Tag Archives: World War II

Eleventh Month (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
8-23-43

Dear Daddy – Today is David’s 11^th month. He has 6 teeth, gets around as good as ever. Traces of cast almost gone. He got a few blisters around edge but they have healed. I was feeding him and he hit the cup & spilled milk. He knew he was a naughty boy – when we scold him he will try to cry but can’t quite make it. – John has been having headaches and I am sending him to Van Buskirk tomorrow. Alma W. is taking Jimmy down and has an appointment – said she would take John in with her. I haven’t been satisfied with his last two eye examinations and he keeps having head aches and is dizzy – Mother isn’t so good today – threw up her dinner and the last to come up was bile – (or bitter). I called Juanita and she is coming tomorrow. I haven’t heard any more from Glen – have been waiting for word. Jim is going to try and come home again on a 72 hr leave. Said he would get a plane to Indpls. and come in his car from there – will have the auto club get his car to Indpls. It is getting hot again. We have had some rather cool days. It rained early this a.m. and now it is hot and steaming. No letters today but had Aug. 10 & 11^th Sat. so didn’t look for any today. David is in his pen making a fuss. He is a little spoiled from so much attention when he was in the cast.

Love Mother

Gladys and David, August 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/28/eleventh-month-gladys/

Armistice Day 1918 (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 22, 1943 envelope

: August 22, 1943, p. 1

: August 22, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 22, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.

Dear Mother,

Sunday A.M. a little cool and cloudy, otherwise just the same as any other morning. I’m just stalling for want of something better to say – in other words just waiting for thoughts to become collected. At least to begin with I’m not in that blue Monday stage such as I was yesterday. Maybe the letter I wrote yesterday kept me going.

Last night’s show was Bob Hope in “They Got Me Covered.” Not much to the show but he did pull some pretty good gags – and a Walt. D. short in color was also very good in the beginning. It was a slap at Hitler and some his friends. That is both of the pictures. It seems that practically all the shows now deal with some phase of the war. Either a spy picture or a war correspondence or some such. I don’t suppose you go to shows very often or do you? I’m still not in the habit but for want of

[page 2] something better I go but sure do squirm and fuss in my seat while the plot is developing.

I suppose you are having a little celebration today for John’s birthday. I sent him 2 dollars and wrote he and Mark a day or so ago so will not write him today. He is just about the age now that I was in the last war. I don’t remember my 13^th birthday but I do remember that just before I was 14 the Armistice was signed and on that Nov. 11 school was dismissed and I had to go home and shuck corn. What a celebration!! I hope this thing will wind up while John is in his 13^th year.

This is the usual day for the letter to the folks and since one came from them this week it seems more like answering a letter but there is very seldom and questions anything to answer only the formality of exchange.

Well, Mother Dear I hope everything is OK with you and the family –
Love Daddy

[Editor’s note: While I do not know which Disney short Roscoe watched, this is an example of one of the many propaganda shorts made by Disney during the 1940s]

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/27/armistice-day-1918-roscoe/

Thirteenth Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 22, 1943 envelope

: August 22, 1943, p. 1

: August 22, 1943, p. 2

: August 22, 1943, p. 3

: August 22, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 22 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another birthday for our John – 13 – He looks the part – voice changing – growing fast – face full of pimples and blackheads. At present he is listening to Radio Readers’ Digest. He likes to get it every Sunday evening. I baked & decorated a cake, made ice cream & had the Zell girls & Jimmy come to help eat them – they ate almost all the cake and so far no tummy aches. I gave John a dollar, your Mother gave him 25¢ – he rec’d the $2⁰⁰ you sent, the Zells gave him sox & a hankie, so he fared pretty well. Bobby is gone and so are the Krull children so they didn’t get in on the refreshments. I was feeding David his 3 P.M. meal, Mark was working on a block of balsa wood and his knife slipped and cut his hand around the base of his thumb. It bled so much I couldn’t tell at first the cut was so extensive but after trying to wash

[page 2] the blood away I saw it wasn’t just a stab – so thought I had better get him to a Dr. and see if it would be necessary to have stitches taken – I called Matthews, he was out of town for the day, called Hungess at Sheldon, he was out of town, called Brook & Pip was gone on a trip, called Goodland, Rumkorf had left for his vacation, but finally and at last contacted Altier – I took Mark down. He cleaned the wound and found it wasn’t so deep but required one clamp. He gave me sulfathiazole power to dress it with and I am to go back Fri. to have the clamp taken out. I had filed it with sulfanilamide powder as soon as I discovered how long & deep the cut – however would have put sulfa on it anyway. I would have pulled it together myself with tape had it been on the arm but since it was at the base of the thumb thought a Dr. should see it. I washed Mark’s hands & face and put him to bed about 8 P.M. He insisted he wasn’t sleepy but I imagine he is asleep now. He got sick after his hand bled so much, but was very brave and didn’t cry – you know it hurt to have it cleaned and a clamp put in. He kept insisting he is like Daddy and can take punishment without making a fuss.

[page 2] David is getting a “little” spoiled – he has had so much attention he doesn’t want to stay put in his bed or pen. He is always reaching for something he shouldn’t have and climbing out of things. The play chair he is in in one of the pictures I sent – with the table around it is just an invitation for him to climb out on. John said if he were an ordinary baby he would be satisfied to sit & play in the chair. I just got the taylor tot out for him to ride in and today he was turned around in it trying to climb out on the handle. He got fussy so I put him on the floor and he walked around his bed & pen enclosures. He has another tooth today – making 6 altogether and 4 since he was 10 mo. old – He will be 11 mo. tomorrow. He hasn’t gained any the past month but I didn’t expect him to.

Mother wouldn’t eat any supper today – She ate a little broth at noon & drank a little milk. I bathed her yesterday – she doesn’t feel like being bathed every day – and I was feeling her abdomen – There is a definite mass in the middle of her bowels. I am no Dr. but I could feel it. I didn’t tell her, of course, what Dr. Cole told me, but I think she is very despondent about her recovery. I do wish I could

[page 3] do more for her – but I feel so helpless about the whole thing – Dr. Cole says she is definitely too weak for surgery. I asked him if her condition would become painful, but he said it shouldn’t. She has a lot of gas at times and so far her bowels have moved freely. He said she might get a bowel obstruction. The past week the weather has been cool and she hasn’t suffered from the heat.

Mary Parttens called today and said they were going to kill a beef in about 3 wks. And we can have a quarter or more. Clara M. is giving us lima beans to put some in our locker – we are to have half of what she puts in. She is moving to the south side of town – has bought her a house – Henry Molter & family are going to move over here where she lived.

Mary P. said Ruthie hasn’t stood on her feet yet but 2 wks. Ago Dr. M. took another x-ray and her break seems to be in fairly good shape – I saw the first x-ray and both sides of the pelvic bone were broken. I wish I could draw a picture & show you how it looked. Mary said every Dr. & nurse who looked at it said it was the only one like it they had ever seen.

Enough about such things – John is waiting for me to finish so we can go to bed and I am ready to turn in – Have to run the car in first.

Love Mother

P.S. I pd. Your Masonic dues

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/26/thirteenth-birthday-gladys/

On Top of the World (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: August 21, 1943 envelope

: August 21, 1943, p. 1

: August 21, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 21, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.

Dear Mother,

This is one of those days when it seems like blue Monday but it’s Sat. Just one of those days that will brighten as the day wears on. They always do so I’m expecting this one to be that way. In fact I’m feeling better already – It’s the writing time to you which is giving me the uplift so you can consider yourself the cause of my morale being raised and while on that subject I think or rather I know that your letters, your pictures and just you have been the uplifting influence for me in this area but I can’t just limit it to this time for that has been going on now for well “neigh” on to 15-16 years. Now I’m feeling lots better – and you?

I hope my writing these feelings of mine toward you don’t in any way have a depressing feeling affect. If that happens to be the case let me know and I’ll surely stop – but when news are so scarce other things creep into the letters just natural like but sometimes I can understand how they might have a different

[page 2] affect than if they were told to you in person. So if you are depressed let me know and I’ll try to keep all these things and tell them to you in person when that day arrives. I’d like to be able to write my feelings a little more – shall I say not so bluntly but you know how I am more on the practical side and less on the – I can’t think of the word or words to express that other side which goes to prove my practical point of view.

So far I’ve used lots of words and tried to say lots but you may have to read between the lines to get my full meaning. Maybe I should write other things but I just don’t like to break the spell or maybe not the spell but my thoughts are about you and I don’t like to have them broken.

Well Dear – I’m not nutty or mentally affected as you might gather from what I’ve written but I’m really sitting on top of the world because I have someone like you back there pulling my way and causing me to be raised out the dumps just by writing to you so I’ll continue my thoughts until tomorrow with

Lots of love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/25/on-top-of-the-world-roscoe/

An Old Slow Poke (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
AUG. 21-1943

Dear Daddy – Your Mother went home this morning. I suppose she thinks I am an old slow poke but I couldn’t keep up to her tempo. One day while she was here besides the regular work which I think enough to keep one busy, we picked and canned 4 qts. of beans and made jelly with some old grape juice we had in the basement. She said if she had been home she could have got a lot more done. I think she feels pretty good. She didn’t seem to have any complaints and I know she can do more work in a day than I can. We got David’s cast off yesterday and he is using his leg almost normally today. At first his knee didn’t work as good but it is gradually getting stronger. While in the cast I gave him all his milk from a bottle but started today on the cup again. Want to have him drinking all his milk from a cup by 1 year. Mother doesn’t seem to feel so good today. I gave her a bath and she is so thin and frail – not much to her. Dr. Cole told me to give her Vit. B shots until he examined her Sun., then after deciding she has a malignancy thought the shots wouldn’t do much good. Jim called me Thurs. nite after getting the letter I sent him Sun. He wanted to know if there is anything to be done. Dr. Cole says she is too weak to stand surgery. Rec’d your letters of Aug. 10 & 11 – The 9^th hasn’t arrived yet. Will send some more pictures in a few days. Tomorrow is John’s birthday and will try to get some pictures taken then.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/24/an-old-slow-poke-gladys/

Blowing Horns (Roscoe)

4 Replies

: August 20, 1943 envelope

: August 20, 1943, p. 1

: August 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 20, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

You have heard and know what those old thunder storms are in the summer time there at home – well we had one of those last night. There really was a lot of electricity and a considerable amount of rain, but it’s fairly hot again this A.M.

I received a letter from Dr. Porterfield yesterday and Dr. Williams was sent out from there recently – not back home but on a different duty. I’m glad I began my duty when I did because I think my chances are better of returning sooner than if I had had duty there so long. That may be just a lot of wishful thinking on my part, but that remains to be seen.

I went to the show last night and got so disgusted with the thing. First they finished a show which had been started some days previous. Then two musical shorts and if those were musical – things have changed. To me it was a bunch of fellows blowing horns etc. without any regards for each other or the audience. Then the real feature of the evening

[page 2] but by that time the coconut logs had made such an impression that no matter how good I wouldn’t have like it, and besides that we missed all our radio programs which all in all makes me more than somewhat unhappy.

I received a box of sardines from Ruth M. yesterday but anymore we don’t go for things like that because our food is so much better. So as I told you before don’t send anything – no use to use your ration cards for us. We’ll probably eat what we have on hand but we won’t get near the pleasure we once did. There is more to that than just the eats. The old gang that arrived here at the same time are all gone except on fellow and myself so we don’t have the parties. Many of that gang were of our original cub – not Drs. – and when a bunch has been together that long we “sorts” feel like relatives. And when the same bunch goes thru a few hardships that has a tendency to increase friendship. So this one fellow and I sometimes sit and go over older times. Of course Dr. Gardiner is here but he missed lots of the times our original bunch had. New faces have arrived and it’s just not the same as in the olden times – That’s what all old people say.

Well, lot of love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/23/blowing-horns-roscoe/

Flower (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 20, 1943 envelope

: August 20, 1943, p. 1

: August 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Aug. 20 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I have been writing v-mail every other day and this should be a v-mail day but decided I would use reg. air mail again. Your mother, David & I went to Laf. today. Dr. Cole cut the cast off David’s leg. He was dreading the job but the case was pretty well soaked so wasn’t hard to cut off. He said he found that something else besides vinegar & peroxide would dissolve plaster. I had told him we called David “Flower” (the little skunk character in Walt Disney’s movie Bambi). He said is may smell like a flower but he didn’t know what kind. I was afraid David’s leg would be very touchy, and his knee would hurt when he tried to bend it but by the time we got home he was getting around pretty good. I put him down in his bed on his back and he pulled right up. In a day or two I doubt if we can tell he ever had it in a cast. I believe he was very happy to get out, he was so happy all evening – tho he is usually that way. Your mother says we should have named him David Roscoe. She says he looks so much like you. Now my dear, as much as I think of you, I still wouldn’t want to do that. We might compromise and call him Jake, or little Jake. Don’t mind me – just running off.

[page 2] I asked Dr. C. if he had written you about Mother – he said he hadn’t had time to even address a letter since he has been back – (Took Sun., Mon. & Tues. off). I said I didn’t suppose he would have since he came back. I asked him if he got to rest any while away & he said he slept the clock around. I don’t know when you will hear from him. After he told me Sunday I wrote Jim & Glenn and Jim called me last night. He wanted to know if anything could be done. Dr. Cole said Mother couldn’t stand surgery. I haven’t had any more word from Glen – Had an air mail from them Mon. & answered with a night letter & told them to come on – they wanted to know if Mother would be able to have them come for a visit, or wait until later. Since they haven’t answered I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come in any time.

Mark has gone to bed. He is still tired from his 4-H camping trip but I sent him to bed so he will feel rested by tomorrow. John is playing with a toy I got to give Bobby Funk for his birthday (Sept. 6). Also got a gift for Donnie – his birthday comes Aug. 29. I got a wedding gift for Earl & Imogene – they will be here tomorrow to get your mother – Ruth M. had me to get her gift at Loebs – so I got mine (ours) there too – a set of glasses & sherberts to match. Your mother said the shower will be next week & she is saving her gift till then but I will give them ours tomorrow. I had the store clerk wrap them ready to give in white tissue & ribbon – Well I am tired & John is going to take this to the hotel to mail so must sign off – with Love – Mother

Earl and Imogene (Photograph courtesy of Don Yegerlehner)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/12/22/flower-gladys/

New Piano (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943 Letter to John

Letter transcription:

Aug. 19, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran Calif.

Dear John,

I started writing you and Mark last night but Mark was as far as I got so now that I’ve finished Mother’s letter I’ll see if I can think of some of the things I wanted to write you.

First of all I’ll bet you are really glad to have the new piano. I’ve wondered if it will hold the pitch as well as the old or I mean better than the old. Hope it is really a good piano.

Mother wrote me you were having some pimples on your face and nose – I wouldn’t be alarmed about those since that is very natural for boys your age – but let me give you some advice don’t pinch or squeeze them – use a wash rag and wash them rather vigorously once or twice each day and if they are broken open all the pus from them will be washed away, and new ones are not so apt to reappear.

School will be very near by the time you get this and I suppose you will be glad to get back to the old swing of things.

Well here is hoping you like the new piano and don’t forget to give that kiss to Mother from me

Love Daddy

John (January 1943)

New Mess Boy (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943, p. 1

: August 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Aug. 19, 1943
Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I started writing the boys last night but Mark was as far as I got – Had too many visitors but I think I can write John today and get them out on the same mail.

Yesterday was really a pleasant day. Cloudy and therefore fairly cool all day long but old Sol is really putting it down this A.M. trying to make up for lost time and I think from the way if feels the lost time will be made up very rapidly.

As you gather from the things I’ve written I’m having a hard time thinking and writing but if I keep writing maybe something will finally click.

Our mess boy is here cleaning now and he is telling some cock & bull story about some of his colored friends – his story are a little vague but he laughs just the same and of course we join in when he laughs just to be sociable. We now have a new mess boy and he does much better than the previous one. He even sweeps from behind the bunk. The other one just cleaned out the center.

[page 2] The news we are getting of the war sure sounds good but I sometimes wonder if maybe we aren’t a little over stating our damage to the enemy. It’s hard to really say. So far as I know it seems to be rather accurate but I’m not in the know to any great extent.

I left my good Asia map at the last station and I miss it so much but I’ve got out good connections out for another. I did bring the one from Europe and Uncle W. sent me a small one of the So. Pacific. However I guess the war would go on even though I didn’t have a map.

You wrote of picture – The last I’ve gotten are those of you and the boys and the one of Virginia with D. If there was any since then I haven’t received them.

Well, hope everything is OK with you
Lots of Love
Daddy

Virginia Zell with David

Wedding Presents (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 19, 1943 envelope

: August 19, 1943, p. 1

: August 19, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 19 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

I was just about to get off to a good nap when John brought David in. I had to change him then put him down in his bed with a thumb guard on – which didn’t please him at all. He is trying to take it off, but he has a sore on his thumb, so must have the guard on. He needs a nap so doesn’t take much to make him cry. Your Mother is here. I think we will go to Laf. tomorrow & take David to Dr. Cole to get the cast taken off. I had an appointment for the next day but your Mother is going home Sat. so will go to Laf. tomorrow if I can get an appointment with Dr. C. Also your Mother would like to go to Laf. to shop. She wants to get Earl & Imogene a wedding present. I bought some glasses at Loebs and Ruthie M. liked them so much she had me get her a doz. – then decided they would make a nice wedding gift so I am to get a doz. for her to give Earl & I. I intent to get some kind of matching glass if I can and give them. They will be here again Sat. to get your Mother so will give them the gifts then. I didn’t know Imogene, but she is very nice and rather pretty.

[page 2] Mark is due home this evening some time. I suppose he will be worn out. The week John was gone to your folks, Mark had to stay in and help me and didn’t have time to run & play. He had been shaking his head a lot & batting his eyes, but after he had to stay in and not run & play so much I noticed he had quit all those nervous habits. I supposed that proves he spends too much energy for his own good. – I believe having the tonsils out is just beginning to show results too. He has been out a lot and has a good healthy look.

We gathered beans & canned four qts. today. I am about to use up all the jars wwe have. I have beans (33 qts.), peas 4 qts., spinach 28 pts. and 4 qts. tomatoes so far. I have been buying corn, peas and fruit with our points so have a small supply ahead.

David can unscrew the bolts on his bed downstairs and John just had to run in and put the tap back on. I am going to have to invent something to keep him from taking things apart. I am afraid he will get the taps in his mouth sometime when we aren’t looking. I know he will be happy to get the cast off and I know I will be.

Mother is about the same. Your Mother is up talking to her now. I didn’t tell her what the Dr. said to me Sunday about her condition. I suppose it will become painful in time – she complains of gas now some, but I think it must be from the source of her trouble. Hope you got Dr. Cole’s letter explaining things –

Love Mother