Tag Archives: World War II

My Fountain Pen (Gladys)

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: January 31, 1944 envelope

: January 31, 1944, p. 1

: January 31, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 31, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-31-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 21 today. Another warm Jan. day. I will have to cover the tulips. This warm weather is bringing them up fast. There was a shower last night. The weather prediction is for colder weather soon.

My sinus condition is better. Yesterday about 4 PM my nose started running and I spit for several hours, besides holding a tissue to my nose. By bedtime it seemed to have cleared up and I slept soundly last night for the first for 3 nights. I felt stiff this AM. I had slept so soundly. My throat wasn’t so irritated this morning as it usually is from the night drainage. I don’t believe it

[page 2] will be necessary to go see the Dr. unless of course it gets worse and I don’t believe it will the way I feel now.

David is taking his afternoon nap. He likes to watch Mark’s train, now that it is working again. He seems to understand so much we say to him, but he doesn’t improve in his toidey habits. I told him this morning as much as he understands he could tell us when he needs to go the bathroom. He is learning to feed himself. Still wants to turn the spoon over before he gets it to his mouth, but did a pretty good job eating his dinner.

You wondered what the dividends from J. Hancock meant – instead of deducting those from the polic prems.

[page 3] they sent us checks for the dividends and I paid the prems. as they appeared on the notices. I would say the long way to do it, but we got the benefit just the same, or, I should say deductions.

Today is tin can day. I open all the cans, flatten and put in a box for collection once a month. Sat. the scouts collected paper, so we are rid of cans and waste paper today. Bun hauled the clinkers last week so we feel very clean, with all the above disposed of. If we could just keep the basement clean, but that is out of the question. The coal isn’t treated this year and the dirt from the stoker is bad. I keep thinks straightened but in a few days the coal dust on the floor is thick enough to write in.

[page 4] Lucile came out with J.E., for a little visit again today. We were in the nursery talking and David came into the dining room. I called to him and he had my fountain pen and ink bottle – the lid wasn’t on and you can see what happened to the paper. Should see the floor. I have most of it up but ink goes right in this floor. I had been filling my pen and hadn’t fastened the lid down enough. I didn’t spank – I should have had the bottle tightly closed. I know he shouldn’t take things but I am working on that all the time. Maybe I haven’t spanked hard enough when I did spank. Just so he doesn’t do any more damage than spilling ink. I must get this finished and see if I can get D. quieted down – he is on a little rampage now.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/08/my-fountain-pen-gladys/ ‎

Open House (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 30, 1944, p. 1

: January 30, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 30, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-30-44

Dear Daddy –

This being Sun. evening, we are all sitting in the living room listening to the radio – Charlie MC is on now. John and Mark are studying, in a way – but I believe the radio has the most of their attention. We had the Zells come to dinner today. I was going to have them remain for some supper, but they had company come and had to go home before supper. Mr. Zell has to go to Indpls. Tues. for his physical. He has to go thru all the formality but he may not have to go. Purdue is trying to keep their county agents home. You know P.U. is really “boss” of the agents and should have enough to say about such matters to carry weight. We will see. Mr. Z. will go if he has to – he isn’t the kind to try for deferments, but if is kept home thru his employment, that is another matter. Lucile says Ed won’t ask for deferments but the company has had him deferred so far. His last one is about up and

[page 2] he may have to go. Lucile said she thought she would stay on here for a while even if Ed does go. She was out a while today with Jimmy Ed. He and David are about the same size. D. is just about an inch taller and a lb heavier. David at present takes everything away from J. Everything J. gets D. wants. I think in time J. will correct that situation.

Dorothy & Nick came out for a while this P.M. Since they have their Sundays off are at liberty to go out together. I think they do a lot of sleeping on their days off.

Mr. Z. and Ed Johnson worked on Mark’s train and got it in running order again. They set it up in our bedroom this afternoon (Mr. Z. & Mark) and we had a lot of noise until David’s bedtime then Mark had to quit for the evening.

I told you about taking Sulfa for my throat. I am allergic to said sulfa and this morning I noticed

[page 3] my right hand was a little swollen and thumb showing a few water pimples so the sulfa is out and my sinus is still draining like a sugar tree. No need to worry as long as it drains, just so it doesn’t get worse. If it isn’t better in the morning I’ll go down and have Dr. M. give me a treatment.

The warm weather last week brought the tulips up so I’ll have to get out and cover them up because Feb. will surely bring colder weather. I knew it was very warm for Jan. but didn’t think it would bring the tulips up.

I sent you some more pictures taken around David’s 16^th month. They are all very good of D. and not bad of the rest. I just reflected when I looked at those pictures about David’s smile. He is smiling in most of his pictures. We were discussing the difference between J.E. and D. this afternoon – David is so spontaneous with his smile that he will smile or laugh at

[page 4] most anything but J.E. is more conservative and sober most of the time. They had some pictures made of J.E. last week and Lucile said they couldn’t get him to smile in but one picture.

Irene was here a few minutes – Jimmy came over to see Mark’s train and she came to get him. I didn’t get to talk to her much. Dorothy & Nick came before she left. She did say she went to see the Dr. in Chi. Yesterday, but I didn’t ask her any questions. I don’t know whether she is working at the factory or not.

It sounds like we had open house today. I don’t know when so many different ones have been here in one day. Don’t suppose it will happen again for days.

Will write again tomorrow and since no mail goes out on Sun. will put both in one envelope.
Love Mother

David, January 1944

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/07/open-house-gladys/

Officer’s Club (Roscoe)

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: January 29, 1944 envelope

: January 29, 1944, p. 1

: January 29, 1944, p. 2

: January 29, 1944, p. 3

: January 29, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 29, 1944

Deat Mother,

Just another of those lazy Sat. P.M. and I can’t see why it should seem any different but it does. Tonite we are to have an unofficial opening of our officer’s club and I suppose there will be some who drink too much or at least plenty and I might be one. Yes, you are right you’ll have to take me in hand but don’t get alarmed I’m not too bad.

Yesterday in the first part of that letter I think I sounded

[page 2] a little sarcastic, disgruntled or something but I didn’t mean to do so. It’s just that one sorta gets fed up sometimes at nothing in particular. Just like any human whatever the circumstances so don’t pay any attention be me as Sister used to say.

Your air mail of Jan. 12 just came and your v-mail of Dec. 23 also came – Mark’s thank you v-mail came also. The 5 above weather sure sounds cold. In all possibility it will not get as cold this year as last at least for not such a long period.

This being Sat. I’ll conclude on Sunday and get the two together –

[page 3] Sun Morn.

The officer’s club opened and it wasn’t so bad nor it wasn’t so good anyway I don’t have a hangover and that is something.

Today is the regular time to write the folks but I don’t believe I’ll mention the officers club etc. They might not understand.

Chow this noon will be chicken instead of beef. Personally I prefer beef because it’s the big thick steaks but I guess they don’t ask me what they will serve.

Just happened to think. You mentioned Irene in your letter – I don’t think as I told you before she has anything

[page 4] organically wrong but she is just not cut out to do work of that kind – She needs plenty of activity but not responsible every day grind type, but again that is a long distance diagnosis. She must be pretty desperate going from one Dr. to another. Why white about her when it’s you I’m interest in? Hope you can get along the next few months as well as you have this winter so far. And I hope you can have your own private Dr. If hoping does any good I’d be there now I “betcha.”

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/06/officers-club-roscoe/ ‎

Stitch in Time (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 29, 1944 envelope

: January 29, 1944, p. 1

: January 29, p. 2-3

: January 29, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-29-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 18 & 20 came today. This is a lazy Sat. a.m. John isn’t taking a music lesson. He stayed home from school yesterday with a cold. I gave him sulfamerazine and the cold is about gone. He still coughs, but so many do. David still coughs too. David is so full of pep he can wear any of us down. I got a little throat bug yesterday – so started sulfamerazine and feel better. It is down too deep to have it swabbed so thought the best thing to do was take something to nip it before I got something in my sinus. I could hardly go to sleep last night my throat kept filling up, but that is better now. We really don’t take sulfa all the time. This is the first John

[page 2] and I have taken any since last fall but rather than let anything get too bad thought a “stitch in time” would be better than waiting for something worse to develop. It was sunny and windy out yesterday and I hung clothes out on the line and think I got my throat irritation when out in the high wind.

Again I’ll repeat that the taxes was the gross I pd. One quarter I quit paying after that because we don’t pay taxes anymore that is while you are out of the states. Service people don’t have to pay any gross and when you get back home we can see about the Federal.

Irene is home from the hospital but I haven’t seen much of her. Link took her job at the factory so I don’t know whether she is working now or not. Your diagnosis seems to be correct. One day I went to see Coke about

[page 3] some knitting and she brought up the subject of Irene’s condition. I wasn’t going to say much but Coke said she thought the thing Irene needed now was to see a psychiatrist. She also said I wouldn’t be sick or think she was sick so much if she had a husband like Red. She said if Irene didn’t think she was ill every time she had a little pain, etc., etc., etc. She really sized the situation up pretty well. She said she told Mrs. James she thought Irene need[ed] to see a psychiatrist. Red told her she would get herself in trouble if she wasn’t careful, but in her opinion it was time for someone to say something. Dorothy said Link told Nick the Dr. said there wasn’t anything the matter, all in her mind. – Well so much for that. The way I got started

[page 4] was the remark you made in your letter.

We have had lunch and dishes washed since I started this, besides baking a cake & 7 dz. cookies. John wanted me to try a cake receipt he saw in a magazine.

The Myers twins & Bob Wilson made the paper this week. The twins are in training at Pensacola and Bob is a Lt. in the 13^th A.A.F. in the S. Pacific. Mary & Al Myers have moved to either Whiting, Gary, or some city around Chicago. The Josserands are living in the Myers house now. V. is still going around as usual but doesn’t have many friends, it seems, I see her so often by herself or with her little Susan. There is a Horn family living here and she does go around with Mrs. H. some.

Had a letter from Dolores – her husband is back in Cuba. She is hoping he will get another furlough in the spring so they can go home together.
Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/05/stitch-in-time-gladys/

Ten Days (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 28, 1944 envelope

: January 28, 1944, p. 1

: January 28, 1944, p. 2

: January 28, 1944, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Jan. 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

The only mail today was a letter dated Dec. 28 from Wayne Watson – that makes the third he has written now since I’ve written and do I feel ashamed but I still have very little interest in letter writing. Maybe they will be sore but what do I care as long as Mrs. R.S.Y. isn’t OK. Someday I’ll write them all but I’ve said that so often, I’m telling you it’s the most repulsive thing to even think of writing anyone besides you and I can’t tell why. I owe both Ruths etc. I’ve said all that before. So don’t mind me.

Wayne asked when I was coming home – as if I knew. Sure

[page 2] eighteen months is all the rage but when you associate with men and know others who have been that long or longer all the bright edge is worn off of that 18 mo. stuff and you just wonder. I’m not beafing but just not being too happy about the whole thing. As it stands now there is only 10 days between now and 18 and – so what?

That accordion is getting ready to go again so I’m not sure what I might write. It’s

It’s been about 3 hours since the first part of this. The show came in between – Paris Honeymoon. I had seen it before so didn’t enjoy it much but it was funny so

[page 3] wasn’t so bad.

They just finished a song and some Dr. spoke up and said – “Do you fellows feel as sour as you sound?” I’m inclined to be on his side – It does help pass however so let them sing. Somehow I don’t seem to get much kick out of sing[ing] with them. I feel a little like John used to when he would come home from church and someone didn’t quite hit the right spot.

Well, I guess I’d better stop –
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/04/ten-days-roscoe-2/

More Fun Than Monkeys (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 27, 1944 envelope

: January 27, 1944, p. 1

: January 27, 1944, p. 2

: January 27, 1944, p. 3

: January 27, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 27, 1944

Dear Mother,

The only mail today was the Nov. 18 issue of the Kentland Democrat. That was the one in which I was mentioned as having seen Hicky Reinhart. That seems like ages ago since I’ve seen him. I’m supposed to send Marg a statement that I want the paper so that she can send it second class. So if I want the paper to be continued I’ll have to write some sort of a note. She probably has erased my name from the list already because it has

[page 2] been so long.

Just now turned on the radiator because it was really getting a little chilly. It always does in the evening and the extra heat seems to help lots.

Well I finally was able to buy a pair of shoes today – a pair of Florsheim – a pound and 11 shilling I think – Just a little better than $4,.00 or maybe about $5.00. Buying a watch and a pair of shoes between pay day really cuts a hole in the cash but that is the penalty of civilization. Before any kind of shoes were OK and one didn’t need a watch because you never got far enough

[page 3] away from chow to miss it.

Lentz just brought me a drink of water – don’t know why he wanted to be so nice but probably he is after something or wants me to do something for him which means more than a glass of water. There is always something back of little kind deeds like that. I’ve had to chase him out 3-4 times while I’m trying to write this and finally got him out but had to get up and shut the door after he left.

Sometimes I think there is the nuttiest bunch around here but when you get a group of Drs. anything might happen.

[page 4] Just as I finished that page Lentz came in again and after about 5 min. he finally left what is that saying – Who has more fun than monkeys? Or monkeys is the funniest people? I sometimes wonder about Drs.

It seems I’ve written about all I know so you can see what a blank I am because if there is anything interesting or intelligent in this I’ve missed my guess.

I haven’t said anything about the weather today – fair – Now I think I’ve written all the usual things – so solong
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/03/more-fun-than-monkeys-roscoe/

The Maytag Technique (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 26, 1944 envelope

: January 26, 1944, p. 1

: January 26, 1944, p. 2

: January 26, 1944, p. 3

: January 26, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 26, 1944

Dear Mother,

Your two v-mail letters dated 12-19 & 22 came today. They were a little old but a few things were brought up to date. One was that matter of dividends on that paid up policy and the other dividends which I couldn’t get just correct. They evidently made a mistake in sending that other check rather than just deducting it from the premium as it had always been done before. Again however nothing of the much talked of picture arrived.

I did my laundry again this PM

[page 2] Just the socks, “undies,” and hankies. We have plenty of hot water and one of the fellows even has a washboard but I don’t use it. Just rub them a little and give them the up & down Maytag technique. It gets the smell out of thinks and that is all that is necessary. Ever so often I send some underwear to the laundry. That is when it gets so brown.

Our new captain is a little fussy about how the enlisted men keep their quarters and then he comes into ours and also claims that he is a little disappointed with how ours looks and I guess he is correct. In fact I’ve tried to

[page 3] do a little brushing off this PM. It would be better however if he didn’t open the dresser drawers or the closet door. Maybe I’ll get interested enough to do something to those some of these days. My closet isn’t like F. McGee’s hallway closet as yet but it has possibilities.

I have 8 drawers and none of them look too good. Some of the officers have only 4. I’m not just sure what I would do if I only had that many. I think I’ll just play like someday I have only 4 and then maybe I’ll appreciate the 4 extra.

Someone said we have

[page 4] some shoes in our store and do I need a pair. We aren’t supposed to wear field shoes and I still have just the same two pair as when I left the states and you know they must look terrible. They haven’t been worn much but the dry rot seems to have gotten them. We can’t buy shoes in town because of rationing. I guess I could go barefooted but that would hardly be “cricket” “don’t you know.” So if I can get a pair it will be “good O.” As we natives express it.

Well, I’ve sure covered the field and said nothing but anyway.
Lots of Love
Daddy

Beulah (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND.
1-26-44

Dear Daddy – No mail today but yours of Jan. 13 & 14 came yesterday. It is warm and cloudy today. The latest weather report gave the temp 61. It was sunny this morning and I should have taken David out but trusted the sunshine to stay till now, but it is cloudy. However I wrapped David good and put him out in the buggy. He wanted to go bye bye – due to his cough have kept him in lately but thought the fresh air wouldn’t hurt him today because it is so warm. John read a book and wrote a review – He worked too steadily on it and got a severe headache so is home this P.M. I think with this afternoon’s rest from reading, etc., he will be ready to go to school tomorrow. We listened to Fibber & Molly last nite. They introduced a new character “Beulah” – you remember that colored woman done by a man on Tom, Dick & Harry? Fibber has hardly any of the characters on his show that he had when you were home. Mark took some of his model planes to school today. Said several wanted to buy them so won’t be surprised if he comes home without the planes. He was so excited about it when he came home at noon. He made a jeep he got for Christmas that looks like the real thing. I see David has pulled his mittens off so must go out and put them back on. He doesn’t like to have his hands covered.

“Love Mother”

To hear the episode of Fibber & Molly from 25 January 1944 which introduces the character of Beulah, click here.

You Take It Any Way You Like (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 25, 1944 envelope

: January 25, 1944, p. 1

: January 25, 1944, p. 2

: January 25, 1944, p. 3

: January 25, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133 USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan 25, 1944

Dear Mother,

I reread and have decided that the group you were talking about that David was in was the group that the Democrat took way back there when you first wrote me you were having the picture taken. That picture seems to be the most talked of or rather written of in the past month. It seems a long time but I believe it was only about one month ago that you sent it if I remember correctly. I could dig out your old letters and find out for certain but that is near enough and I’m certain it will be coming along in a week or 10 days. It’s been too long now for air mail

[page 2] and not long enough for regular mail.

Our nice sunshine of yesterday is gone and a cloudy sky keeps the sun back and really makes one wear more clothes. However the natives don’t mind. I’ve seen kids barefooted when you’d think their feet would freeze. Most people here, one can see by their complexion, have been exposed to cold because they have a chronic red skin and they as a rule appear a few years older than they really are. Their span of life according to figures is about 8 or 9 years longer than ours but one can see how that would be because they don’t get excited and they take plenty of holidays. Never work on Sat. at least for the most

[page 3] part they don’t work on Sat. Fri. night is the big night for stores to stay open late and on Sat. they have the whole day off instead of Sat. PM as many of our stores do at home. Offices as a rule are closed all day Sat. Maybe I’ve written this stuff before. If so just forget that I did and remind me that I’m repeating myself.

I’m writing early today because I have O.D. duty later and I’m afraid I won’t feel like writing after finishing that stretch, but it isn’t so bad. I might save a little space at the end in case mail comes. There probably won’t be any but one never can tell sometimes

[page 4] strange things happen and sometime in the sorting a letter or two gets lost and those come in a day late.

I guess Mr. Washburn is getting along OK now that Dr. Van is back in town. I imagine he is of some help to Dr. M. to take a few of the old ones off his hands and maybe to relieve the O.B. situation. That last remark could be taken in more ways than one – you take it anyway you like and I’ll bet I’m thinking the same way you are.

Well, I think I’ve said enough for today – so solong –
Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. No mail.

Senator Van Nuys (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 25, 1944 envelope

: January 25, 1944, p. 1

: January 25, 1944, p. 2

: January 25, 1944, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-26-44 [sic 1-25-44]

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 13 & 14 came today. So glad some late mail finally reached you. Now if David’s pictures just come thru. He is still on the sick list – that is he still coughs and that makes him feel not so good. He isn’t running any tem. But coughs a good bit. Early in the morning he has quite a siege. I think I’ll have Dr. M. give him a shot – he had his whooping cough shots last summer but one now may clear this cough up. I could have gone to Laf. today with Mr. Z. but didn’t want to leave D. while he feels so touchy. He has such a good reputation for being such a pleasant baby I wouldn’t want to spoil his record by leaving him with anyone while he feels this way. Dorothy would keep him and her Mother is with her now but I think I should keep him home another day or two. I think this cough is a culmination of a condition that has been present since before Christmas. He had a cold way back then and has had a hang on cough ever since. He seems to be alright otherwise.

I went to town to mail letters and get groc. after school yesterday and stopped in the restaurant to tell Dorothy I wouldn’t go today. Pinky and Marg were there. Pinky was on the funny side. I think he had been drinking a little. He said when you were in Frisco he waited two months for you to come and see him. I told him you were there one week and that you couldn’t go see anyone. He wouldn’t have it that way and kept going on about not seeing you. He said if he had known you were at Moffett Field he could have flown over to see you. Marg didn’t seem to think so but he insisted. I don’t know just what happened to him,

[page 2] but I was told that he had been grounded because he smashed up a $75,000 job – at any rate whatever the truth of the situation he doesn’t seem to be getting places very fast. He has a desk job now – at least that is what I heard. Marg stayed out in Calif. with him then I think they were in Colo. But since he has been closer home she has remained here, tho she doesn’t see him very often. It may be that she feels she should stay here and help her mother run the newspaper. She has quite a nice column in the paper every week for service people.

The new license application came so now I will get the car tagged for another year. They were late in getting the blanks out this year. I saw a notice in the paper that some may be delayed yet. I was surprised to get ours this soon.

I have a washing going today, should have put the line out and hung things out but I resorted to the easier way. I figured it probably wouldn’t be this warm the next time I wash and what good would one day do. Sometimes the things get covered with smoke from the trains across the way so they look better when dried in the basement than out of doors.

Dr. Messman talked to Dorothy yesterday. He said to tell you he has been discharged – nervous condition – I didn’t talk to him myself so don’t know just where he has been or what brought about the condition necessary for a medical discharge but maybe you know something about it. Those things get around and I know when I wrote to you about Dr. H.in Laf. you knew something about it. I am glad you are in good health. As much as we want you home, I would rather you stay well than have to be sent home sick – don’t you agree?

[page 3] Mr. Z. took my glasses to Laf. to get the left lense replaced so I am going without them today. I just hope I don’t get a headache, but have been having one some days anyway so maybe it won’t be so bad if I don’t knit or read. I probably won’t have much chance to do either. David keeps me pretty busy these days. I left him with John when I went to town yesterday and John was about worn out trying to keep him quiet. He said he finally just walked around with him – carrying D. of course – I told him D. would get over that when he feels a little better –

The temp in Chi this am at 7:30 was 49 – so you know how unseasonably warm it is. It is more like a spring day – windy, sunny and sometimes a little cloudy.

I hear the washer – it’s about ready to stop, so I much stop and get things done. I put D. up in his bed while I went down to put the things in and he went to sleep. Have to make hay while the sun shines.

Love Mother

P.S. Heard over the radio at noon that Senator Van Nuys died suddenly this morning.
It is warmer this afternoon but didn’t take D. out. Thought maybe I should keep him in out of the wind. He is full of pep this afternoon. I have him in the nursery. He has a box of toys I can hear him dumping.