Tag Archives: World War II

Protected: The Day After Christmas (Gladys)

Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Christmas in New Caledonia 1942 (Roscoe)

Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Christmas in Kentland 1942 (Gladys)

Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Christmas Eve in New Caledonia (Roscoe)

Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Wow! Gladys gets catty (Gladys)

Enter your password to view comments.

Only one more shopping day (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 23, 1942 Envelope

: December 23, 1942, p. 1

: December 23, 1942, p. 2

: December 23, 1942, p. 3

: December 23, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Dec. 23, 1942

Dear Mother,

Writing this time in the P.M. Seems as if there is a lull. Maybe I’ll save a little space to finish after the show tonight.

Our mail this A.M. was nil – I got the Navy med. bulletin – Dr. Porterfield got the W Virginia Med. Journal and Fred didn’t score. Might say none of us did. We really are after family news. It will soon be one month since I’ve heard from you. I’ve gotten mail and packages but none later than Dec Nov. 27. Guess I’ve told you that before.

So far today it hasn’t been either rainy or clear just

[page 2] a mixture of each, but it is plenty warm.

I’m not sure what all I said last night about the U.S.O. etc. but all the boys are a little discussed [disgusted] about the whole thing. Maybe we expect too much. Not for ourselves but for the boys. Of course it’s a long way out here and a little hard for too much to be done. So forget the whole thing.

One of our corpsman got a letter informing him that he was a new papa. And of course he had been for some weeks but about that same time. I mean when he got the letter he came down with gonorrhea. Just couldn’t contain himself

[page 3] but I guess he’ll learn.

Somehow I’m having a hard time concentrating this P.M. Guess it must be the warm humid weather. We had pork chops for dinner today. Really were good. I believe that is the first time those have showed up. Along with that we had mashed sweet potatoes and carrots with raisins. I don’t like that last mixture but we do have it often.

I still have two cans of peanuts left. I think I save them until after the Christmas rush is over and things like that are past and forgotten. I saw them putting some colored lights on

[page 4] the Christmas tree. It’s outside and the burning hot sun sure makes things look like Christmas in July if you get what I mean. It’s OK, however, better than nothing and I suppose lots of the boy will get a big kick out of it.

I’ll finish later – After the show – A World War I show – The Christmas tree was all lighted and in the dark does look very nice. Just a little more cold and it would be home like. I got the Newton Co. Enterprse this Eve. And Fred got some packages well only one more shopping day until Christmas –

Lots of love

Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/12/only-one-more-…ing-day-roscoe/

Three months old (Gladys)

2 Replies

: December 23, 1942 Envelope front

: December 23, 1942 Envelope back

: December 23, 1942, p. 1

: December 23, 1942, p. 2

: December 23, 1942, p. 3

: December 23, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 23 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

David is 3 months old today and weighs 11 lbs 10 oz –

Well I had to have a round like John & Mark had – John is upstairs in bed and I am on the davenport. My throat got very sore so started taking sulfathiazole about 6:30 last night and have taken 10 tablets now. My throat is much better and if I have any temp. is very slight. Clara Molter stayed with us last night so she could take care of the baby and is staying today. Floyd called last night from Napanee about going home but I told him we were staying home due to present circumstances. I feel pretty good today but will keep quiet and try to get up tomorrow. This sulfathiazole is much easier to take them nilamide. The way I felt yesterday and last night I would have expected to feel much worse today but on the whole and everything considered I feel fair. School has been

[page 2] dismissed until Jan 4. The roads were so slick yesterday the busses couldn’t go out and evidently it isn’t much better today. This little upset of mine has kept me from getting my Christmas shopping finished, but somehow I don’t care a lot. Arlene & Bill went to Chicago and shopped before gas rationing and had their things mailed and they got lost in the mail so they are in a worse shape than I am because I haven’t spent anything & they have. I mean I haven’t spent for certain gifts. I sent for a pin for Mother and when it came is was about the size of a peanut. I had seen several of those Navy pins like Thelma has and thought that was what I was ordering but this one is so small I am afraid she won’t want it. I had Mr. Reinard order it so I think I’ll send it back and try for a larger one.

Mrs. Zell came over last night and swabbed my throat and Mr. Z. took out clinkers for me. I have been doing that job myself. I think that is more than the boys can manage. Mr. Z. has been classified as 3-B so there isn’t much chance of his going.

[page 3] and Mrs. Zell says they feel like they should help us out when we need it, because you are in service and he isn’t. They come over and ask if there is anything they can do. You know there is a difference in asking someone to do something and having someone offer to do without being asked.

No letters today but there were three yesterday so didn’t expect any today. I am afraid your Christmas boxes got wet. The one I sent especially for Dec 25^th was packed in a shoe box then I put that inside a heavy corrugated box and tied it firmly with heavy cord. I thought I wrapped all the packages well enough but I suppose they get rough handling.

Mark has gone to town on an errand. He was detailed to amuse David and it soon got tiresome. He like to play with him if I am there but if it looks like work he doesn’t like to do it.

I told you we received the yen note, also the Hawaii & Noumea money. The children like to show the money. I wonder if you are learning any French from the lessons in your newspaper or do you have to know French when you shop?

[page 4] We took some pictures Sunday in the house with our camera and two fotoflood lamps. It was very bright outside from the sun & snow so the pictures turned out very good. I’ll put one in this letter & one in Tomorrows etc., so you will get one of them in case some of my letters are lost. If we had a candid camera we could do better, but for outdoor pictures you know what good pictures we have had.

Dorothy sent your birthday greeting on your birthday but didn’t say anything about sending two, but since they came at the same time she must have. Birdie Steele called for your address this week so she could send you a greeting – but I think she was a little late for Christmas. Coke Foulkes also got your address yesterday.

Wayne Walker had been in Australia and is home on a 30 day furlough – maybe I mentioned that before. I haven’t seen him but I haven’t been out much lately. Mrs. Roberts called me Sunday to wish me Christmas greetings. We were wondering if the Doctors would be sent home or kept for the duration. Earl Roberts seemed to think you would get to come home after one year out – but does he know?

Here’s hoping –

Love Mother

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/11/three-months-old-gladys/

Why no songs about New Caledonia (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 22, 1942 Envelope front

: December 22, 1942 Envelope back (with a little candy goo)

: December 22, 1942, p. 1

: December 22, 1942, p. 2

: December 22, 1942, p. 3

: December 22, 1942, p. 4

: December 22, 1942, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Dec. 22 1942

The Burma Convoy (1941)

Dear Mother,

Just back from the show and I’m a little chilly. The show tonite was “The Burma Convoy.” Pretty good show. I don’t understand why shows and songs are written. One about “On the Road to Mandaley.” Songs about Samoa. Why no songs about New Caledonia. Seems this place would be a fit place to write a song about although I’d rather sing it in U.S.A.

I got a letter today from the Lontz boy that lives in Kentland. I didn’t know he was here but I’m going to look him up. Just got the letter this evening. He has been here since Mar. so he we probably has some

[page 2] things in common.

I got a letter (V-mail) from each of the boys today. Was glad to hear from them and some of these days I’ll write them again but it seems I’m always behind on letters. I’ve been trying to answer the letters the same day they come in but haven’t been able to do so lately because of the shows and incidentally work also.

We’ve had rice and hot chilli soup now – 2 times in the last 4 days and I can’t say I like it too much. Of course I get along and am not loosing too much weight. I’m about 3-4 pounds heavier than when I left home. Maybe it’s the heavy shoes

[page 3] we wear. Gee it will seem funny to wear clothes other than Khaki and low shoes and take a warm bath and use a water stool and not be invaded by 8 other fellows doing the same thing in a nine holer. We all get along however and are able to smile and joke and be good fellows with one and another.

And I want you to know we have a Christmas tree. It’s pretty sad looking but it will do for want of something better. Looks more like a pussy willow but it’s green. This is the first day out of the past 10 that it hasn’t rained and was that sun hot. This is our first day of summer but

[page 4] Our open air show started at 7:30 P.M. I’m trying to say the twilight doesn’t last long because at home at 7:30 in the summer time it would be much to light to start a show in the open.

Our news has been very scarce lately. Not much in our local paper nor over the radio but our radio is a one lung[?] affair and the programs that are broadcast to the boys overseas are more or less a myth and the U.S. O. is a good organization for the arm chair fighters at home and the social workers in the U.S.A. Where they are needed, “puey.” Pardon Me.

Lots of Love Daddy

OVER

This is a candy envelope.

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/10/why-no-songs-a…ledonia-roscoe/ ‎

My 6 cents worth (Gladys)

2 Replies

: December 22, 1942 Envelope front

: December 22, 1942 Envelope back

: December 22, 1942, p. 1

: December 22, 1942, p. 2

: December 22, 1942, p. 3

: December 22, 1942, p. 4

: December 22, 1942, p. 5

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 22 1942

Dear Daddy –

Rec’d 3 letters this morning. I wish I had sent you several small boxes for Christmas. Maybe you would have gotten one. I had a letter a few days ago in which you told me what to do about Otto Paul – I finally got around to calling Boonie & told him to send the pills. This weather again – Yesterday looked like another blizzard but it calmed down and now it looks foggy and the snow is dirty and the roads are so slick the school buses didn’t go out so no school today. John didn’t feel so good and I had kept him home in bed. My throat was sore again this morning so I called Dr. Cole. He said to give John 1 sulfothiozole every 4 hrs and told me to get neo-pronticil for my throat. Neither of us have a temperature but John’s cold hangs on and this throat condition has been coming & going for some time. I thought I was entirely rid of it but it was present again this morning. I am not down but don’t like to be bothered so much and afraid it might develop into something if I don’t get it checked.

[page 2] I talked to Jack Byrnes about writing to Mead-Johnson and he said if I would bring a letter head to him he would write to the Co for me. I started David on Pablum yesterday. He was hungry after his 2 P.M. bottle. Arlene had called me and wanted me to come down and stay with her boys while she went to town – Louise was out. So I bundled David up and went down. She had a new box of Pablum so she opened it and I gave him some. He was satisfied then. This morning I gave it to him just before his 10 A.M. bottle. Arlene commented on how well he ate it. I said that was because he knew what a spoon was for – having given his orange juice that way – however I had to quit the orange juice because he threw it up every time after I had increased the amount. I am giving him the Vit C tablets now. He weighs 11 ½ lbs. He is taking 13 oz carnation – 17 oz water – 2 ½ tbsp Dextri – in 24 hrs – Even if you have forgotten about baby formulas – you can see he is getting pretty strong milk for a 3 mo old baby – but he wasn’t satisfied with a weaker mixture so had to increase it – He has normal stools and is good so that must prove he can take the richer mixture

[page 3]Mark’s ice skates came today and I gave them to him so he could be learning. He was very thrilled over them but he didn’t stay at the pond very long. He was sure he could just get on those skates and do the figure eight.

John says he is hungry so that must indicate his cold isn’t making him feel so bad – but I am going to insist on keeping him in bed today.

We went to the band concert last night and the wind was blowing and the snow drifting over the sidewalks with a layer of ice under the snow so you know the going wasn’t easy. I haven’t tried to get the car out of the garage this week. The streets especially ours are so slick I am afraid I would turn around trying to stop. There is some traffic but I notice the cars go rather slow. The band concert was very nice. We took Bobby Funk and he enjoyed it very much. When I was there (at Funks) yesterday afternoon I took Donnie up and changed him. I never saw such a baby. It doesn’t

[page 4] seem possible for him to be so big at 4 months. However I told you once before about Elizabeth & Bud Wilson’s baby – at 3 months he weighed 17 lbs and looked like he was 6 mo. old. Our David isn’t like that but he is developing very normally – makes an average ½ lb a week gain.

C. Foulks just came and brought the children some gifts – I didn’t have hers ready yet – in fact I haven’t had a chance to finish my Christmas shopping. This weather I have been talking about has been a handicap.

I tried to call Floyd & Ruth to tell them we would stay home Christmas but they didn’t answer so must be on a company trip. I wrote to your Mother that we would stay home. I ordered a chicken today and it is a fry so John, Mark & I will eat our Christmas dinner at home. Since David is satisfied with milk & Pablum won’t bother him much about special days.

I feel a little on the dull side today so this letter may not be worth the 6¢ it takes to send it but I have stopped several times since I started and broken what constructive though I might have had. Will try to do better next time and get my 6¢ worth –

Love Mother

P.S. I called the enterprise about the visit of Uncle Wes & Paul Harris but they didn’t get give the item much space.

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/09/6-cents-worth-gladys/

Letters received (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 21, 1942 Envelope

: December 21, 1942, p. 1

: December 21, 1942, p. 2

: December 21, 1942, p. 3

: December 21, 1942, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Dec. 21, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just back from the show, 52^nd Street, A musical comedy. I really didn’t enjoy it very much because in the open air the sound doesn’t carry very well and the plot wasn’t good so it was about a total loss as far as I was concerned.

I received your letter today of around 17 and 18 of November. There was three in all and there are some things there I want to comment on. First, I don’t remember about the septic tank. That is I don’t remember you mentioning it. Anyway those shouldn’t be cleaned out yet and possibly will never have to be unless as you say Monroe connected

[page 2] the sink to the tank and even at that I don’t believe they are due to be cleaned out yet. I really believe there isn’t enough grease to cause those not to work. Anyway the worst thing that could happen would be for them to stop up and then they can be cleaned out without much more trouble than if they aren’t stopped up. There are two and I don’t believe they would both go out at the same time so you can use the other until someone can clean the stopped up one.

I’ll be glad to get John’s song for I believe I can get someone to play it. So if he hasn’t sent if have him do so.

I also received Floyd & Ruth’s

[page 3] box today. It was in very good condition. The peanuts really were swell. One can gone already but the only trouble is I’m about half “ga ga” since eating so many. I’ll save the other two cans a few days until I get over this can. Of course, I shared this can with 5 others so maybe I didn’t have too many.

I also received a letter from Wayne Watson – A V-mail but he had put an air mail special so it came thru just like it was. A V-mail also came from Sykes. So you see I have several letters to write but not tonight.

In your letter today you told me of the flash light batteries

[page 4] in the candy bar but I found them yesterday and wrote you about that. The shirt was in the box. Thanks. Wow I wish you had sent the whole of the laundry in Their box.

We all enjoyed the comic books haven’t started on the puzzle books yet nor have we played checkers. Probably won’t play any either.

I guess I told you but if I did or didn’t. I wrote Joe R. but haven’t heard from him yet. Our latest mail is still Nov. 27 so I’m really expecting mail now any day which will be later.

Well, I hope I’ve answered everything – So Solong
Lots of Love
Daddy

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/08/letters-received-roscoe/