Tag Archives: World War II

Christmas is Coming (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-20-43

Dear Daddy –

Your five letters of Dec. 4 to 12 came today and your Christmas cable. Thanks. Also several other greetings and one Ins. notice. Those keep coming right along with greetings. Two of your letters contained pictures – you look good in all of them. Mark was quite impressed with the Darby boys. I think they all look very English, am I right?

I addressed greeting [cards] last night and have more to do today. I am placing greetings received on the mantle, standing so they can all be seen. The tree stands by the S.E. living room window. David goes to it and jabbers, or just goes oooh!

[page 2] If we say, “David, where is the Christmas tree? He will go right to it. I was busy in the kitchen this a.m. and he got busy with the packages. No damage done, I got to him before he could open anything. He has never cared for orange juice – you remember he couldn’t take it until he was about a yr. old and hasn’t yet cultivated the taste as he should. I usually have to insist on him finishing his daily cup, and it is a job. Sometimes I am tempted to dispense with the juice and give him Vit. C in tablet form, like I did for so long. What’s your opinion? David is asleep now and when he wakes up I want to take him out in the sunshine which is really bright today. He enjoys his buggy rides so much. Had a card from Art and he is in Bethesda, 14 Maryland. National Naval Medical Center.

[page 3] You might want to send him a greeting. He said after a few weeks there he will go to the Pacific. Said there was more gold braid there (Md) than corpsmen.

John went back to school this morning. Dr. Glick was there examining all who had been out or had colds in the past two weeks. He didn’t examine John very closely when he told him he didn’t have a cough. There are cases of chicken pox around. Not worried about J. & M. bringing that home to D. This epidemic that has been around hasn’t been flu, but milder. However, it was prevalent enough to necessitate closing some schools. Some people think an open winter causes epidemics, but I have never yet been able to get the point. Personally, you know I like the milder weather, and think I am more apt to get flu, etc., in the sub-zero weather.

I saw Bobby out today but didn’t get to ask him about Arlene. I

[page 4] am wondering if she will get her wish about having a baby on Christmas day.

Just had to answer the phone – Chet Van Scoyck just called to tell me he was sending over 2 ton of good coal. I didn’t tell him I got that much last week, but figure I had better take it when we can get it. There is a lot of difference in the way the furnace has operated since getting the better coal last week. Mr. Monroe was out this a.m. to check things & oil. He comes every 60 days regularily. He came a few times off schedule when the pins broke every few days.

Zells are going to take Virginia for an X-Ray today. I do hope she doesn’t have a fracture. She is much better today than she has been.

I am afraid this warm weather will spoil Mark’s sport – skating – He was over there all afternoon yesterday. I’ll remind him to write you this evening. He has started spending the $10⁰⁰ – wanted to get Virginia something nice so bought her a $1⁰⁰ bottle of cologne.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/19/christmas-is-coming-gladys/ ‎

Below Zero (Gladys)

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1943-12-19 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-19-43

Dear Daddy – Sun. evening. There was to be a program at the church but Mrs. Rathburn was ill and couldn’t play the organ for the music part so the program wasn’t given. I helped Lucile a while this afternoon with decorating the club room for the Tues. meeting. I am intending to keep the two babies Tues. so Lucile can attend the meeting. She is on the program – that is a part of the committee. I kept David out a long while today. There was a cold wind and it made him sleepy. He could hardly wait to get to bed after supper. Mark skated a while – we walked over to the pond to see how he was getting along. Since our winter weather (below zero) last week it has warmed up enough to thaw the pond. All the town skaters have been enjoying themselves. You can bet John spent the afternoon by the radio. He knows what comes on from 1 p.m. till bedtime. He went to Sunday School this a.m. so think he can go to school tomorrow – He stayed home Thurs. & Fri. because of a slight cold. – Mrs. Cox has been ill for some time. I stopped to see her a few minutes this afternoon. She was in the hospital for a long time. I took David in but he soon got restless so I didn’t stay long. Mrs. Krull is staying with Louise. – The radiators froze during last week’s cold wave and Nick had to take care of the “mess” today on the sleeping porch.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/17/below-zero-gladys/

A Weekend on Tulagi (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
12-18-43

Dear Mother,

Just one week from Christmas and all my shopping done. You of course know that is a laugh.

Three letters today – one from you dated late in Oct., one from the folks about the same time and a greeting card letter from the Walkups with a family group picture.

In your letter you told of D. getting a kick out of playing in the kitchen with the pots & pans and in Mother’s letter she told of the same thing while you were down there – so he must be rather a pot & pan man.

Undated Christmas telegram from 1942 or 1943

Undated Christmas telegram, likely the one sent in 1943

I sent you and the folks a cable today – hope they get there around Christmas time but I may have waited a little

[page 2] too long because I suppose everyone will have the same idea.

It’s a little amusing to see the influence of the North in the local Christmas decorations. The windows in some of the our buildings have been decorated with candles and snow. The candles are of course universal but the snow seems out of place. It’s just a carry over or a carry down under. Then of course there are some colored bells, stars, etc. I think the wards are probably competing with each other for honors or prizes. The prize probably to be are a snow ball or some such valuable object.

Our show here last night was “The Great Dictator” – remember when we saw that – seems like years ago. The shows here are

[page 3] much behind those we used to see. I didn’t go to see this one last night first because I was on duty – a good reason and of course I had seen it before so wouldn’t have gone secondly.

I’ve wondered lots about Foulkes’ brother-in-law. As to where he was etc. I think I’ve seen most of the places around these parts but could easily have missed him because some of my stops were only short. Just a visit one might say. I spend one weekend on Tulagi and it was a most enjoyable one because it was so different. Maybe it was because the officer I was visiting had beer and I hadn’t had any for a considerable length of time, and it was cold, too. I

[page 4] mean the beer was cold.

A pause of a few hours. In fact evening chow has come & gone. We had steak – good thick and French fried potatoes. The steaks were really good but not rate enough for me but don’t misunderstand I’m not complaining. There was ice cream also but I very seldom eat that anymore. There was a lettuce salad in the beginning and that is still good after being off of that kind of food for so long.

Well, I’ve really run down so solong until tomorrow
Love Daddy

 

© 2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/16/a-weekend-on-tulagi-roscoe/

Reclaimed Rubber (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 18 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but rec’d several this week – Also the boys got their Christmas money. John wrote you a v-mail last night – I’ll get Mark to write this evening. He is out skating this afternoon. He kept David out for about an hour in his buggy then I told him he could go skate. He gets so much fun from skating. We rec’d a box from R. M. this a.m. She wants us to come for Christmas but I couldn’t promise her anything depending on the weather. Before we got the better coal I couldn’t consider going because the furnace needed constant attention. Mrs. Zell said they would take care of it for us but I thought that was too much bother for them. And now that Virginia is in bed think they have enough to do. The Dr. hasn’t taken an x-ray yet. Says

[page 2] she shouldn’t be moved yet. I wonder if she has a basal facture. Will just have to wait for the x-ray to find out.

David has had a long nap. The fresh air made him sleep longer than usual. He is just waking up and sounds a little cross. I am just going to keep writing until he gets demanding. He loves to go out. Yesterday I took him for a walk. It had been so cold that was the first he had been out since Sun. I am enclosing some pictures Ed took of the two babies. It was hard to get them in the right mood together for a picture. I think the one of D. alone is very good. He is turned a little to the side but it’s a good profile picture. Can’t say so much for myself but was trying to get David to behave.

We worked on floors today. This soft reclaimed rubber in the heels mark the floors just like crayon. I took the boys shoes & had leather heels put on. It’s no easy job to steel wool the floors, and this is

[page 3] the third time this fall we have done the job. I hope the new heels eliminate the cause of all this scouring.

The check came today for the dividends on the three policies ($26.52) and a notice about the one policy being paid up. That check will take care of more than 1/3 of premiums due in Jan.

John has been listening to the usual Sat. p.m. opera. I sat and listened a while & knitted. I was tired from working on the floor so took that means to rest. John has a book on Italian operas and follows thru the operas with his book, when it’s an Italian.

The enclosed greeting came today so I just readdressed their envelope. I enclosed the v-mail in a letter one day this week they had sent here to be sent on to you. I have a greeting I am sending to them. I have a stack of greetings to send out and must get busy and get them in the mail.

[page 4]  I went to town this morning to buy groc. but didn’t pick up any news but maybe Boonie will write and give you all the low down. He let me read your letter the other day when I stopped in to get the paper (no delivery now). He told me right away he knew where Col. Wilkie is, so you know how he delights in spreading the news.

David is out of doors again with Mark. Mark came home from the pond with being called.
Love Mother

YEG1943-12 Gladys, David, Lucile and Jimmy Ed

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/15/reclaimed-rubber-gladys/

My Belongings (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just two bits of mail today. One a letter from Joe Roberts – Written Sept. 5 and mailed Oct. 4 and another a card from the Li Reader’s Digest informing me that the Digest was being sent me by the Rotary Club and the Jr. Women’s Club. It went to the old place also and likewise all the issues will go there until I can get the word to them. It’s been so long since I’ve heard from Joe that I wonder if he is still where he was when he wrote the letter. You have never mentioned him having a change so I suppose he is still there.

When I came here I came by air and naturally couldn’t bring all my gear along and I’ve been worried all this time that it never would catch up but it finally did and now I’m unpacking again. This is the first time in almost a year that me and my belongings have been together. I had to watch my clothes pretty close in order to have enough left between laundry days, and another thing like a dummy I put all of my pictures

[page 2] in the goods I left behind but and now that I have them all together there is a pretty good sized pile of them.

My room is more filled up now than before but when I get things all stored I’ll have plenty of room. There are 8 drawers in this dresser and everyone is pretty well filled up only not neat. Just wadded and I believe I can improve if I try.

Now that I have all the pictures and a fine wall I think I’ll put D.’s pictures up in an orderly fashion as per each month to get a comparison of how he has grown.

I had late duty tonite and it is now getting near 12 midnight so
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/14/my-belongings-roscoe/ ‎

A Conceited Little Thing (John)

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1943-12-17 (JFY)Letter transcription:

John Yegerlehner
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-17-43

Dear Daddy,

I want to thank you for the Christmas present you sent me. I received it yesterday morning but I was sick yesterday so I didn’t write you till today. I will have to buy a nice present for Mother and also something for Virginia Zell who is in bed with a brain concussion. I already have what I’m going to give Mark and David. David is a conceited little thing. We showed him some pictures of himself and he looked at them and said “Pretty.” He says “pretty” almost every time he sees a button and when he sees the Christmas tree. He likes to watch it but he puts his hands on it and takes the little lamps that go around off. If things keep on the same he may have callouses on his hands before long. Oh, I guess he’s not that bad. Thanks again,

You son
John

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/13/a-conceited-little-thing-john/ ‎

Mystery Pal (Gladys)

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1943-12-17 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-17-43

Dear Daddy – This has been a busy day. It was nice enough to take David out so left the work and took a walk to air the younger generation. He was wrapped up to his neck so he wouldn’t get chilled. He really enjoyed the trip. We went over to see Jimmy Ed then down town and mailed David’s pictures air mail (48₵) so you should get them soon. Lucile gave me some snaps we took two weeks ago so I will enclose them in tomorrow’s air mail. John stayed home again today but didn’t feel very bed. Had a slight temp 4/5 of a degree this a.m. and 2/5 this p.m. However, I told Miss Kitsmiller I kept him home so he wouldn’t get sick. I think he had a slight cold which would have gotten worse if he had gone to school. I went to the S.S. Class party tonight and we had our annual mystery pal revelation. I got Dorothy Kindig’s name for next year – as John would say – that is just “lady stuff.” Mark had been skating since the pond has been frozen. Seems to enjoy the sport very much. I rec’d a greeting from “Pop” Porterfield today. Said to give you his regards in my next letter to you. He is still in Va. Saw Clarice Hufty tonight. She said she is expecting to go to the hospital any time now. So is Arlene. It may be a tie.

Love – Mother

YEG1943-11

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/12/mystery-pal-gladys/

Downhill Stretch (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133 F.P.O. San Fran C.
Dec. 16, 1943

Dear Mother,

There was no mail today but we just can’t expect mail every day and really it has been coming in pretty good lately. Rather I’d say pretty regular.

Today for the most part was rather warm but just now as I came into the room I turned on the radiator because it seemed just a little too chilly without some added heat. Maybe it’s because the wind blows rather fiercely at times. Not like the good old prairie wind at home but it’s still rather chilly if one isn’t in the sun.

This being the 16th of Dec. we

[page 2] are now on the down hill stetch of this month. Seems as if time is passing rather rapidly but not as rapidly as at the last place. The time spent there seems to have passed and it’s very hard to really think back and recall what actually did happen. Maybe I don’t want to think of it but after all it wasn’t so bad.

The stores in town are not as elaborately decorated as back there for Christmas, but maybe ours are not so good this year. I was in town only a short time and perhaps I missed the best. This being summer people take more vacation around Christmas than they do at home and that might account for less fixing up of stores, homes, etc.

The check I wrote you about was in the letter of Dec. 15. I’ll repeat that again a time or two so don’t think I’m the broken record.

Just happened to think I never did reply or let you know that I had received your letter telling me that Dolores was married. More power to them if that’s the way they feel about the whole thing. I suppose she is continuing on with her work.

This may be a little late but a Merry Christmas to you and the boys and
Lots of Love
Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/11/downhill-stretch-roscoe/

Christmas Cards (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 16 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

We really caught up with the mail or rather it caught up with us today. The three money orders came along with three letters for me. You inquired about finances in one letter. I have given you some reports lately but our bank bal. at present is $25⁰⁰ and with Jan. 1 check I will have to pay Ins. (John Hancock $50.26 & $11.60). I couldn’t believe I had used so much money during the past year but I have all the cancelled checks and they tell the story. I’ll send you a detailed statement a little later. Of course the hospital expenses made a little of the total but it was just one of those things and I was glad I could keep it paid. Our house payments are down to $44.47 now. John didn’t go to school today and is getting quite bored at home. He said he didn’t feel just right this morning, so I took his temp to be sure and he had 2/5 of a degree. I told him not to go to school if he felt he should stay home. He has had no rise

[page 2] in temp. all day but I think he is just as well off to miss a day of school. He said he felt like you was taking a cold but it isn’t developing very fast if he has any. So many keep going to school with colds – one boy in his class has a very bad cold and keeps going every day. John was very much disgusted with him for not staying home. John has had the radio on all day to help pass the time. I think he will be glad to get back to school

Mark wanted to take his money order to school and get it cashed on the way home but I told him he could go back to town after school so he decided he could wait. David of course just said oooh! Or something equally intelligent when I showed him his money order. His pictures came so will send them out today. I think you will agree they are very good of him. I assure you he looks exactly like them.

Virginia Zell is improving. Dr. M. is going to X-ray her head tomorrow afternoon. I was over to see her this morning and she was awake and seemed normal. Dr. said she would have to remain in bed three weeks. I am anxious to get the X-ray report as to whether there is a fracture or not.

[page 3] It is warmer today – was above zero this a.m. instead of below. Those few degreed seem to make so much difference to me. There is a light snow on which will stay unless we have a sudden warm spell.

Ruth wants us to come over there for Christmas, but I am not going to plan on it because of the weather. If it warms up and the roads are not slick we may go. Your Mother wanted to know if we were planning to come down, but I hadn’t been. It would be too far to go in this kind of weather I think.

We have rec’d a few greetings. Got one from Jewell. She wrote a note – said Dot’s husband had been rejected. Dot’s baby is just a few weeks younger than David. Margaret’s husband is in the Army and Uncle G. is living with Marg. Hazel’s son Paul left Mon. for the Navy. He is married and they have a new baby.

You were wondering about E. Wilson going to the Army – The law about pre-Pearl Harbor fathers doesn’t seem to make much difference when the local draft board runs out of single men, and that seems to be the case here, or at least that is what I understand. Ed Johnson’s Co. got him a deferment, but Lucile thinks he may go when this deferment is up. She

[page 4] says he won’t ask for a deferment himself. I was in the 10₵ store and some woman asked Bill Zimmerman something about him being in the service and he said Uncle Sam had all the good men already – I suppose he didn’t pass the physical in Indpls. I knew he was to take his exam in Oct. and I didn’t ask him any questions, because I didn’t want to be nosey. I have an idea Floyd might pass the next time, if the demands gets hard enough.

Louise Krull Glenn has a new baby girl – 9 lbs. I was in the restaurant yesterday and the call came for Nick while I was there. Mrs. Krull closed her house and has been staying with Louise. Johnnie is such a big child – looks more like a 4 yr. old than 27 months.

Your acc’t of frying chicken was good. Wish I could have a picture of that – You should be able to pinch hit – you had good training at home.

I must get this finished so it will go out on the evening mail.

Here’s hoping you have a Merry Christmas – I know you won’t receive it until after the 25th but maybe by Jan. 1.

Love Mother
P.S. the enclosed came today – thought you would rather have the original than a reproduction.

YEG1943-11

David, 14 months, November 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/10/christmas-cards-gladys/

Keeps the Wolf Away (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. 15, 1943

Dear Mother,

Your V-mail of Nov. 4 came today and it made me feel rather badly again because you were in that period where no mail was coming to you due to the ten days when I was away. By now the letters should be coming to you regular again I hope.

No need to mention the check I’m sending because you will find it. Hope it keeps the wolf away from the door until I can get more saved. Use it where ever or for what ever you need and I’m sure you’ll need it

[page 2] or can use it in lots of places. I’ll be anxious to get the detailed financial statement you mentioned. You did in this letter mention the bonds you bought and the Insurance you paid off during the year. I have a pretty hard time trying to remember what Insurance comes due, how much and when but I guess you remember and with the notices coming in I’m sure you can’t forget.

I’m surprised that you compared D. to all men shoppers – Said he was got too anxious to be on the move – you know very well I always liked to go shopping and took all the time in the world. Or did I?

[page 3] It have been a little chilly around here today. From your letter it sounded as if it might be as cold here as there. Last night I had the radiator turned on full blast and it didn’t feel too bad, but tonite the wind is in the other direction so didn’t have to have the extra heat.

You mentioned something about the Christmas tree – Well we are beginning to see a few decorations around here and there. I noticed some decorated bells in one of the wards today. I suppose there will be  more in the next few day. Makes Christmas seem a little more real – if that is possible out here – good night

Love Daddy

New_Zealand_Cities

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