Tag Archives: World War II

Christmas Day 1943 (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Christmas Day
Written from
Wilmington – 1943

Dear Daddy –

As you will note from the heading we have spent the day with the Mutchlers and are all in bed except Ruth & Romaine. Ruth is in the bathroom & Romaine is out with Jerry. We came over this a.m. – Had dinner at 1 P.M. In the afternoon Earl began feeling worse from his cold and Ruth and I prevailed upon him to see a Dr. and he finally went to see Dr. Wilson. He came back with two kinds of medicine and got five does down before we started to retire. He chilled from time to time – sat over the radiator all evening with a blanket around him. I told him to go to bed but he wanted to get his five doses down before retiring. He is tucked in now with heating pad but says he feels better. I noticed Mark sounded nasal after we got here so I used some nose drops on him when I tucked him in. If he isn’t better in the morning will do something about his cold. So far the rest of us are all normal, except my sinus drainage which I have had all winter, so nothing to be alarmed about.

This evening we talked a lot about you and looked at your pictures. Ruth got out some of your letters and read excerpts from same. She got out the world books and read about places and things.

[page 2] Last night we had our usual gift exchange. Dorothy wanted to see David get his gifts so I kept him up until 8 P.M. and she & Buddy came out and we gave him his gifts. Before she got there he spied the dog behind the tree Jimmy Staton had given him – It wasn’t wrapped. He wanted it so much we gave it to him. He holds his toys and we say “love the dog” (cat, etc.) and he pats some wrinkles up his nose and makes a funny little noise that is his way of loving. He had quite a time with all his gifts, which included plastic block, wood blocks, dogs, a jeep, bathrobe, house slippers and several wooden toys. I held J. & M. off for a while after David was put to bed. We had boxes with gifts from Jim & Thelma, Ruth & Floyd, & Ruth M. – I gave John records and money. I gave Mark some work sets – and things he likes to play with. They both thoughts they had a nice Christmas. Jim sent me a navy pin – it has the Lt. bars – is very pretty.

It is 11:30 & I am sleepy – Ruth said they would all sign this in the morning & let David make a mark.

Love Mother
Romaine
David
Mark
John
How are you coming boys O.K. I hope Mutch
We have had a nice Christmas, hope you have to. Lots of love & best wishes for the New Year
Ruth

P.S. I tried to hold David’s hand and he didn’t like the idea. The pencil mark are his.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/29/christmas-day-1943-gladys/

Christmas Eve in the Pacific (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. 24, 1943

Dear Mother,

This being Christmas Eve, I should write something different probably but I haven’t the slightest idea what it would be. I just got it. From my window I can see a farmer making hay and I really mean hay – you know the kind that cows eat. Now that was never heard of around there so it must be different. Another thing that I’ve noticed in town which is different is the fresh vegetables right in with the Christmas decorations. I don’t mean by that that we don’t have fresh

[page 2] vegetables at home on Christmas but this is the summer type vegetables with the winter or Christmas decorations. I guess I’ve run that far enough or probably too far.

I’ve started writing again before mail time so here’s hoping there can be a foot note saying that letters came.

In a letter a few days ago I wrote of this friend of mine wanting the blood test for marriage. Well the Chaplin informs me this A.M. that I’m to attend the wedding and possibly be the best man. If I am the best man I’m going to be certain about that kiss to the bride. I mean if it is a

[page 3] practice here, Gee I’m all worked up. Not about the best man’s job as such but about the kiss. It is not going to be a double ring affair because she doesn’t want it that way. She said she could trust him so he didn’t have to wear a ring. Was my face red when she looked at my ring? Of course, if he goes back where he was she will have nothing to worry about because all the “babes” up there are a little shy.

We have a show tonite and after that we will probably open our Christmas packages. Most of the packages won’t be opened in the usual manner

[page 4] because who ever heard of using a bottle opener or a cork screw to open packages.

Later: In fact it is almost Christmas day and things haven’t been too bad for Christmas Eve. I’d say there was very little difference between this and last year even though the setting is different than that of one year ago. As I said it is almost Christmas and I’m still able to write so I’m doing alright. Maybe I could write better if I were drunk but it’s too late to start now. I’ll just have to wait until a later date – anyway don’t worry because I won’t get too drunk. John’s v-mail came and that was all there was for me today. Hope I do better on Christmas day.

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/28/christmas-eve-in-the-pacific-roscoe/

 

Christmas Eve (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-24-43

Dear Daddy –

Christmas Eve and the usual going round and round. Lucile wanted to go to Sheldon and get their turkey out of the locker. I got several things out too, a chicken, a few steaks and strawberries. I took a package of T-bone to Bud Kruman. I want to give Virginia a box of strawberries. I haven’t been up to Plummers yet but think I’ll take her a steak too. I am still saving back some Porterhouse steaks – I noticed there were still several packages of both sirloin & Porterhouse yet. On the way back we stopped at the greenhouse and got wreaths to take out to the cemetery. I stopped and got Dorothy at the Restaurant and she went with us out there, after we had left Lucile & Jimmy out at home.

Jimmy gave David a nice toy. It has pegs and a mallet – he likes the mallet – I imagine he will find lots of places to hammer with it. We gave Jimmy a toy & waterproof bib. They are going to Monticello tonight, so Jimmy had his gifts this morning. He had several nice things and seemed to like the toy David gave him. It is a small one – a duck with a cart attached – something he can handle easily.

[page 2] Mark is so anxious to open his gifts he is counting the hours – and so is John. Dorothy wants to see David get his gifts so I am going to keep him up until she can come out about 8 o’clock.

The weather having changed for the warmer and no snow in sight we are planning to go to Wilmington tomorrow & stay over Sun. I wish we could go to C.C. but with the furnace to take care of, it’s too far to go for just a day.

Statons went to Ft. Wayne, Foulkes are going to Chicago – Nate being stationed at Great Lakes and on duty 24 hrs. a day. They are going there to be with them. Zells will remain at home without company because of Virginia’s condition. Funks will be home – Arlene may go to the hospital – Dorothy said they would go to her mother’s since we won’t be here to take dinner with them.

Must get this finished so can get it mailed.
“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/27/christmas-eve-gladys/

No Mail For Me (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. 23, 1943

Dear Mother,

I’m starting this before mail time and hope there will be letters to answer before I finish. There probably won’t be any mail after all because when one plans on receiving some it generally work just the opposite.

The good old summer time has really arrived here. The sun is burning down and the grass is turning brown in some spots just like at home when it doesn’t rain much in the summer. It really is not much of a Christmas atmosphere but I’ve said that

[page 2] before. Even was saying that last year this time. However hot the days get it is always cool at night, about an hour or two after sundown I turn on the radiator and then shut it off at bed time and use 2 woolen blankets and even at that I’ve gotten chilly at night.

Our radio is playing one of Schubert’s something or other just now. My room is just off the “Boar’s Nest” and I get the radio programs rather plainly.

Some hours later – No mail for me. There were several packages but mine must be going to my old address. You have mentioned several times that you have sent packages but none have arrived. Ruth M. has also indicated that she has sent

[page 3] either Christmas or birthday gifts but none have arrived and I presume that they were sent to Navy 60.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and as far as I’m concerned it’s just another day or just another eve. Many of the boys who have been here are acquainted and have parties arranged but I’m just not the mixing kind so will make the best of Christmas if they will just feed us turkey and plenty of it – always thinking of a full stomach and why not? I’ll write more of the day before Christmas developments tomorrow.

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/26/no-mail-for-me-roscoe/ ‎ ‎

A New Lens (Gladys)

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1943-12-23 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-23-43

Dear Daddy – Today David is 15 months old. He spent the afternoon with Jimmy while I went to Laf. with Dorothy. I went to get my glasses repaired. David broke the left lense – I glued it but thought I should get a new lense – but the optical shop was closed, so my trip was unnecessary. However I did some shopping for Mrs. Zell. Since Virginia’s accident Mrs. Z. hasn’t been able to get away to do much shopping. I saw Dr. Cole in the Foster shop. This being Thurs. I asked him how he got away. He said he told his wife not to try and find him for a few hours. Said he has delivered 498 babies so far this year. I suppose he will make the 500 mark yet this year. Arlene is to go down the day after Christmas if not before. Coke brought us a box of candy for Christmas. I had a handkerchief to give her. Last year the cheese co. gave the neighborhood boxes of cheese. John & Mark are listening to Baby Snooks. They get out of school tomorrow at 11:30. Both are getting very anxious to open their Christmas gifts. We have received boxes from both Ruths & Jim. Your Mother said she had things to send but had the flu so didn’t know when she would get things sent out. I sent your folks another year subscription to Reader’s Digest. I haven’t been over to see Virginia yet today so must go see her and take the things I bought for Mrs. Z.

Love Mother

YEG1943-12 David 14.5 months

David at 14.5 months

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: http://genealogylady.net/2015/08/25/a-new-lens-gladys/

Cupid’s Arrow (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. 22, 1943

Dear Mother,

No mail today so must write out of a clear sky as I have often done and it’s just plain nonsense ad infinitum, but queer things do happen now and then. This P.M. as I was on duty the phone rang and I answered – giving my name, etc., and the fellow on the other end was very familiar which threw me for a loss but when he told me who he was —. A ship mate I had spent about 6 month up there with under adverse conditions and fellows like that seem like long lost brothers. Well is seems that on a former occasion he had met a gal here and decided he wanted to go thru life

[page 2] looking across the breakfast table at her so he wanted a quick Wassermann [1] and a chaplin so I being cupid’s right hand man started the ball rolling and in the course of a few hours cupid and Wassermann are over-taken and the guy is hitched or will be in a day or two. All I have to do now to complete the details is to fling a few grains of rice and they will be each other’s forever, etc. All I can say is “ain’t” love wonderful or maybe I should say “ain’t” nature grand. I’m always glad to see the younger generation get going. It gives great hopes, ideas & licentious designs which appeal to the,

[page 3] shall I say, more to the fantastic than the real side of life, which in common every day language means – more power to them.

I still wonder about the advisability of such procedures but one cannot criticize too severely even though the native country of each is different for they still, I hope, love each other and that seems to be the all important thing so what?

So far this letter has been, according to my own idea, very “screwy” but don’t pay too much attention to what I think.

To the more serious side. I was talking to one of the officers tonight about income tax. He told me service men were exempt $1,500 and after that all the dependencies, etc., were taken. Have

[page 4] you studied those things? In any case I don’t believe our tax will amount to much because as I have it figured the total taxable amount will be around $2,500 less of course that for dependencies. The way I figure this for Jan. & Feb. the amount was $183 per month and for the remainder of the year was $220 per month. That may not be too clear and but in the next week or two I’ll be able to send more definite figures because the pay affairs will furnish each with the amount taxable for 1943.

Due to not having anymore to write I’ll say – solong –
Love Daddy

[1] Wassermann – a blood test to determine syphilis

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/24/cupids-arrow-roscoe/

A Habit of Hollering (Gladys)

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1943-12-22 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-22-43

Dear Daddy – Another day nearer Christmas. Ruth called me last night about coming over. I told her it depended on the weather. The temp. has been dropping today and is to get below zero tonight. If it starts to snow we will remain home. I took some pink ruffled curtains we used at the Davis house over to Zells and put them up in Virginia’s room. She has to stay in bed 3 wks. The tree is in her room and I took one of the lamp shades that turn round & round for her to watch. I can see the tree from the dining room window. It was so cold today I didn’t take David out. Lucile came out with Jimmy and he was so cold I thought David would be better off not to go out. I gave Jimmy a haircut. David tries to take everything away from Jimmy – also David has a habit of hollering at the top of his voice that sometimes scares Jimmy. A ck. came for dividends on the pd. up policy – ($5.62). I deposited it and the $26⁰⁰ ck. to apply on the premiums due next month. John is home from school and starting his home work. Mark has been here and gone back to town for something. He is very busy since he has some money to spend. He bought $5⁰⁰ in stamps. John hasn’t spent much of his. I will put David’s in a bond. David is very busy now and John is trying to keep him out of things.

Love, Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/23/a-habit-of-hollering-gladys/ ‎

Christmas Cheer (Roscoe)

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Letter transcripion:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4 Navy 133
Dec. 21, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just re read one of your letters and find finances one great difficulty you are having or rather were having at that particular time. The checks I sent will have gotten there by now or soon will and those will help.

I’m glad you weren’t thinking of spending Christmas with the folks. I think that is too far for you to drive at this time of the year and the change is apt to cause colds, etc., which it seems you folk are having lots of difficulty with at present.

Just finished reading the other letters and find there are no questions to answer. You

[page 2] wrote of Christmas greetings. One came from Harold & Coco – a very nice one –

You wrote of a plane coming over and the things it made you think of. That would be swell and some day it may be true. Hope it isn’t in the too far distant future, but I’m still not making plans because as we’ve written no plans and no disappointment but that doesn’t keep a person from dreaming.

Tonite was the regular might for the stage show. It was better than last week, but not too good. It helps pass the time but I wouldn’t

[page 3] pay much money after the first one if I knew what was coming. They seem to be very fond of singing “White Christmas” and I don’t see why the natives would know what they were singing about. Another song I’ve heard recently very much is “Star Dust” and that has an Indiana background also “Rocking Chair” and “My Gal Sal.” They all seem to strike a familiar something of back home.

It is now three days until Christmas and I haven’t the slightest idea of what I’ll do other than the usual work and perhaps have turkey for chow. We probably will have a few drinks if anything

[page 4] turns up drinkable which it usually does. In fact I think there is enough around now for some Christmas cheer.

I’ve been some little time writing this letter – writing a little and then just sitting trying to think of something more and you can see for yourself I didn’t think of much in between the writing periods.

Well, Dear I hope you and the boys are having a swell time around the New Year.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/22/christmas-cheer-roscoe/

Cracked Skull (Gladys)

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1943-12-21 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-21-43

Dear Daddy – Two letters came today (Dec. 8 & 9). I had five yesterday up to Dec. 12. Also your cable greeting. Sorry we can’t return a cable but sent a regular greeting and some extra good pictures of David and hope you get them this week. Lucile is bringing Jimmy out and I am going to take care of the two boys while Lucile goes to club – she is on the committee and should attend. It is so nice out today I want to keep the boys out in the sunshine a while. Dr. M. gave Zells the report on the X-ray – Virginia has a crack in the back of her head and he says all they can do is keep her quiet. She has been very ill from the fall and is just beginning to eat, after a week since the accident. I stopped to see Arlene – she hasn’t gone to the hospital. Bill has the flu and Dr. C. told her if she got it to go right to the hospital. She hasn’t any help yet – Louise got the flu and being pregnant hasn’t recovered very rapidly. Dienharts have another baby (girl). I think it came a little too soon. Betty had to have a section done for the first baby – I see Jimmy & Bobby out playing together. The Zell girls are not out today. Betty won’t have to go to school this week – the first & second grades were dismissed until vacation is over due to so many being absent with cold, etc. So with Virginia home, all the Zell girls are home. It’s about time for Lucile to come.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/21/cracked-skull-gladys/ ‎

Best Tennis Player (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. 20, 1943

Dear Mother,

Three air mail letters and three v-mails today. Your latest v-mail was Dec. 7. Mark’s v-mail came along but none from John and I believe you said both were mailed the same day. I’ll have to re read your letters again in order to answer your questions or comment on what you wrote. The latest of the lot was Dec. 7.

I still feel like the very Dickins because you were getting no mail and the reason was the leave I was taking. You stated that the last letter was Dec.[sic] 19 and that was the day I left. Of course by now the regular schedule is again going but the suspense of those 10 days.

I overheard some people talking this eve. about the best tennis player weighing around one hundred

[page 2] and I immediately spoke up and said I could go one better. Quote “The best woman in the word only weighed about that much” and when asked who – my answer “my wife.” I may not have my quotation marks in the right place but I hope you understand what I mean.

I hope the checks I sent will help out with the finances because as I read from your letters I assumed that you were very low. Maybe with the little added amount I sent during this month you can again get on top and keep the big bad wolf from the door.

Between now and tomorrow’s letter I will re read the letters

[page 3] received today and see if I can write a more sensible letter using yours as a background.

It seems it’s hard for me to get started writing your letters early in the day and I always have to hurry so I won’t get to be too late for bed and I must get my eight hours every night.

Well, I’ll promise to write a better letter next time.
Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/20/best-tennis-player-roscoe/