Tag Archives: World War II

Church Conference (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nove. 7 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. afternoon – It is cloudy & a little mist in the air. It has rained some during the day but now more of a dampness. We took David to Sunday School this morning & got along first rate. Mrs. Beekman was there with her little girl – who by the way behaved better than David. He did very well for him & first try but she was quieter. Dr. Beck the district Supt. was here today for quarterly conference & they had a dinner at the church. I came home after S.S. and gave David his orange juice & cod liver oil, put him to bed for a nap then prepared our dinner to take back to the church. After he woke up I fed him and by that time J. & M. had come home to help me

[page 2] so we went back for the dinner. I borrowed Lucile’s (Jimmy Ed’s) Taylor Tot to keep David in while we ate. He behaved pretty well. After the dinner Mark kept him in the car which I stayed in for the conference. John came on home to listen to the radio (music program).

David has been on a “tear” this afternoon. We came home about 2 P.M. I put him in his bed to take another nap when Mrs. Kendall came and he wouldn’t go to sleep but kept up an uproar most of the time she was here. He is in his pen now making some kind of noise. It is just one of those days.

I think you remember the Beekman’s. You treated one of them for colds. This Mrs. Beekman was working in Fords, had been some time, when one day not long ago she became very ill – that was about 3 P.M. – by 7 she was in the hospital

[page 3] and operated on soon after. She had a pregnancy in the tube and one in the uterice. The tube had bursted, but they had operated in time. Ruth Ford told me about it and said Dr. Ross said he had only had one case like it in all his practice. Mrs. Beekman is recovering very nicely and is now home from the hospital. The other Mrs. Beekman was the one at church this morning with her baby.

I believe this other coal makes more dust – which doesn’t surprise me but makes more dusting to do. In figuring according to what we burned last winter I think we will have enough to last us thru the worst of the winter if it doesn’t get too cold. I got 8 tons in July and that lasted thru until in Feb. when I had 4 tons put in and we easily have 2 ton of that yet. Of course this Ind. coal burns up faster and probably won’t last as long, as 2 ton of Va. coal would.

I called Dr. Ade yesterday for an

[page 4] appointment for eye examination & he couldn’t give me one until Nov. 16. I have been having headaches that feel like my eyes are the cause.

David is raising so much fuss I will have to quit and see what I can do for him.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned & transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/28/church-conference-gladys/

Settled Again (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133, F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 6, 1943

Dear Mother,

Now that I’m settled again I should be able to write on schedule. At least I’ll try.

Things here are so much different than at the last place but in a short time everything should work out all right. The cold weather here is fine and after the initial shock I’m really going to enjoy it lots. Persons around here say that it is much warmer than a few weeks or months ago but it sure seems cold to me. In fact I’ve had the radiator turned on full blast in my room continuously.

Needless to say no mail has arrived as yet and I’ll be surprised if any does come for a week or 10 days. Your Oct. 10. Letter was the last I received and it came on Oct. 24 so I’m just about one month behind.

Yesterday I sent a cable to you – hoping it would be faster than any letter but I’m told that those are sometimes very slow so if this gets there first I’ll know not to cable anymore.

Living quarters, food, etc. here are the best I’ve had and I’m sure the work will be more pleasant but that remains to be seen. More about that later

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/27/settled-again-roscoe/

A Little Superior (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No mail today but have had up to Oct. 31 this week so can’t complain.

This a.m. I rec’d $35⁰⁰ from Mrs. Reed – in full for that acc’t. I was a little surprised. She sent $10⁰⁰ some time ago, but I hadn’t tried to get the rest. I am a little short this month so was glad to get it now.

It was raining so hard this morning I took John to get his music lessons & went after him. It is cold, raining, a typical fall day. The boys were going to help the Zell girl rake their back yard and John wasn’t anticipating the job, so the rain was welcome by him. Our yard has been raked but still has leaves scattered on it.

Mark is working on the floors today. Someone’s heels make marks and the floors were looking dirty.

[page 2] I didn’t wax them the last time they were steel wooled but think I will this time. John is practicing on the piano. He doesn’t bring the oboe home – does that practicing at school. Since the band director resigned the students are doing their own directing so there won’t be much to the band this year I am afraid. Mark brought his horn home because the Jr. band won’t continue. I am thinking of all the new horns that were bought for that band that will sit idle now. I am glad now I didn’t invest in a new one for Mark. However if they get a director next year will give the idea consideration. David is taking a late nap. Wouldn’t go to sleep this a.m. when he usually does. He didn’t want to eat his dinner but I finally got enough down him to let him off. J. & M. think I should spank him when he rebels at meal time. I tell them he is different than they were. They have a saying, “If Daddy were

[page 3] here, you would get a spanking.” I don’t intend to spoil him but sometimes J. & M. think he should be spanked when I think not. However they are very fond of him and have lots of fun playing with him but don’t want him to be naughty.

–Mark was called to Zells to help Mr. Z. He is finishing the upstairs for a bedroom for their girls. Mark was delighted to get away from the job here. He was so slow I was ready to tear my hair. Isn’t it strange how good child will work for someone else? The work Mark had done was fine but he was so slow & had to stop so many times he wasn’t making much progress.

The family all noticed John’s voice changing. We were listening to a song on the radio last night that goes like this, “They are either too young or too old” – one line is about a young thing trying to serenade & his voice changing – John had a laugh over that. He says he

[page 4] doesn’t notice anything different about it, but we all do. Mark says John is going thru “that smart alec age” – He does get a little superior at times but not too much. I try to hold him down. Mark hasn’t changed so much – still as careless about everything as ever. He is a little better about his bike now but that is all. I scrubbed the furnace room the other evening. Both boys claimed they didn’t leave any dirt but there it was.

John was tuned in on Notre Dame & Army. We listened to the Army Coach & Grant Rice on the radio last nite so are anxious to know how it goes.

Love Mother

P.S. The game is over. Notre Dame 26-0. The announcer was telling what a beautiful fall day it is in N.Y. It is pouring here – as hard a rain as we have had in a long time.

Grantland Rice, c1966 (Image via the National Baseball Hall of Fame library)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/26/a-little-superior-gladys/

Greetings (Roscoe)

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[Editor’s note: Roscoe did not write on November 5, 1943, but he did send a ‘cable’ or telegram. This telegram has perplexed me for many months. Gladys wrote November 10th on it which was likely the day she received it. On the envelope is penciled 1942? Apparently, years later, she could not remember which year she had received it. On November 4, Roscoe left Auckland, New Zealand at 1530. He traveled by “rail” overnight. At 0825 on the morning of November 5, Roscoe arrived at his final destination – Wellington, New Zealand, his “travel completed.”]

Oceania Map annotated

 

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/25/greetings-roscoe/

Raking Leaves (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
11-5-43

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Oct. 24 & 25 came today – a little old after having Oct. 30 but appreciated just the same. It has cleared off & the sun is shining very bright. About time to hang up clothes this a.m. it got cloudy but I hung out clothes just the same so feel now like it was the thing to do. I don’t want to hang things in the basement yet. David is awake now after a short nap so I think I’ll get him ready to go out for some of this fall sunshine. He hasn’t been out yet today and likes to go out so well. – Have been out & gathered in clothes. It is very nippy in spite of the sunshine which doesn’t seem to warm very much. I suppose this sounds funny to you.

[page 2] I didn’t get this finished when I started and since have been to cosmopolitan club to Bergens to get a flower for Mrs. Plummer (the cake I baked was somewhat a flop as far as size was concerned so we ate it and got her a potted plant). I went to Plummers then to town to mail some things – I ordered those cold tablets for Marie & they came today so forwarded them to her. You remember I got some for them last year. Dave said he didn’t want to take them but Marie, Isla & Mrs. Mace take them. – While in town I stopped in the Restaurant. Saw Phyllis eating and asked her where Art was keeping himself. She said in Goodland & Monticello. He told Dorothy he was coming to see me but I haven’t seen him yet. Elsaleah isn’t teaching there this year. I don’t know who Phyllis goes around with now that Art & Elsaleah are gone. I see her a lot in the late afternoons when I happen to be in town.

[page 3] I noticed the latest group to enter the Army from this county includes Lowell Ford. He was the only one I knew out of five.

I slipped upon the town election. Saw in the paper that it was all G.O.P. but the entire vote was only 39 so I wasn’t the only one who didn’t vote. Link Trustee from first ward, Reed for Ward two and Harry White for W. three. Bob H. re-elected as Clerk Treasurer. I think the new Hufty baby will arrive sometime in Jan. I don’t know the Wilsons date but Doris has to wear maternity dresses now. Mrs. Gilmore has been ill and Lucile is home from Fla. She said this is the first time in 3 yrs she has been where it is this cold. However she said it felt good. She gets very tired of the weather down there – said it gets monotonous, warm all the time. Now I can’t imagine getting tired of warm weather – I really mean that, and you would so welcome some good vigorous cold snappy weather.

[page 4] Our boys & Zell’s girls finished raking our leaves this evening & burned them. They are going to rake Zell’s back yard tomorrow & pile the leaves on the garden. There were too many leaves to not rake. It is good to leave some on but not as thick as they were. I left them around the shrubbery in front and back too. We didn’t rake too clean – left some for fertilizer. Not all the trees have lost their leaves so with the winds we have will still have some.

So far the Ind. coal has been burning very well. It makes more clinkers but not bad. I scrubbed the furnace room last nite. Was afraid to sweep because of my irritated throat & sinus. At any rate the room is clean and without raising a dust. Jim cleaned the soot out of the furnace when he was here. I suppose it will need to be cleaned quite often with this new coal. At that I had to pay $7⁰⁰ a ton, so it is not cheap.

Must get this ready to mail.
“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/24/raking-leaves-gladys/

Still Traveling (Roscoe)

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[Editor’s note: Roscoe did not write on November 3, 1943 as he was traveling. He departed Noumea at 0700. This time he flew via Gov’t Air and departed from Tontouta airport. According to his personal Navy papers, he was a Priority Three South. He was limited to 65 lbs. of baggage. His destination was Auckland, New Zealand where he arrived at 1530. Roscoe departed Auckland at 1530 the following day (11/4).]

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

You probably will note an unsteady hand to this writing since I’m practically a frozen mass. The transformation from there to here has been a decided one and I think as far as temperature is concerned a pleasant one as soon as I get accustomed to it. I’m still traveling but should be settled in a day or two. I missed writing yesterday but from now on should get back on schedule.

As yet I’m not sure of censorship so must be a bit on the non committal side until I find what the requirements and regulations are like.

My mail to you should come thru about as usual but due to that error of mine in giving you that incorrect address I’ll probably not get any mail for some time. At least I’ll keep writing.

Love Daddy

Oceania Map annotated

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/23/still-traveling-roscoe/

Pensacola (Gladys)

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#WWII1943-11-04 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-4-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 27 & 30 came today. Some service I would say. I haven’t seen any of Hickey’s family yet to tell them his hello! I am much relieved to get your last two letters and am anxiously waiting more. Hope you are getting mine right along. I wrote Lt. Palmer a thank you note for sending the flower order to Bergens. Some of roses are still pretty. The bouquet was red roses & white mums. I got two ton of Ind. coal and with what was in the basement think we will get along for a while – at least until after the first of the year. I am keeping the thermostat at 70 in this weather but will probably set it up when real cold sets in. We had a heavy frost last nite & the temp was 29. It is warmer now. I have clothes whipping on the line. David is “loose” at present walking around the furniture & walls having quite a good time. John & Mark are trying hard to get him to say words. It’s still mostly jabbering. He has another tooth which makes seven and another about thru. Dr. Van K. is back – He is retired from the Army so I image [imagine] will re-open his office here. The Myers twins have been sent to Pensicola, Fla. for final 3 months training. Do you remember we once thought of that station? We could dream couldn’t we?

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/22/pensacola-gladys/

Fall Leaves (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Nov 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but hoping I’ll get Oct. 24 & 25 tomorrow. Oct. 26 came yesterday. Sometimes those missing letters contain a lot. It was cloudy all day until late in the evening or rather afternoon. The boys (J. & M.) raked leaves for Zell’s. Mr. Zell cleaned out our eave troughs. The leaves have about all fallen. The grass is so heavily covered we will have to rake some of them off. Smoke fills the air with so many people raking & burning leaves.

I went to Stunt night last night. The Seniors & 7th grades won. The little theatre was full. The stunt that won first (Senior) was “Teachers in Retirement” & the teachers at A.J. Kent were imitated – It was very good and somewhat original.

[page 2] Tomorrow is Mrs. Plummer’s birthday & I have a cake ready to decorate & take to her. I rec’d a card & 1⁰⁰ from her the day after my birthday. She came out & brought David’s & John’s gifts on David’s birthday. John’s was belated.

I took David in this his Taylor Tot this afternoon to town to go to the bank & do a few odd errands. We have to get our paper now at Bonnies. No more home deliveries unless mailed. David makes quite a hit wherever he goes. I went to pay the light bill & Rita Diedam played with him a while. She works at the Light office now. I walked down to Lucile’s but Jimmy Ed was asleep. David played in J.E.’s pen and liked it better than his own. Lucile is having trouble keeping J.E. in it but just let him cry this a.m. Said he cried himself to sleep.

Sid Lee is back home – Has an honorable discharge from the Navy. He was in action & was injured. Said he was in a hospital in New Caledonia several weeks.

Our Ind. Coal is burning O.K. so far. If it keeps on like this maybe it won’t be so bad. I just hope it works better than what we got from Elmer MC when we first moved here.

John & Mark are both doing home work and I can hear the pencils fly. Now that Stunt night is over the school routine can be resumed. Bob Schurtter had to go into service – his number was up so I understand he enlisted in the Navy. He thought he could possibly get Ensign commission. They keep taking them around here. Mr. Zell got an inquiry about his dependents. Ellsworth was supposed to go but I haven’t heard anything lately. I suppose your Mother told you Harry Adkins had to go. I leave C.C. news up to her. I have all I can do to care of Kent. I sometimes miss news items around here, but do try to tell you things you are interested in.

[page 4] My checks came today and it was about time. I haven’t had time to figure what comes out of this month’s but will try to have it figured out by next letter. I think we will get along – all the ins. is paid now for a month or so.

I must write to Glen & Pauline and do a few thinks to this desk. It looks like it needs a good cleaning.

Love Mother

P.S. Dr. Van K. is back to stay.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/21/fall-leaves-gladys/

A Good Big Meal (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

11-2-43
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133 USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Fran Cal.

Dear Mother,

A short note again today. It’s hard to concentrate in a stage of moving and I’ll really do justice to a letter when things get settled down.

I really had good food since getting here because everyone here I know feels that we deserve a good big meal and really I feel stuffed most of the time. I possibly have gained all that I lost which wasn’t very much.

Just now was offered some

[page 2] Ice cream but refused. In fact I don’t care much for Ice C.

I’ve had to bum stationary for the past few days due to the fact that mine is all packed neatly away but I guess it will arrive to you just as well.

Must get going now.
Love Daddy

Oceania Map annotated

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/20/a-good-big-meal-roscoe/

Pumpkin Pie (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Nov. 2 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Oct. 26 came today – The 24 & 25 are still enroute – and will be glad to get them so I will have all up to date. Sometimes those back numbers contain things you don’t repeat, that I would hate to miss. Again I rec’d flowers via Lt. Palmer. He wrote Bergens & they gave me the letter. His address is Portland, Ore. I think I shall drop him a thank you note.

It is cloudy & chilly this afternoon. The sun was shining & I should have taken David out but had quite a few things I wanted to do in the house so I missed the

[page 2] sunshine. It really looks like it will snow. The leaves have all fall – about all I mean. The yard is covered but won’t rake because they will probably blow away & if not make good fertilizer.

Tonight is stunt nite and I should go but haven’t anyone to stay with David and unless I get someone soon (it’s 3:30 now) will definitely stay home. I would just as soon stay home and catch up on a few things but should go because John is in the 8th grade act.

I made a batch of cookies and 4 pumpkin pies this a.m. I promised Bud yesterday when I gave him a shot that I would bring him a pie. John gave me a very large pyrex pan. I sued for one pie & I am going to take it to Bud. You probably wouldn’t care for any because I was out of cinnamon & used extract of cinnamon.

[page 3] The boys said it was good but tasted a little synthetic. I noticed it didn’t keep them from seconds. I got 21 qts. of pumpkin out of the 5 we cut up. I gave Arlene a qt. – having one t. more than could be cooked in 3 batches (8-8-4).

I heard yesterday that Louise is coming back to stay with Arlene until after the baby comes. Dean thinks he will be sent out and Louise is going to have a baby and will have to come home anyway.

David is taking a nap. He gets so tired since he roams all over the house so much. I was trying to clean & he wanted to follow right after me. I couldn’t get much done so put him in bed & he went to sleep. He jabbers so much & gets a word out now & then. He wants to feed himself but can’t quite make it. Also tries to hold his glass which is a little better done. Still says Da-da & Mom-mom a lot.

[page 4] Mrs. James told me yesterday that Irene went to the Presb. Hosp. in Chicago & stayed 10 days – They found a thyroid condition & are giving her iodine. I do not know the Dr. she went to but someone Mr. Davis knows.

Art Kenny is home & told Dorothy he was coming out to see me. Jack Byrnes said yesterday he hadn’t seen Art yet so he must be pretty busy seeing his relatives. If he comes & I find out anything – I mean if he knows what he is going to do, will let you know.

I must write to Jim & Glen & others. Seems like I spend a lot of time writing, but sure is nice to get letters, especially from you.

“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/19/pumpkin-pie-gladys/