Tag Archives: World War II

Jimmy Ed’s Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

1944-01-04 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-4-44

Dear Daddy – No letters today but five yesterday up to Dec. 23. Also a letter from Geo. Wingfield Jr. He is in San Diego now. He didn’t give any address except N.A.S. It is cloudy today and below freezing a few degrees. Washburns’ are celebrating their Golden Wedding at Howard’s today. I want to call on them sometime during the day. David is taking his nap. He wants to climb the stairs now that he has discovered that he can. I will have to get a gate or some kind of barrier across the bottom so he won’t have to be watched. Mrs. Zell and I are planning to take some of their fresh pork over to the locker. I don’t have so much in the drawer now. I ordered half a hog but Brands are short of help and haven’t got it put in yet. Tomorrow is Jimmy Ed’s birthday. I have a gift and card for him. I don’t believe Lucile is going to have a party for him because of the flu and colds around now. James L. II has a birthday the 11th. I am sending him a card today but haven’t a gift for him yet. Can’t get what I want here and haven’t been to Laf. recently. Can’t always get things there either. I may go down Sat. so I can take Mark for an X-Ray. I wish I could take him to a warmer climate – I believe he needs more sunshine.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/18/jimmy-eds-birthday-gladys/

Little Old Man (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 3, 1944

Dear Mother,

Yours of Dec. 18 and 20 came today, one of them had the pictures of Jimmie Ed & David with their mothers, etc. I think I got the biggest shock of all from the one of D. standing alone on the sidewalk. Of course you had often written about him walking and standing, etc. but he looked so boyish and grown up in that picture. He was standing there just like a little old man.

There is a wide gap of about one week in your letters so I didn’t get to begin at the beginning. I don’t know what happened to Virginia Z. but you spoke of the possibility of her having a skull fracture, I suppose the details are in those missing letters.

The giving of Vit. C. tablets to D. is a good idea and might be better than forcing him to take the oranges. However, commercial tomato juice would also be OK or grape fruit juice or pineapple juice but I suppose those things require lots of points so I see no reason why Vit. C. tablets aren’t just as

[page 2] good.

Sure was glad to hear you were able to get some good coal but I missed the first load. You were just said you had gotten some more so I supposed you were able to get some from someplace other than Chet V. Maybe that will put you thru the coldest part of the winter and the poor grade of coal won’t be so bad during the spring.

You mentioned another thing. Ar The dividends on the insurance – you said the three policies. I don’t remember how you get three. I thought it was four. And there should be a small dividend on the one that was paid up. On each premium slip on the old policy there was always so much, less the dividend, plus the sum interest on the loan. Now that the loan is paid up we should be able to collect that dividend. I have a feeling you meant the $26⁰⁰ was on the four policies or possibly on all five. I’ll be glad to get a financial statement at the end of the year – you said you would send one if I wanted one. Not too detailed however. I hope the $300⁰⁰ check I sent helped out. Well the space is all gone so

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/17/little-old-man-roscoe/

Golden Wedding (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 3 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 came today. Also a letter from Geo. Wingfield. He is in San Diego now. Said some mail just caught up with him and a letter from you asking him to write me. Said after the war we would have to visit Reno and fight the war in retrospect as it should have been. He spoke very highly of you, and I believe he was sincere. He mentioned the flowers so he must have been the one to send the roses in Sept.

I hadn’t had any letters for several days and getting five at one time helped the old morale. I do hope you are getting all mine and hope the pictures I had made of David for Christmas

[page 2] get to you soon. I am sure they will give you a lift. David was rather cross all morning, but I think that one tooth that has been trying to push thru for so long is pretty responsible. One point is thru now so he should feel better soon. He seems to have more cold but can’t “hack & spit” like his mother (tho he tries to imitate me) and can’t get rid of the mucos, only as it runs down his nose. He has no temperature and wasn’t so cross if turned loose, but I was busy trying to work so penned him up in the nursery and he didn’t like that. I handed him a toy and he threw it down as quickly as he could. He has quite a bit of “spunk.” He is so used to being admired – yesterday Mrs. Zell was here and I had David on the toidey – when he had finished I put his pants on and turned him

[page 3]  loose – He walked away from us a few steps then turned and looked at us, as if to say “don’t you think I am cute?” with a merry twinkle in his eye. I told Mrs. Zell, or rather asked, who could ask for a girl when they had a boy like D. She said that was always the way she had felt about their girls, but Mr. still wants a boy. I said, really I don’t think it would have made any difference to you whether we had boys or girls. However, having had all boys I don’t know the real answer. Mr. Z. wants a boy so much after getting three girls he wants to try again. Mrs. Z. says she thinks she has all she can take care of and now since fathers are being taken Mr. Z. may have to go. I wrote you that Bob Shurtter had enlisted in the Navy, but evidently his commission didn’t go thru because he is waiting to be called to the Army. He is registered in Laf. and his number was about up when he enlisted or

[page 4] tried to enlist. E. Wilson got a 3 mo. deferment and unless he can get another when it is up will have to go if passes the physical. The new law provides $40⁰⁰ for each child, so anyone with 3 children will get $120. Doris is due to have her baby soon, so that will make her allowance 160.

The A.D. Washburns are celebrating their golden wedding tomorrow. They will receive guests informally at Howards from 2 to 4:30 and 7 to 8. The announcement was in the paper but I received an invitation. Did I tell you Howard bought the Canine farm? The moved some time ago. Mr. Tackett, the new coach moved to the place Howard vacated.

I am upstairs having dried my hair. I hear David. He has been taking his nap downstairs. He didn’t sleep too long, so may be a little touchy.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/16/golden-wedding-gladys/

No Mail on Sundays (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 2, 1943 [sic]

Dear Mother,

I was wrong about the mail. I just found out they don’t do much with it on Sun. either so none came in or at least none was delivered. So all the hopes I had for today are transferred to tomorrow. It’s that old tomorrow that always gets one, but mail will just have to come one of these days.

Went swimming this P.M. It was the first time here and in fresh water. It had been so cold but lately the mid summer heat has been something terrific especially in the middle of the day. Even at that the water was cold. It must be from springs in the mountains.

I’ve started this before the show and will finish after and give comments good or bad. Last night’s show was Bittersweet or some such name – all in color and lots of singing Nelson E. & Janette Mc. Maybe you have seen it. I think it’s old but of course I wouldn’t know. I feel a little hottish or if I might have gotten a little sun but I guess it won’t be too much of a

[page 2] shock to be sunburnt a little.

Where we swam there wasn’t much breeze and no sand. Just rocks and my feet burn from walking on the rough hot rocks, but that should help get the smell off of them so I can stand that. I didn’t get the swim this year on Christmas or New Year but did come pretty close – well I’ll see you after the show. I mean finish after the show.

The show is over and it was so so. A prison picture. “The House Across the Bay.” I’m not sure just how many bells I’d give it but not too many. Of course we always have a big crowd regardless of the picture and if one doesn’t like it he doesn’t ask for his money back because it’s all for free as you know.

Lentz is about the same as always – just “sorta” getting used to the set up as I was about 6-8 weeks ago. When I came here I didn’t know anyone and I sure felt like the same old orphan boy at the picnic so I know how he feels.

Well, must write the folks a note yet so solong,

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/15/no-mail-on-sundays-roscoe/

First Sunday (Gladys)

2 Replies

1944-01-02 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-2-44

Dear Daddy – The first Sunday of the new year. Weather clear but temp. around 45°. I took David out for a few minutes – He hasn’t had any temperature for three days, but has a little cough, sounds like it is right in his throat. He has lots of pep and loves to go bye bye – He hadn’t been out all week so thought some fresh air would be in order. Mark had gone to the pond to skate so I walked over to see how he was getting along. He had been out about 2 hrs. so had him come home. He had a cold the first of the week, so thought he shouldn’t stay out so long. John as usual stayed in and listened to the Sunday musicals. Mr. Zell brought home most of a freshly butchered hog and Mrs. Zell had to can home of it – I helped her a while – She has her hands full. Betty came home from her grandma’s with flu and with Virginia still in bed, and fresh pork to be canned, Mr. said if it were sub zero weather they wouldn’t have to hurry with it. They gave us a nice big roast out of a ham. They are going to put some meat in our locker. The new locker here is going to be put in right away. John heard it is to go where the Ford garage has been. I suppose center doesn’t have enough business to stay. Marg Kruman is getting ready to go to Fla. Also Mrs. Plummer says they are trying to go in Feb. this year.

“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/14/first-sunday-gladys/

New Year’s Day (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Jan. 1 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

This is my first letter this year. Thought I would write your Mother & Dad, but yours first.

Mark is getting ready to go skating with David Diedam. I just stopped to help him pull on 3 pr. of woolen stockings, and see that he had his coat buttoned and cap down over his ears. We haven’t had so much sub zero weather but it has stayed cold enough to keep the pond frozen.

John was listening to the Opera but got a headache and turned it off. We ate dinner

[page 2] with Mrs. Zell & Virginia (Mr. & two younger girls having gone to Grandpa Zell’s for New Year’s day). I didn’t want to take David over to Zells because the Dr. said it is important that she doesn’t get a cold and David still has some. I stayed here with D. while J. & M. went over to eat, then John came home to listen to the opera while I went over. Mark stayed a while then he came home. I stayed to help with dishes, then John came over and said he had a headache, so I gave him one of Zell’s aspirins. I came home so Mark could go skating and John stayed to play checkers with Virginia. Buddy Krull just stopped to see Mark and I told him Mark is at the Pond. He took his sled and went over. Buddy hasn’t learned to ride his bike and when he is here

[page 3] and Mark has to go to town, Mark rides and Buddy trots along beside him. I told Buddy he should learn to ride so they could ride together. Buddy got a chemistry set for Christmas and now Mark says he wants one for his birthday, John said “No, we don’t want the house blown up.” Mark decided the best birthday present he could have would be for his Daddy to come home. John said it would be better if you came home before Mark’s birthday. I agree. I can’t think of anything better. – – David is loose and it keeps me busy jumping up and getting him out of things, so I decided to put him in his bed until I finish this. He started to climb the stairs yesterday. We watched him and he went right up like an old hand at the business. That is the first time he had tried. I think one reason he hasn’t been attracted to the stairway is

[page 4] he likes to watch himself in the mirror door and play with the mail box. Now I suppose I will have to get one of those folding gates to put across the bottom to keep him from climbing up any time. He has always had a tendency to play in the front hall when I have to be busy elsewhere.

Alma Walker’s brother who has been in the Navy, has a medical discharge and is home. His wife has a baby and there has been trouble there – You remember them – you drew the blood for their marriage. Seems she wanted to run around after she got over having the baby and kept the family on needles & pins. Dale has the same trouble Mabel has and when that was found out he was honorably discharged. The young wife hasn’t taken very good care of the baby and Alma says he was broken out from lack of care and formula that didn’t agree with him. Now that Dale is home maybe he can keep her in line.

David is raising a fuss so I think I had better get him his orange juice & cod liver oil.

Another Happy New Year & Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/13/new-years-day-gladys/

A Little Reunion (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 31 & Jan 1, 1944

Dear Mother,

Note the two dates the P.O. censor board etc., don’t seem to work on New Years’ so I have combined the two. There of course wasn’t much to write about on either day for one is about the same as the other but it seems I’ve written that many times before. You could even say I’ve heard that song before.

Tomorrow should be a good mail day because it’s been ever so long now (it seems) since mail came this way.

Had a little reunion today when Ed. Lentz came walking in to be one of our fellow workers. You remember he and I came into the Navy on the same day way back there at Norfolk – we had some conversation. He had heard from Mrs. E. and all her old gang are gone except the “very nice” man. I really don’t know how long ago he had that word from her.

My room is just off the “Rumpus” room and there are several officers in there talking about prison hangings and deaths in general,

[page 2] gas chambers, shooting and stuff. A very interesting and thrilling conversation. I just get little parts of the stories now and then a few of the “wise cracks” that some how manage to make the stories a little more listenable.

I’ve been some little time up to now writing this letter but had a lot of competition – first the stories I referred to earlier and then a couple came in the room to shoot the breeze and stuff.

Our New Years’ dinner was about the same as Christmas only not just as much “dog” or I mean turkey. I’m getting all mixed up. I guess it was turkey. Then for this Eve. meal we had hamburger. Just a little change wouldn’t you say?

As I told you a few days ago my resolution to write will have to start now. I mean to other people – I owe Ruth M. & Y. a letter each, Wayne W. and ever so many I just hate to think of everyone I must write. Maybe I can write each a short v-mail, and that reminds me I never did write you that v-mail but I promise –

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/12/a-little-reunion-roscoe/

Last Day of 1943 (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-31-43

Dear Daddy –

The last day of 1943. Received yours of Dec. 18 & 19 one day this week, but no letters today. I mailed you the financial statement I made out for 1943. Since you sent the $300.00 I think I’ll get 3 – $37.50 bonds today and that will make #243.75 put into bonds this year or one over our $18.75 a month. I just came up from the basement and do I feel dirty. That Ind. coal certainly did mess things. I need to mop the entire floor, but not until I have plenty of pep. I did sweep up the furnace room which isn’t any good for my sinus.

David hasn’t any temperature today but his nose is still running and his bowels are moving good. I think nature

[page 3] is helping him eliminate his cold. I have kept him in his bed all day except for meal times. He has a pretty good appetite. When we say something to him he often responds with “bah” – I hardly think he knows just what that means but it sounds cute. I dug out the little chairs John & Mark used to play with but couldn’t find all the table – I’ll look again because I think it was all in one place. They are in pieces but I think they can all be put together again. I am sure he will enjoy playing with them.

John has been helping me wash today. He is reading Tom Sawyer again. He is old enough to catch Mark Twain’s humor which he thinks is very good.

Mark has been building on a $1.00 model I gave him some time ago. He hasn’t done much else today, but I want him to rest as much as possible.

[page 3] He went to Buddy’s to play yesterday, stayed for supper and went to a movie last night with them.

I dismantled the Christmas tree last night. It had been up since the first of Dec. and was very dry. I like to put them up but always anxious to get them down & things put away again.

I see in the paper that Jack Dye lost a leg and has been discharged from the Army. He will soon be sent home. He was awarded the order of the Purple Heart.

Mrs. James Illingsworth died this week – You remember her I am sure. Old Mr. I.’s wife – they lived in town.

Tony Schuh was operated on for gall stones before Christmas. While he was in the hospital, Bill was taken there with pneumonia. Tony is home and able to be around. I suppose Bill is too by now.

[page 4] The locker plant has been approved for Kentland. They are to start building as soon as possible. I don’t know who will run it but no one from here. A John Eilts of Crown Point will install the locker – There are 300 paid subscriptions. We have $10.00 in that. Our locker rent at Brands is just pd. for 6 mo. (to Feb.). Maybe the new locker will be ready by Mar. 1. I hope so then we can come out about even.

Mark got his electric train out but couldn’t get it to run, so Mr. Zell took it and is going to see if he can get it running. He went to Kokomo (his parent’s home) to see his (only) nephew, who is in the Navy and soon to go places. Took the train along – Said his nephew had all kinds of electric trains he used to play with. Thought both of them could work on it. Mark hasn’t had it out this winter – I hope they get it repaired so Mark can play with it again. I believe David would enjoy watching it too.

Happy New Year & Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/11/last-day-of-1943-gladys/ ‎

A Few Pictures (Roscoe)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I’m writing this letter in between the usual times but since there is no show tonight I’ll write during that time. To begin with there was no mail today so there isn’t much to serve as a basis for writing. Secondly nothing has happened since yesterday so I guess I could stop here and now but with so little written that wouldn’t be proper so I’ll just keep writing something until something else comes into mind.

After the trip I sent you a few pictures and promised to send others. I thought I had gotten all of them sent but found two three in the drawer. I guess you have no difficulty picking me out of the group. The one is taken at the entrance of the small hotel with Mrs. McCormick the manager. In the other is Mrs. Mac. again with her two sisters and one of the sister’s boys. The mother of the boys is between Bob & I. The boys were thrilled at being able to talk personally with Americans.

You will note the teal tea table between Mrs. Mac. & I. That seems to be a very

[page 2] necessary article with them. It “sorta” reminded me of being out in the yard on Sun. PM and at home and having a round of cokes, but this is an every day affair, however, this happened to be Sun.

The one where I had my hat off I wasn’t going to send because it looks like the devil but it’s good of the others. Everything is the same only the father of the boys is taking the place of the sister who I taking the picture. Mr. Mac. Hadn’t gotten there as yet but his picture is in one of the pictures I sent before. That was the one with the frayed edges. Mrs. Mac opened the camera before turning it up the film.

I’ve certainly filled up space and hope I haven’t been too tiring. I probably could tell you more in the way of names and places but perhaps I’d better not or it might get the censors ax. Maybe some of this won’t pass.

Well, maybe the old year going out tomorrow will bring mail with it. I hope
Love Daddy

[Editor’s note: The photographs mentioned in this letter are not in my collection so they may no longer exist.]

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/10/a-few-pictures-roscoe/ ‎

Finances 1943 (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

12-29-43

Dear Daddy –

Here is that long promised statement – I was just wondering where I could have spent $330.00 – the amt. I didn’t dep. (over 12 mo.) every month when the cks. come – but you know how little amounts count up. A lot of that went into gas & oil. There is an item under checks for car expenses but that included license, Federal sticker, etc. I know I spent a lot going back & forth to Laf. besides the few other trip we took to Clay City & Wilmington. I dep. the $170.00 & cash the $30.00 – by the end of the month the $30.00 is gone, for music lessons, gas, oil, papers, etc. – Doesn’t seem possible, but somehow every month something comes up to require something extra. However I think our statement shows enough gain, in loans pd. off, bonds & piano bought. You will notice I got the Ins. & groc. Items reversed. That bal. I carried over from last year included the $250.00 you sent me while I was in the hospital when D. was born and the $100.00 for Christmas. I didn’t have an adding machine so some of my figures may be off slightly but not much, and since I don’t keep books by ledger or budget I didn’t balance things to the penny. The money banked is according to the banks figures, and most of the ck. figures are to the penny but in some instances to make adding easier I used round numbers.

[page 2] David’s temp is normal again. I think he has a tooth causing some of his trouble. We kept him on the studio couch most of the day, but he got to feeling so good I finally put his shoes on him and turned him loose. He was very happy to have his freedom. I am enclosing some pictures taken just before Christmas. The one of the 3 boys isn’t very good but you can still see some resemblance. David was being particularly difficult that day about posing with J. & M. He did very well by himself as you can see. We have been trying to train him in his toidey habits – every time I take him to the bathroom I say, David is going toidey – Today he was walking around and I asked him if he wanted to toidy – and he went right to the stool – maybe he will soon tell me some way when he wants to go. Christmas & the day after at Ruth’s I could watch him closely and had only 3 pants for the 2 days.

I told you in a v-mail that Arleen & Bill have a girl named Joy – 8 lbs. Alma W. was in Laf. today – went to see Arlene and said she was fine. The visiting hours have been shortened to 1 hr. in the afternoon & 1 hr. in evening – Sometimes that is too long.

Love Mother

[Click on the image of page 3-4 of the letter to view Gladys’ accounting for 1943]

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/09/finances-1943-gladys/ ‎