 & 23 came today – I went to Laf. today to take David to Dr. Cole – He reinforced the cast around the top – He rolls around on it so much and has managed to sit and breaks the cast above the leg. He wanted an X-Ray – said he wanted to see how it looked after “mauling” around a week, so we went out to St. E. and Sister J. took and X-Ray and showed it to me – everything fine – There wasn’t anything really to get out of place, and there is a metal piece in the cast to hold it firm. I asked if it would be alright for

[page 2] him to stand and Sister said it would be. When Dr. Cole puts the cast on, she was helping and said to tell you “Quack” helped. I think I forgot to tell you that when I wrote from the hospital. Dr. Cole said he couldn’t stand or sit and he has done both. I am to take him down again next week. Mary Parttens went with me today. She is more or less worried about Ruth – In case you didn’t get the letter telling you about her – She was kicked by a colt on the hip, breaking her pelvic bone on both sides. She has been in bed six weeks and has two more to stay. She hasn’t been in any kind of a cast – while in the hospital 3 wks she was in a swing. Matthews & Ross have been taking care of her. Mary is wondering if she will be able to walk. I had to get Mother’s prescriptions refilled today – Bacillus acidophilus broth and another medicine to take after meals. She doesn’t seem to change much either way.

[page 3] Sister J. asked me if I had written you about David & I said yes – she thought I shouldn’t worry you with it – I said when you knew the extent of the break (a crack not half way across, at the angle of the femur) I didn’t think you would be so upset – Also he may be out of the cast by the time you get this – at any rate I am doing all I can for him. He really doesn’t mind the cast as much as an older person. He is just as active as ever – the only thing he can’t get around quite as well – and this is going on the second week – times passes quickly and it won’t take long until it’s time to take the cast off. Sister J. X-Ray’d him several times to be sure there were no other breaks.

Mark stayed home with Mother today so I brought him a new belt & 4 pencils. He tried to bake a cake while I was gone and it was a flop.

Lucile was out with Jimmy Ed yesterday – His exczema is about all gone. She suns him every day for about an hour but he isn’t nearly as tan as David. He is fair skinned. I’ll give you a financial report in next letter –
Love, Mother

YEG1943-06 Dunlop Street house

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/14/x-rays-gladys/

Quite A Visit (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

You will of course note the great change in stationary. That is because I’m bumming and can’t be too fussy.

I’ve talked to Joe R. In fact had quite a visit and may see him again today or tomorrow. He sure likes his work and has a swell commanding officer. Their I can see what he meant by saying that our area was a beautiful place when I see where he is located but there are advantages to the pla their location.

The thoughts and so on don’t come well this A.M., must have been something I “et” last night, but I did have an egg sunny side up for breakfast.

This is a crazy disjointed letter and I’ll again have to use the well known and very good excuse – I’ll do better next time –
Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/13/quite-a-visit-roscoe/

Before Breakfast (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 31, ‘43

Dear Mother,

Today sure winds up another month – It really isn’t the end of the month as far as our duty is concerned but another calendar month. It seems the summer or I should say winter has gone rather rapidly when in retrospect.

I’m writing this before breakfast because I’m going to try to go see Joe today and have to get at things early in order to get my

[page 2] work caught up. So this is one of those letters which will hardly be worth mailing, but anyway it’s a note.

There hasn’t been any mail for two days but with getting so many three days ago I hardly expect any now for a few days again.

It’s time for chow so must get going –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/12/before-breakfast-roscoe/

Smelled Rags Burning (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The last day of July – The folks went home this morning and John went with them to stay a week. Mark and I have to take care of things. After lunch I was all set to take a nap but David insisted on staying awake and is still singing to himself, so thought I might as well write. Dad said he never had seen a better baby than D. He has been very good to have a cast on one leg. I am to take him to see Dr. Cole Mon. I put some fresh tape around on the cast this morning.

Had a letter from Ruthie. Floyd had a nail accident and had to have a tetnus shot and got a reaction from it. It got red and itched terribly. Ruth had a letter from Herschel Steiner.

No letters today but the 28th got your of the 20th Also have the big. ck deposited and bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds to make one a month for this year.

[page 2] It is cloudy today and not so hot. It got so hot yesterday, Mother felt it so much. It is quiet around here today so I think she will rest better. There was a lot of confusion yesterday with everyone around & the piano coming. Ruth & Romaine left in the afternoon and Dad, Wilma, John & Mark went along so it was quiet all afternoon yesterday. This morning when Wilma got ready to leave she couldn’t find her coin purse – we haven’t found it yet. Thurs. after the folks arrived they put some things in the garage – among them a package of sheets Mom brought along so I wouldn’t have so many extra sheets with all the company – I told Mark to take a sack of garbage to the furnace I had put in the box by the door – well we couldn’t find the sheets at bed time – you guessed it Mark took the package of sheets and put them in the furnace. We all laughed about it – the best thing to do – besides buying new sheets which I will try to do as soon as possible. Dad was sitting in the yard and said he smelled rags burning.
D. has gone to sleep so think I’ll go try and get some shut eye.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/11/smelled-rags-burning-gladys/