Tag Archives: World War II

Chow (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 29, 1943

Dear Mother,

The only mail today was a package from Mead Johnson & Co. A bunch of Vit. A, B, C & D. I’m not sure that I need them but will keep them just in case I feel as if I’m getting low in any one of the said vitamins. Right now I feel I should really take some of some kind because the food for me today was bad. At noon we had corned beef and I’ve eaten lots of that. This isn’t so bad because it wasn’t canned but I don’t like it as well as chicken. This eve. for chow we had spaghetti and lamb stew and I just simply would not eat. I did, however, eat a few raw cucumbers with vinegar and a small, very small piece of cake – Tomorrow is another day and the food will be better and I won’t fall off too much in weight for not having eaten much as of Dec. 29. I’ve drank a few cokes and those will help keep the system going.

Just stopped to kill two great big flies, and when I say big I mean just that. They remind one of bombers. We have no screens and they come in and buss and one really feels like he is being blitzed. I don’t pay much attention to them at night but early in the morning they are a real menace to

[page 2] one’s sleeping routine.

The box that came from Ruth & Floyd yesterday had parts of an Indianapolis Star in it and the fellow that I wrote about from Kentland got a Star from someone and he traded me that for the Newton Co. E. so I have some reading to do especially the funnies. There was three comic books and I have read those so am now ready to start on the funnies.

It’s late tonight as I didn’t start writing until after the show and the show was rotten. That last part had nothing to do with the late start at writing but I just added it for affect or something.

Well Dear I’ll take a vitamin pill, get the funnies and retire – so solong until tomorrow –
Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/08/chow-roscoe/

Joy Funk (Gladys)

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1943-12-29 #01 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
IND.
12-29-43

Dear Daddy – Your letter of Dec. 18 & 19 came yesterday. I planned to go to Laf. today but David developed a cold and had a temp. I had Dr. M. come out. He said it was all in his head and left some pills (not sulfa) for him. His temp is down but he is cross. He is asleep now. I think he must have gotten a bug from Earl or Mark. There still seems to be a lot of flu around. David is getting a lot of attention now to keep him quiet – but it doesn’t always keep him so – but so far we have kept him on the couch with his toys around him. He still has plenty of pep and likes to play with his toys. Bill called last night and said the new baby had arrived, a girl, 8 lbs. – named Joy. Said Arlene was doing fine. I do hope she is, because with the help situation as it is now she will want to get up as soon as possible. J. & M. aren’t doing much during vacation. John has to take a music lesson tomorrow. Mark isn’t quite over his cold yet – I was going to take him to Laf. today – but since David isn’t feeling so good didn’t go. Maybe I can go Fri. or one day next week. It is still cold enough for the pond to be frozen. David Diedam came by for Mark to go skating, but I told him Mark couldn’t go toady. It isn’t too cold but just good winter weather – for people who like winter.

Love, Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/07/joy-funk-gladys/

George Wingfield, Jr. (George)

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Letter transcription:

Dec. 28, 1943

Dear Mrs. Yegerlehner,

It’s been over two months since my return and in the meantime Jake (that’s what we called your husband) has been transferred to the cooler areas someplace, I think, in New Zealand, although I’m not too sure.

At any rate a lot of mail that has been following me for three months caught up – finally and in it, a letter from the Doctor. He said to be sure and drop you a line

[page 2] an believe me I wouldn’t fail him.

His 18 months should be up the first of February although it may take a little longer in that things aren’t quite as automatic as they sound. Jake was fine when I last saw him in August.

We had a lot of fun out there amongst ourselves along with the harder side of life as the Solomons (Russell Islands to be more specific) aren’t exactly a playground even in peace time.

Jake is not only a good doctor – and that I mean – but a good friend as well – and he spoke so much of his wife that I couldn’t help but admire you both for what you are to each other. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting you when this is over. Happy New Year and the wish for your husband’s quick

[page 3] return. You must all stop off in Reno sometime when you are out West and we’ll “fight the war” in retrospect as it should be fought. We’ll all sing “Indiana, Indiana” in Nevada.

Sincerely,
George Wingfield, Jr.

P.S. Jake was so anxious that you got the flowers. I hope they arrived in good shape.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/06/george-wingfield-jr-george/

Re-read Your Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 28, 1943

Dear Mother,

I’ve re read your letters. The latest from you was the v-mail Dec. 13 and the next was your greeting card and letter – Dec. 12. The other v-mail was Dec. 11 and the letters were back to Dec. 5 but not all were present back that far. Some are missing.

I was amused at what you said wrote that John said about the money situation. Does he take after his Mom or his Pop? He should have a vote of thanks for thinking of the family finances. And the finances – what with those large chunks coming out for the piano, the loans, the hospital, etc., I think you have really done well. Next year we won’t have those things, but there is always something to th take the place of those things. You mentioned your mother’s hospital expenses. What are you or have you done about the funeral expenses. I assume you had Bob H., etc. and you have some arrangement with him. You perhaps wrote all this but it hasn’t arrived. Did you have take her to Shelburne? Or What? Maybe you would rather not write those things but I’d like to know.

[page 2] I hope you and the boys don’t get the flu – you mentioned in your last letter that it was pretty thick around. I suppose Dr. M. is worked pretty hard during conditions like that. He probably does what he wants to and lets the rest go to someone else. How about the Drs. in Sheldon? There were three there when I left, and our friend at Earl Park? And do you ever hear from Jim Openshaw?

Miller must have been sent out quick because the last time I heard he was in Tenn. or Mich. and had just been transferred.

Seems as if I’ve asked lots of questions in this letter rather than answered those your letter but those are some of the things I’ve thought of while reading your letters.

The mail hasn’t arrived as yet today or I should say it isn’t time for the mail to arrive so I’ll finish later – Later –

Yours of Dec. 9th came – a greeting card letter from Ruth & Floyd and a box from them also. So all in all it wasn’t a bad mail call –

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/05/re-read-your-letters-roscoe/

Second Letter (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Dec. 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I have been working on the financial statement – but having no adding machine I didn’t go into such details as groc. bills, lights, telephone, etc. but here is a list of Ins. – $443.55 – House $508.48 – Piano $300.oo – Loans paid $243.91 & $173.69 – Bike $35.00 – Hospital $128.80 – Bonds – $131.25 – coal $100.00 – The total of the above amounts to $2064.68 – The balance necessary to meet expenses is long & detailed and I’ll try to get the columns added so I can give you a complete report. As you will note I have not paid any Taxes (except $6.60 for the first of the year) but Agnes M. said for me not to. I think I have explained all about the taxes before. Even the gross isn’t paid by people in Service. The $330.00 you sent will take care of Ins. coming due the first of the year and I think I can buy some bonds, too. Our present bal. is $301.81 – and with the Jan. 1 cks. coming I’ll dep. $170.00 – There are bills amounting to $174.00 to be paid in Jan. – that doesn’t include groc. Bills which should amt. to about $30.00 – so I should be able to buy some bonds and still keep a comfortable bal. Does all the above sound complicated and as clear as a woman would make it? Thought I would give you food for thought – let you figure some of it out for yourself – I think you can add and deduct the right figures.

The other evening we were listening to Red Skeltons’ program and Ozzie & Harriet sang a song that sounded like double talk, but it is something like the tobacco auctioneers chant –

[page 2] It is Mares eat oats, Does eat oats, little kids lambs eat ivy, little kids lambs eat ivy – a kid’ll eat ivy too, wouldn’t you – Now just say it like this: Marze dotes and dozee doze, liddle lamz edivy, liddle lamz edivy, a kiddle dee divvy too, wouldn’t chew – I wish I could tell you the tune too – We all go around here singing Marze dotes. It’s just one of those silly catchy things. I know if you could have picked it up you would probably be humming it too.

It is getting late and I need some extra sleep to make up for getting a little tired over the holidays. We just listened to Dogwood and it was all about snoring – Imagine anything like that being funny. Sometimes David makes a noise in the night if he doesn’t sleep soundly – I don’t know what makes him do it, but Earl said he heard him all night Sat. when we stayed there. I really believe he heard him just a little while because I heard him, I think, about 4 a.m. but you know people think they hear things all night long, when they don’t – and especially if they aren’t feeling well.

Your Mother’s box came today and there was a picture of her & dad, done by a photographer. I hope she sent you one because it’s a very good picture. Pjs for J. & M. and a dollar for D. With the ten you sent & the 1.00 Mrs. P. gave him I am going to add enough for him a bond.

This is my second letter to you today, but the first one was written early this a.m. We’ll add a line in the morning.

Love Mother

Tues Morn – Yours of Dec. 18 & 19 came today. Also a letter from Glen & Pauline with $20.00 – $5.00 for each of us – They couldn’t find anything to send for gifts so just sent money. I sent them a box about two wks. before Christmas.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/04/second-letter-gladys/

Trouble with the Furnace (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 27, 1943

Dear Mother,

Received several letters from you today – Yours & the boys Christmas greetings – a letter and box from the folks and a greeting card letter and picture from Dolores. The picture was of she and he taken in Washington. I’ll have to re-read your letters before I write next time because I’m on-duty now and the letters aren’t where I am. And that is also the reason for the pencil.

You mentioned the check – That was the first one I sent. Hope the other one have arrived by now. Your mail service that way must be pretty good – almost as good as when I was back up the way.

A Newton Co. E. came today – The one telling of C.O. Riggs. That was the first I knew of the whole thing and in it was an account of the Simison girl having her appendicitis – Lots of news – Even Grace Cox was in the hospital. You haven’t mentioned lately whether Dr. Van Kirk is back at work or not – Maybe you aren’t interested in him. Not even enough for him you to write about him.

It seems you are having trouble with the

[page 2] furnace and Indiana Coal. Can’t Geo. Monroe get the thing regulated? Why don’t you have him make trips out there about every hour some day to check on it to see if he can really get things going?

I’m going to check the figures on the finances you gave and probably will have some comment about those but I read the letters so rapidly I couldn’t tell now a single figure you mentioned.

Do you remember a long time ago I mentioned sending an officer home with a bad eye? About June first. He is now back out at the first station when I was first located. He was back there U.S.A. for 5 months, so I guess he doesn’t have too much to complain about.

Well, next time I’ll answer more of your letters.
Love Daddy

P.S. also got a letter from Wayne W.

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/03/trouble-with-the-furnace-roscoe/

That Old Biological Urge (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 14-15-16 & 17 came this morning. I was feeding David and when he quit eating I read your letters before I had my breakfast. The ck. was along in the letter of the 16th. I will get it banked today and work on the statement I want you to have. I am so tired today, should be able to get some written work done because I haven’t pep enough to do much else. I did too much hurrying around for Christmas, but I think a day or two of relaxing will fix me up. I am supposed to go to Laf. Wed. to get my lenses or rather left lense replaced so will take Mark to have the X-ray you suggested. Mark is a little run down now too. Had a little cold Christmas day but I think with a few days rest will be ready for school Monday. He is just like he was when you were home – runs himself ragged if I don’t hold him down. He was so good after he got over his tonsil operation. All signs of nervousness had gone, but after he was in school a while he began jerking his head again and going other little things nervously. I know from past experiences, rest is the best thing for him. I think he skipped his cod liver oil before Christmas several times and I think that is one reason he has a cold.

The new Digest came this morning and John is reading it while I write this, then he is going to the P.O. and bank. There is a package at the

[page 2] P.O. It could be from your mother or Glenn. Your mother didn’t get his gifts sent to Ruth’s or to us. She had the flu pretty hard. I hated that because she had been feeling so extra good.

David is in his bed playing with some of his new toys. – I just looked in and he has thrown toys on the floor and is playing with the box they were in. He woke me up about 6 this morning and I had to change his pants – he went back to sleep and I did too. It was past 8 when he got me awake again. I got up and brought him down for his breakfast. The shoes you mentioned have been returned. We will talk about someone else to wear them when you come home – but you know me – that old biological urge has always been strong. I have had a lot of time to think about “things” since David came. So many people have voiced the opinion that baby raising is harder on older mothers, but I don’t agree with that theory now, that after a ten year pause, I have had 15 months of baby care. I find I have more patience with D. than I had with J. or M. Maybe I have had more time to devote to D. – or have I? At any rate I have enjoyed taking care of him – and don’t think I could get tired of it. He is walking around now with his new Christmas bathrobe on. He is a nosey little fellow and keeps someone busy saying no! no! All the time he is out “on the loose.” We have him “almost” trained to leave the coffee table alone – not quite.

Mrs. Z. came over last night. She says Virginia is getting along fine now. I knitted a bag & mittens for her and cap & mittens for Betty for Christmas. I brought home a job from Ruth’s. I am to knit a sweater for Romaine – I told her maybe I would get it done for her graduation.

“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/02/that-old-biological-urge-gladys/

Christmas Dinner and a Wedding (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.O.P. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 26, 1943

Dear Mother,

Now that Christmas is over and things have quieted down to a lazy Sunday P.M. a letter might be in order.

First here is the menu of our Christmas dinner – 1. Tomato Juice cocktail 2. Creamed Turkey soup with rice 3. Roast Vermont Turkey 4. Giblet Gravy 4. Dressings 5. Lettuce and tomato salad 6. Ice cream with fresh strawberry sauce 7. Oranges 8. Candy 9. Nuts 10. Cigars & 11. Cigarettes and 12. Coffee. I don’t believe I left anything out. Yes these were sugar cookies

[page 2] to eat with the ice cream. I copied that from a menu which was all prepared, etc., but couldn’t be sent thru the mail.

When I told you about that wedding being Christmas day I was mistaken. It is this P.M. instead and I’m waiting for something to develop. It’s supposed to be at 1600 and it is now 1400 so I have some time to kill. I’ll add a note at the end if anything startling happens.

Yesterday’s mail brought only a letter from Ruby Cunningham. She just wrote out of a clear sky and last night after writing that short note I wrote her a letter so

[page 3] you can see how I spent Christmas night. There was a show which was only fair and I played a game or two of Acey Ducey.

I’m going to make a New Year’s R. to write all those people I owe letters. That is almost a week away so I have that much time to delay. I used to like to write and would generally get the answer out on return mail but not so anymore. I’ve written & rewritten the writable things and that must be the reason for my change. Then too maybe I don’t have as much time, or maybe I don’t use my time as I used to do. Anyway I don’t write as many letters now as one year ago.

[page 4] I haven’t written the Folks yet today but will before the wedding. It keeps me from getting so nervous about the affair – say who is getting married? I’ll finish later.

Several hours later – The wedding was a great success. The groom kissed the bride. There wasn’t any fanfare. Just a quiet little affair with me the only American there except the Chaplin but for that matter there was only about 8 other people there and I didn’t act as best man. They didn’t have one of those things. I just had to sign as a witness. After the affair they took some pictures. The only one I got in was the one of the Chaplin & I. Romantic don’t you think –

Well Dear hope you had a nice Christmas
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/01/christmas-dinner-and-a-wedding-roscoe/

Tired Tonight (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-26-43

Dear Daddy –

Since I couldn’t mail the letter I wrote yesterday – the one the whole family signed, will just tuck another letter in. We left Ruth’s after dinner. It had turned rainy and I wanted to get home. Earl was in bed and I thought the sooner we got away the better for him. He didn’t have much temp. but Ruth said he was very tired and over worked and thought that was the reason he felt so all in. – We came home thru Watseka so I could see the Roberts. The two older children had colds and were established on the davenport, so I didn’t take our family in – She had a painting of Joe. Someone where he is happens to be an artist and I think it is a good portrait. However his Dad didn’t think it looked like him. I never did think a painted portrait looked like photography – Maybe Dr. R. is used to looking at Joe’s pictures by camera and that is the reason he didn’t think the portrait looked like him.

[page 2] Joe sent his family several travel books last year (or sometime) and Mrs. R. loaned them to us to look at. I just wish I had been able to take them along to Ruth’s. She said we should have something like them to look thru – however, she didn’t know anything about these. They came directly from there and should be authentic. She had in mind National Geographic. I have looked thru all but not read them yet. I must say the scenery is beautiful. Like Yellow Stone Park or similar places in this country.

I am tired tonight. Getting ready for Christmas, going to Ruth’s, driving, etc. I should be in bed now and am on my way. I sent Mark to bed early – he has a head cold. I think he has been skipping his cod liver oil when I don’t remind him to take it. It is warmer and I think the ice is melting so there won’t be much skating, if any. There won’t be any for him until he gets all over his cold. John is playing his records I gave him. David of course has been tucked in for some time. He has had a lot of fun with his new toys since we came home. He upset a box of candy under the tree twice – however it was wrapped caramels so no harm done. Ruth says he still looks like you across the eyes but I think his mouth is more like Mark’s. His teeth seem to be prominent – I wonder if the thumb sucking is going that or if his mouth would be that way naturally. It isn’t bad, but just a little prominent.

Love
Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/31/tired-tonight-gladys/

A Quick Line on Christmas (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Dec. 25, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just a line added to the letter I wrote yesterday. It seems as if the censor board didn’t meet and it seems as if no mail went out so rather than write a long letter I’ll just add this note and do better tomorrow.

Christmas is practically gone and I think it was enjoyed pretty much by one and all and everyone is looking forward to the New Year. I don’t mean exactly a New Year’s party but the new year because it surely will bring lots of good things.

Again a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/30/a-quick-line-on-christmas-roscoe/