Tag Archives: World War II

First month’s check-up (Gladys)

: October 26, 1942 Envelope

: October 26, 1942, p. 1

: October 26, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct 26 – 1942

Dear Daddy-

I am a little tired this evening. Went to Lafayette today to take the baby to the Dr. He increased the milk in his formula and put him on a four hour schedule. He has been so slow in taking his feedings – he thought he would take his bottle better if he is on 4 hrs. After checking him over he said – “besides being bowlegs he is OK.” He weighed 6 – 3 ¼ when we came home 3 weeks ago and today he weighed 7 – 9 so he is making a steady gain. I am to start him on cod liver oil and orange juice tomorrow. His new or increased formula is milk 10 oz – water 18 oz – Dextri Maltose – 2 tbsp. Does that [sound] about right to you or is that too far in your past to remember. Dr. Cole always asks about you when he sees me. He is still very busy in the baby business. I went today with Mary Thompson & Marjory Wilson Ryan. She is due the first week in Nov. Her husband is in Great Lakes Training Station and is getting a furlough the first of next month and they hope it will coincide with the baby’s arrival.

[page 2] Ruthie was here last week and when Floyd came for her Sat. night he said he had to go back to Blue Island this week again and talked like she might come back for this week.

Took the family and went to Sheldon this evening for meat. Ordered another quarter of beef. Brought home several packages and stopped to see Dorothy and they had brought some over for me so we have enough meat to last two or three weeks. We are soon to have meat rationing and we are trying to be careful with our supply.

Rec’d two letters this morning. One letter was missing but it will probably come tomorrow or next day. When I get the packages you sent will let you know. Just hope you get our box we sent to you for Christmas.

The baby is wanting his bottle so must close & feed him.

Love
Mother

Missing mail (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Thankfully, the letters that Gladys wrote between August 29^th and October 14^th did make an appearance. I know a lot about my grandmother’s life during that time because the letters did survive. However, at this point in the narrative, they were missing in action. I wonder if they traveled around like my grandfather’s laundry. How many interesting places have they wandered in the past 71 years?

: October 25, 1942 Envelope

: October 25, 1942, p. 1

: October 25, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Oct. 25, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just now received your letter dated Oct. 14^th. That is regular mail. At present then letters from Aug 29 to Oct 14^th are missing and lots of questions as to how often mail is coming. When the first letter came etc are still missing. In fact all that you wrote in that interval are missing. Which makes me wh wish I had those letters. Of course, you and the boys are Ok and that is the main thing and that was only 9 days ago so that helps although it isn’t as well as being there as you know. I don’t know what happened but this snail sorta slipped in on us. Thanks for the slip. There was only a few of us that got mail. Thanks to the one a day letter and the air mail stamp. I guess we can afford that much. (12¢ each day). I’ve asked and re asked how the bank balance stood but still no answer but there is probably lots in the intervening and in the mail post Oct 14. So I’ll just wait. And I still don’t know how often you get your mail.

Glad to hear that Davie is coming along – remember 5-7 ounces per week is sufficient. I can’t advise you on the formula because I don’t know how or what the feeding is. I suppose that is in the mixed up mail also, but by now, you have my new address and maybe that will help. If not we will be getting Christmas mail on July 4 and “vice virtue.”

I’m wondering which way Joe R. went and you didn’t send his address so I can’t write to him. Maybe you have sent it before. I figure there are some 30-35 letters missing so that probably accounts for lots of missing information.

On Fri night it started raining and has been at it pretty regular since. It’s the wettest rain. No big drops but it seems to come in continuous sheets and the mud. Our floor isn’t good but the mud certainly gets deep with only

[page 2] one sweeping per day and since we don’t have a broom it has to be done by the boys who take care of the tents once each day.

This is my regular day for writing to the folks so after I finish I’ll try to get a line to them. Of course I haven’t received any mail from them since in Aug also and that makes it a little hard to write.

Somehow some where some ham was obtained today and we had chipped ham gravy-potatoes, pineapple, buttered beets & cream of Tomato soup for dinner. Today One of the best meals we have had. Last night for supper we had spaghetti over which there was huge quantities of extremely highly seasoned chilli. Well I ate it. Our desert was chocolate pudding. So all in all I didn’t eat too much at that time, but we did get a bottle of beer and that has lots of strength. So didn’t fare so badly.

That cold weather sounds good, but this reminds one of a dark fall day which is expected to turn cold afterwards but it won’t. We know now it will either be rainy or clear tomorrow but not cold.

Well, guess I’ll write to the folks. It’s about 1630 now so will try to start theirs before chow and church. Will let you know if anything further developes.

Nothing further developed – went to church and slid around thru the mud.

Lots of Love

Daddy

This post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/05/17/missing-mail-roscoe/

24th or 25th (Gladys)

2 Replies

Today’s letter was a short one. I believe it was written on Saturday, October 24^th, not the 25^th as it has been dated. Gladys typically did not write letters on Sunday. I do not know the rationale for this practice. Perhaps she was usually too busy with church activities (although she probably had not attended services for awhile due to the baby). In addition, the envelope has a cancellation mark dated October 24^th at 5 PM.

1942 Sears Fall catalog – Boys coats (Image from Ancestry.com)

The letter mentions John’s new fingertip coat for a second time. Now we know who took the picture (Aunt Ruthie). The picture of John was dated October 24^th so this also gives weight to my theory that the letter was actually written on the 24^th, instead of the 25^th.

: October 24/25, 1942 Envelope

: October 24/25, 1942, p. 1

: October 24/25, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Oct 25 – 1942

Dear Daddy-

Another beautiful fall day – however it is cooler now. Had a heavy frost last night. The heat feels good today. I am keeping the temp. at 70. It seems to be warm enough for everyone except Mother. I wear a sweater and the boys do part of the time.

Ruthie is waiting for Floyd to come. She took some pictures this morning. One of John with his new fingertip coat so you can see how he looks in his new coat when we get the film developed. I have a roll of film to take and if it is nice tomorrow will try to get more of David. I hope you get all we have sent you so far. I put some in your Christmas box.

[page 2] I am supposed to go see Dr. Cole Mon. afternoon. I want him to see the baby besides getting my check-up. I feel pretty good. I think I’ll be “O.K.” so long as I don’t overdo.

Next Sun. is my birthday and I haven’t decided yet what to buy with my ‘gift’ – Maybe nothing- or bonds. I am not going anywhere for a while so don’t need clothes. After the baby is old enough to ‘leave’ so I can attend club once in a while maybe I’ll get something – but you know I would rather stay home and take care of him myself than leave him when he is so small.

Mark is waiting to take this to the P.O. so must get it finished.

Love

Mother

Spam and other meat products (Roscoe)

15 Replies

This letter contains some nice trivia about camp life including more about the daily menu and the living conditions. I was surprised to learn about the garden that was planted. Apparently, the fellow must have known they were going to be there for quite awhile. I wonder where he got the seeds.

Gladys must have received the instructions about including “white poppy” as part of the address fairly quickly. Within a week or so, she started addressing the letters that way.

: October 24, 1942 Envelope

: October 24, 1942, p. 1

: October 24, 1942, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Oct 24, 1942

Dear Mother,

I’m not going to clutter this up with the no mail story only to say that we have none and to again call your attention to the address. Just insert the words “white poppy” in between the SSA & the c/o and if anyone acts as if they want to write also call attention of that to them.

As I was writing last night it was raining and it rained most all night and hard so this morning everything was a sea of mud and no fooling period. It thundered and lightning just like a good old Indiana storm. It was the first thunder we had heard since leaving there. Our tent leaked some just finally seeped thru. It’s an old tent and doesn’t seem to be able to take it anymore but we’ll have to take it unless it gets too bad. This rainy weather will probably bring on droves and more droves of mosquitoes but the nets should take care of them, at least while we sleep.

I suppose I should take this time to wish you a happy birthday, maybe I should have done it several days ago but not knowing how long it takes to get there I’m a little confused as to time. You did tell me you received the money orders I sent long ago so I’m relieved to know it they got thru. Don’t try to send anything for my birthday unless it you stick to what I have already suggested for Christmas. Things to eat would be out and things to wear would be in the way other than as I suggested a few suits of underware, but do send me sometime a good flashlight and a couple of extra batteries.

[page 2] Just after we came one of the fellows planted a small garden and has it pretty well along now. The radishes are about the size of an ordinary marble and the lettuce and tomato plants are coming along. They have to be watered each day that is up until today. The effort seems more than the benefits derived. Now if there was a way to grow a good steak I think I’d be interested for about 2 wks ago we had our last fresh meat. Span, corned beef etc seem to be the main bill of fare. So let me give you warning now. If you want any of that stuff have your fill before I get home because I can see now that I’m going to be well past my fill by then. Some fried chicken wouldn’t be bad either – guess it won’t be too much to dream of those things. The hot dogs are canned and they aren’t even as good as those at home – but we won’t starve as long as we keep getting our meals as often and as plentiful as we have in the past. We aren’t so bad off but we like “self pitty.”

You probably are beginning to have some pretty frosty nights there and the coal pile probably is going down – when it gets down low enough for 2 or 3 tons (have one of the dealers come out and see if it will hold that much) and keep it filled because I imagine it will be hard to get.

Well, I’ll try to add a line on late developments later this eve or in the A.M. Later no new development won at bridge this Eve. Had pretty good cards. Will write this P.M. or after church

Loves of Love
Daddy

Lt. (jg) Yegerlehner MC
Navy SSA (White poppy)
c/0 postmaster
San Francisco Calif