Tag Archives: World War II

Awaiting Transportation (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: November 1, 1943 envelope

: November 1, 1943, p. 1

: November 1, 1943, p. 2

: November 1, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner
Ba U.S.N. Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Nov. 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

Happy birthday – I sure wish I could do better but can see nothing better at present.

I’m still kicking around here and will be for a few days awaiting transportation.

Yesterday when I wrote you I was at a rest camp and it really was fine. I wasn’t there for the rest cure however but just as a visitor.

My poor rear felt happy yesterday because I was given a ride in a fine new

[page 2] Plymouth Sedan – yes just like one we see back there – a most welcome change from the Jeep, etc. Things around here seem almost State Side a big improvement over last year at this time. Seems I miss out on things but I sure am glad I’ve been here in the area as long as I have. I’d hate to be just starting as so many I meet but they are fresh and full of the stuff. I’m not run down but I’m ready for a vacation which I hope will come in the not too distant future but I still have my fingers crossed as to the time. I think I’m going to enjoy

[page 3] where I’m going because if will be so different.

Just had some conversation with some fellow officers – Different from that that we used to have but never the less time consuming and thought breaking up.

I have several things to do so must get busy so I’ll be ready – will try to get a letter out each day from now on as nearly as possible –
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/18/awaiting-transportation-roscoe/

Lt. Palmer’s Flowers (Gladys)

2 Replies

: November 1, 1943 envelope

: November 1, 1943, p. 1

: November 1, 1943, p. 2-3

: November 1, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 1 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

You will note the date – Nov. 1 – Your flowers via Lt. Palmer came today – just a few minutes ago in fact and he wrote a very nice letter to Bergens and Mary brought the letter out and gave it to me. I will drop him a thank you note – He wrote such a nice letter about you – said Kentland was fortunate to have such a fine Dr. – My mystery Pal left a package on the front steps this morning with a dish. Nick & Dorothy gave me this stationary and a scarf. I was down town this morning & got Nick’s

[page 2] gift & a card – I gave him about the same things as last year – Shaving material but didn’t have much choice since I hadn’t been out of town to shop.

We went to Wilmington yesterday for dinner & spent the afternoon. Mom & Dad came home with us, but Ruth & Floyd stayed & came over for dinner today then they all started for C.C. soon after dinner. This a.m. we went to town & shopped and got 200 lb. coal in sacks to try in the stoker. Mr. Monroe came out this afternoon to adjust the air on the hopper for the new (Ind.) coal. Your Dad shoveled the coal we have to one side so if I get Ind. coal it won’t be mixed with what is there now. It can’t be mixed – wouldn’t work in the stoker.

Besides washing two washer fulls we cut up and cooked 5 pumpkins. I have 8 qts. in the oven. Mrs. Zell has 8 qts. in Mrs. Zell’s her oven and 4 qts.on top of the stove. I didn’t use the pressure cooker – it

[page 3] has to be watched and I thought the pumpkin would keep without pressure canning.

Your Dad had never seen the Bendix work so I took him down with me & showed him how it operated. He said if he would have had brains enough to invent something like that he wouldn’t have spent his life farming. I don’t believe he really meant that. He didn’t get much time to visit with Earl. They got over there Fri. afternoon, went to Chi. Sat. to see Uncle Wes. & back to Wilmington for Sun. but Earl worked all day Sun. until 10:30 Sun. Eve. Their mine came out on a strike today. There is a new order restricting the delivery of more than 1.2 ton hard coal at a time – but there isn’t any of that around here so the dealers won’t have to worry about violating any such orders.

David is walking alone now. I was lying down a few minutes & watched him. He would turn loose of anything and just stand, then walk a few steps

[page 4] to something. He was having very good time all by himself. He was walked yesterday until I was tired for him. Everyone wanted to have him & wanted him to walk. Romaine borrowed a stroller from a neighbor so we took him for several rides around the neighborhood. I had to give Bud Kruman a shot toady. Dorothy had come out to give me my birthday gift so she took me down to Servies. She said she would take David a while so she kept him while I worked in pumpkin. He jabbers a lot & sounds like “greek or something.” Floyd took a movie of him sitting on the toilet today.

Mark is waiting to take this to the P.O. & get the paper – no more home deliveries. Mark gave me a cute little card & a package of v-mail for my birthday.
Love Mother

[Editor’s Note: Bud Kruman has been mentioned several times in the letters, usually for needing a shot. He suffered from Landry’s Paralysis or Guillain-Barre syndrome. Here is a newspaper clipping from February 1943 from the Hammond Times which talks about Bud:

“Patriotism Plus,” Hammond Times (Hammond, Indiana), 22 February 1943, p. 8, col. 2-3; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.org : accessed 16 May 2015).

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/17/lt-palmers-flowers-gladys/

Fresh Milk (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: October 31, 1943, p. 1

: October 31, 1943, p. 2

: October 31, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Oct. 31, 1943

Dear Mother,

I have a little more time today and it being Sunday maybe I can collect myself for a better letter than in the past few days.

My getting the incorrect address will slow my mail somewhat but I’ll go past the place of that incorrect address and pick up what mail that might be there and also arrange to have send the other mail sent on. It was all my fault as you can see a similarity in the address. I’ll not be as I said before with Joe R. friends but in that vicinity.

At present I’m at the old

[page 2] stamping ground and will be here for a few days. My clothes were wrinkled and dusty but no moth, etc. The blues will certainly be needed and you can well guess my khakis are getting pretty well worn and the whites are – well you can imagine.

Yesterday I had two glasses of regular fresh state side milk and a good big chunk of lettuce. That was the first of things like that since Aug. of ’42. Imagine how they really tasted. Things like that should be more easily obtained at my new station. I hope.

Really I’m ashamed of myself

[page 3] for doing all this running around when you have to stay at home and assume the responsibility of home. However you know it isn’t of my own free will and accord, but it is a grand experience some parts of which were more thrilling than others – a few even frightening but those are all over now and it’s back to more or less hum drum.

I’ll have to stop and write the folks as this is the usual day for their letter and I want them to have my new address.

Love Daddy

P.S. My last letter from you was dated Oct. 10 and it will be several days before others will find me.

Old Stamping Ground (Roscoe)

2 Replies

[Editor’s note: Roscoe spent the next few days in Noumea, New Caledonia. His first post in the Pacific was at Noumea where he was stationed for about six months. Before he left for the Russell Islands, he put some of his unnecessary clothing in storage.]

: October 30, 1943 envelope

: October 30, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
U.S.N. Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Oct. 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I have now missed writing two days but have a little time right now. Notice the address – This one is correct – My mail will really be in a bad way for some time to come but I guess it will all get there in time.

Right now I’m back at the old stamping ground – My clothes as far as I have gone into them are OK but I haven’t given them the good once over.

I’ll try to write you a better letter in the near future and give you more dope.
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/15/old-stamping-ground-roscoe/

Labor Shortages (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-30-43

Dear Daddy –

Sat. P.M. – the boys are out in the yard playing football with Dean. John seems to get quite a thrill out of the game. Of course Mark plays it all the time he can, at school & at home. I have been out watering the new shrubbery. We haven’t had much rain so far this fall. It was very warm & sunny today. The yard is full of leaves but why rake them – the wind will blow them away. The Zells are finishing the room upstairs for their girls. Due to labor shortage they are doing the work themselves. Mr. Z. & our boys are going to get some sacks of Ind. coal & fill the hopper to see if we can use it. We will have to do something because no Va. coal is being shipped in. I heard over the radio last nite more coal strikes are being called. Everyone is indignant about such things at a time like this but as I told Mrs. Z. that doesn’t solve the problems or hasn’t so far. We have to go to Sheldon to get some meat. We haven’t used much lately – due to chicken we brought home. Had a letter from Jim today. He doesn’t know what he is going to do – thinks he will possibly be sent out – but I am beginning to think he won’t be, but again you never can tell about such things.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/14/labor-shortages-gladys/

Surprise Visitors (Gladys)

1 Reply

: October 29, 1943 envelope

: October 29, 1943, p. 1

: October 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Oct. 23 & one for Mark came today. John’s came yesterday. I was very busy this a.m. – washing, getting lunch started and things upside down in the kitchen – clothes I had washed Wed. piled on the table, when in walked your Mother, Dad, Ruth & Floyd. I didn’t mind the condition of the kitchen but usually someone comes when things aren’t straight – I had spent a little time taking David out & in and had just brought him in and put him to bed a short time before they came & he was asleep. Floyd said they couldn’t stay for lunch because he had to get to Wilmington before the bank closed and he didn’t know when the bank there closed. They wanted to get some movies of David and it was such a grand day for picture taking I took David up. He didn’t mind, got up smiling – went right to Grandma & Grandpa. Your Mother can’t carry him very far – says he is too heavy. We took him out into the front yard and Floyd took several we hope good shots. We tried to get him to stand along but he wouldn’t – walked around the Taylor Tot. The folks went on then and are to come back here Mon. I said we could drive over Sun. and have part of a family gathering. Your Mother said Dolores was married last night and called home to talk to Ralph & Faye. Her name is Stevens. Faye said last week they were going to be married as soon as Steve got back from Cuba. Will try & get a wedding gift sent to them but haven’t the slightest idea what to get.

Took David to Cosmopolitan Club today and he had quite a time walking around chairs & getting picked up & and made over by the ladies. He acted very nice most of the time. After I came home with him Mark got him to take a few steps along. He stood alone several times today & stood alone in the yard yesterday. I suppose he will soon learn he can walk along, then he will get into more things than he does now. His favorite place to play is in the pan drawers in the stove. You can imagine how quickly he can fill the floor with pans – and me trying to work – but he can’t hurt anything and I rather like his company in the kitchen. Arlene still keeps Donnie in his pen but with another baby due in less than two months she almost has to keep him in his pen. She hasn’t any permanent help yet. Neither has Mary & she is home from the

[page 2] hospital with her new baby girl (Mary Margaret). You mentioned the Schultz baby – yes I remembered what you wrote about & did think of that when I knew she was going to get another baby.

You said you didn’t remember Doris Green – she is the girl (welfare) who used to live with Geo. Tilton’s and went to high school here. She was going to State when she got married. Tilton’s had to put glasses on their little boy. He was wearing a patch over one eye today. As far as I know Wilsons haven’t done anything about Susie’s eyes. Probably won’t for a while if Ellsworth has to go to the Army. Doris’ sister Juanita got married (Maurice Sargent) and is back here working for Ellsworth.

Mark had quite a good time at the school Halloween party this afternoon dressed in my old finery. However he didn’t get first prize he had hoped to get. He brought home a sack of popcorn – cookies, candy, etc. The S.S. class is having a party at Helen Bartlett’s tonite but I didn’t feel up to that kind of a party. I suppose by the 31^st coming on Sun. the children will be out Sat. night playing their pranks, or whatever they do (I don’t mean ours, but the crowds that always go out).

Just had to go upstairs and see about David. He was stirring around and of course was uncovered. I tucked him back in and he quieted down.

Mark is getting ready for bead – think I will too.
Love Mother

Dolores and her husband, James W. Stevens, c1940s

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/13/surprise-visitors-gladys/

Flashback! (Roscoe)

1 Reply

[Editor’s note: I recently discovered a letter from June 1943 misfiled in the binder of October 1943. The postmark on the envelope was difficult to read so that might be why it was in the wrong place. The letter also seems somewhat relevant, considering his next destination. Since Roscoe was incommunicado on October 28th and 29th, I figured I would use this letter to fill in the gap. On October 28, 1943, Roscoe arrived at Navy 131 at 1100. He remained there for several days. Navy 131 was Roscoe’s old post at Noumea, New Caledonia. So far on his journey, Roscoe has left the Russell Islands, stopped at Guadalcanal, continued on to the New Hebrides/Vanuata, and landed at Noumea.]

: June 27, 1943 envelope

: June 27, 1943, p. 1

: June 27, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:
June 27, 1943
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.

Dear Mother,

It finally happened Joe R. caught up with me however it was just for a night because he is returning to a little different place than he was before. It sure was a pleasure to see someone from so near home – after he came we just sat around and chewed the fat – each giving his experiences in rel succession. His Dad keeps him pretty well informed of the Drs. around Watseka that I know. We’ll probably be able to write notes back and forth now that we have proper connections.

Yesterday I received 2 issues of the Clay city news and a letter addressed from The Walkups at Earl Park. Your latest is still June 11, received about 3 days ago. Just saw a two ton truck pass by pass by our place stacked full of mail bags. Maybe they dropped off a few bags at our place. I’m not certain but I sure hope they do.

I thought when I started this I’d have lots to write but on further analysis of what Joe and I talked about I find most of it is not writable. His wife writes him all about you and the boys. In fact he knew about Mark’s tonsillectomy – so his mail must be about as late as mine. I believe in

[page 2] your last letter you wrote of her visit to Kentland.

Last night for chow we had fresh apples and fresh potatoes and this A.M. we had a whole apple as our fruit – Sure did taste good. I think the food situation is much improved and will continue with of course a meal of spam etc. thrown in now and then. That was one thing – Joe has had pretty good food ever since he has been out and mine has been pretty bum. Joe also said he didn’t want to go back to New Zealand – said he didn’t like cold weather. That wouldn’t be my reason for not wanting to go there – The cold weather would be swell but I’d rather have it in the Northern Hemi. Somehow I believe the cold of the south wouldn’t fit like that in the North.

My garden is rapidly becoming a flop. Even the lettuce doesn’t look as if it’s going to amount to anything, can’t tell for sure yet nor can Judgment be passed on the onions or carrots.

I’ll have to write the folks again today – Just one letter from there this week and the two C.C. papers so will have a little to write about. The thing in the paper that gave me a laugh was the practice dim out they were having at Clay City. Then To them it just be serious but from our point of view it doesn’t seem that way at all.

Well must get going –
Hoping you are the same
Love Daddy

Canning Apples (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
10-28-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 21 & 22 & one to John came today. I just finished canning 9 qts. apple sauce. Apples are so high in the stores and a man came around with some for $3⁰⁰ bu. so I got a bu. It was too warm in the basement for them so had to can them but they will be handy to use now, especially for David. He stood alone twice today. Lucile came out with Jimmy and we stayed out in the yard with them and took some pictures. Jimmy stands alone, has since 7 mo. old but doesn’t walk only a few steps. If David thought so he could walk alone but is just like his brothers were. He waved bye-bye & said same to Lucile & Jimmy Ed when they got ready to go home – used both hands to wave with. I have to fit Mark with a costume for a party at school tomorrow. Think I’ll put my white formal on him. He wants to wear a pr. of my high heels too. John is interested in helping Mark dress but not for himself. Mark wants to go out with another boy on Halloween but I said no he could go around to the houses in this neighborhood like he did last year but that is all. – Mrs. Zell has an attachment on her electric mixer to run apples, etc., thru a colander and I used it today. We loan our things back & forth. She used our pressure cooker all summer. Mr. Z. has a fire going for us Sun. when we came home. We feed their chickens when they are away, etc. Just real neighbors. Mark is getting impatient for his costume so must go see what I can find for him.
Love, Mother

Birthday Wishes (Gladys)

2 Replies

: October 27, 1943 envelope

: October 27th Card front

: Otober 27th Card center

: Oct 27th Card back

Letter transcription:

10-27-43

Dear Daddy,

I had hoped to be able to send pictures for your birthday but couldn’t get film soon enough. I have a roll now but want to save it until I get another roll. I will start taking pictures as soon as I have a sunny day. It was nice a while today but D. was sleeping. It is too cloudy now to use good film. Ruthie said she would try & get me some over at Bluffton. She says they can get Technicolor film for cameras, so hope she gets me some, would like for you to see David’s snow suit. Everyone who sees it thinks it’s pretty nice. Bright red jacket – Navy pants & cap. I wanted Floyd to get it in his movie last week but there wasn’t enough sunshine. I am sending two small boxes to you for Christmas. They aren’t much but if you are still there Christmas it will be better than no boxes at all. Wish I could send you a picture of what David is doing now. Just acting “cute.”

Love Mother

Heading South (Roscoe)

2 Replies

[Editor’s Note: Roscoe left the Russell Islands on 10/26/1943 at 1400. Two hours later, he arrived at U.S.N. Base “Bevy.” This was the Naval code designation for Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands. The following morning (10/27/43), Roscoe left “Bevy,” heading towards Navy 140 in the New Hebrides. He arrived later that morning at 1100. He spent the day catching up with some old friends. His journey continued on the morning of 10/28 when he departed at 0700. He was not able to write on October 28th or 29th.]

: October 27, 1943 envelope

: October 27, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Mob. Hosp. #4
Navy 132
Oct. 27, 1943

Dear Mother,

The address I’ll use on the outside will remain the same for several days but you use the one on the inside.

I’m spending the night with my old boss Cmdr. Frericks. Thought while passing thru I’d just stop for a short chat. We are discussing our times together in the days gone by. Just like Old Settlers.

These letters that I’ll write in the next few days will of course be only notes but later on I’ll try to be a little more specific.

Spent last night with Hicky Reinhart and of course we chewed the fat long & loud. Didn’t turn in until way late and was up pretty early in the A.M.

Your letters if you use the address may have a race with me because our mail had been much faster in the last few days. I’ll do better in the next few days.

Lots of Love
Daddy.

P.S. Hold the phone –
Hi folks – Sure grand to have my friend “Doc” here with me.
H.F.