Tag Archives: World War II

Mrs. Jane Van Syoc

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September 25, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 25, 1945, p. 1

September 25, 1945

Dear Gladys,

The last two days have been cloudy ones with occasional showers – good ones to be indoors catching up on letter-writing and packing. Yes, we’re packing and hoping to return home by the middle of October.

All the officers here have enough points for discharge with the exception of Captain. The school is to be decommissioned in December so all of them should be civilians by the beginning of next year. Van, however, has applied for discharge since he’d like to enroll the first semester at college. How soon does Dr. expect to be discharged; he surely has accumulated enough points?

For the last few Sundays the officers and wives have eaten their Sunday dinners at school. It seems pretty fine not to have to prepare food on such hot days. You are fortunate to have boys who are interested in cooking. Having good cooking

September 25, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] equipment makes it more enticing too. I’ll certainly be glad to bake again with an oven with a thermometer.

John is surely active in school – there aren’t many musical functions in which he isn’t taking part, are there? It looks as if Mark might be following in his footsteps. Did David miss them when they started school? He has his little friends probably to keep him occupied though.

Van and I went in to K.C. Saturday to see the football game between Kansas U. and Texas Christian. Kansas U. didn’t have much of a show – they didn’t even score so it was rather one-sided. The weather was much more suited to baseball. Most of the men were in shirt sleeves and the women who wore coats soon took them off.

In the last two weeks I’ve done a bit of sewing. I have a light weight wool jumper and cotton dress made. There are several “little things” which are on the way to completion. I have a set including a sacque, kimono, gown and Gertrude which

September 25, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] I’m embroidering and making a crocheted border on each.

Van says to say “hello” and would like to hear about Dr. so write when you can. Perhaps our next letter should be sent to: 441 Balch St., Kalamazoo 33, Mich.

Sincerely,

Jane

Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/08/mrs-jane-van-syoc/

The Most Cheerful Letter (Gladys)

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September 24, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 24, 1945, p. 1

Monday Evening

Dear Daddy –

I just went down and started a fire. It was so warm yesterday we let the fire go out. I cleaned out the ashes so it’s ready for another week, unless we have a cold snap and have to have more fire – in that case it will need cleaning oftener. Hope they get that burner soon. I won’t look for it for two or three weeks yet.

Coco told me that Nate Baer is on the Nevada – that is if it hasn’t arrived yet. Her sister is here now. I don’t know when she is expecting to see him, but soon. Maybe you will get to see him while he is in San F.

Dorothy came out this afternoon to see David’s birthday things. They had to go to Chicago yesterday afternoon so they couldn’t be here for the party. Dorothy says she is going up to visit her mother next week. She is going to take Bobby and stay a week. I told her if I could get someone to stay with J. & M. I would take David and go to San F.,

September 24, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] but I suppose you would get orders if I did. However if you should get orders to go out I think I would want to. Let’s just hope something is done soon so you will get to come home.

It has been cloudy and rainy all day – not exactly the kind of weather to boost one’s morale – if it happens not to be so high. I suppose it’s the letdown after last week-end and working a little too hard on David’s party.

Tomorrow is club opening at Mrs. Washburn’s. Just hope the weather is a little more on the sunny side. Nelly wanted to sell me a brown hat to wear but I didn’t get brown purse & gloves to go with my suit so I decided to wear my black hat & “things.” I washed my hair this evening and have it pinned down. I think I’ll have to get another perm. This one seems to have lost its pep.

David had a spill this evening and hurt the inside of his mouth. He keeps hitting his teeth. Just hope he doesn’t know them loose. He was up early this morning and wound up like a clock. He told John a wild tale. Today he was playing and talked

September 24, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] about an imaginary person. It made me think of the way John used to make up names of people he played with. David had to stay in today because of the rain. I tried to take a nap but every time I would drop off to sleep he would bounce up on the couch by me and awaken me. He said he would take a nap too but that didn’t last long.

John said Smith was back in school today but not feeling too chipper. John says he mispronounces so many words. He said some word in particular today and John said he had a notion to correct him (but he didn’t). John is working on Latin tonight. He is really having to dig to catch up with this class, but I think he will make it OK. Mark has been going to bed for the past 20 minutes, but I don’t believe he is in bed yet.

I don’t know what to tell you about the purse. Alligator is very good, but I hate to pay that for a purse. I would like to have a smart looking one, but that is a little high. However, those do run high. Bill brought Arlene a new bag from Chicago. I don’t know what he paid for it but he said

September 24, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] the one he wanted to get was $35.00. She said she would have had a “fit” if he had paid that much for a purse. I said Mrs. Swarts showed me one for $12.50 she claimed was genuine leather. I said I didn’t believe it at that price, but Arlene argued that we used to buy real leather purses for $2.95 – adding that it was usually the dollar ones we bought. So much for that.

I saw the Mullen bride & groom in town this evening when I went to buy groc. I haven’t seen anything about Joe Bill being discharged, so he must still be in.

Marg Carlson says Eddie is coming back to run the paper so she is retiring. She doesn’t seem to know when Pinkie will be home.

John mailed some letters for me today and Tony said he heard you were coming back. I said he should have asked where he got his information, but John said he told him you would more likely be sent out again.

I am afraid this hasn’t been exactly the most cheerful letter, but I’ll try to do better.
Love Mother

Tues. eve – Just back from club & yours of the 22^nd handed to me at the P.O.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/07/the-most-cheerful-letter-gladys/

Incoming Patients (Roscoe)

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September 24, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 24, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 24

Dear Mother,

You will note both Sun. & Mon. letters. It seems a number of events kept me from mailing the Sun. letter as I planned. In the first I found that the only mail out on Sun. is 0830 and then I thought I could mail it the first thing this AM but I was rudely called at 0645 to meet a ship bringing in patients. I really wasn’t on that duty but it seems there were several ships so I was called and hence the two letters in one.

I got patients from 2 ships. They always have a band at the pier to play and of course there is lots of yelling – cat calls, etc. The boys are all pretty glad to be back – strange but true.

Since we had several ships in this AM we are a little busy this PM in fact there are several coming in and out as I’m writing but Junior is taking care of them so I can get this finished.

Mrs. Stanich is bringing Jeff over to have his eyes examined. I’m supposed to meet them at the gate and show them where to go.

September 24, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Your letter of the 20^th came this AM and one from Mom. She said they would have driven up had they known but as it stands I guess we didn’t know. I’m wondering if you’d like me [to] come home again on one of those drafts. With our increase in patients we will have more drafts and there has been two since I came so maybe in a week or two I’ll be coming that way again. I’ll try to let you know ahead of time and plan on meeting you at the gate just like we did before – we can write of that later however.

Well, I think I’d better help a little and then get this to the P.O.
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/06/incoming-patients-roscoe/

Slow Morning (Gladys)

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September 24, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Mon. morning –

Dear Daddy –

I haven’t done much so far this morning but make the beds and wash dishes. I was eating breakfast when yours of the 20 & 21 came. David also rec’d a birthday card from Karen Burgee, with a dollar. When Lucile B. was here I had her out one afternoon and said I was going to have a party for David’s birthday and invited Karen if they would still be here, so she wrote a note and enclosed it with the card & dollar. She said it was so cold where she is in Wis., they have had a freeze already. It was so warm here yesterday it was like mid-summer instead of Sept. 23, but it’s raining this morning and it will probably turn cold.

September 24, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] David was up early this morning before anyone else was up. John got up and got his & David’s breakfast. He said David was very windy and kept making up tall tales. With all his new toys he has snitched a bowl from the rack on the drain board and says he is making chocolate. I used paper plates, cups & wooden forks to serve yesterday and I washed the forks and gave them to him to play with. He calls them “boons.”

Here’s hoping that Fleet won’t go out again before you can get a discharge.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/05/slow-morning-gladys/

Listening to the Radio and Reading (Roscoe)

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September 23, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Sept. 23

Dear Mother,

There was no mail today but I did receive the three yesterday so that isn’t so bad. I forgot to say anything about the work on the davenport – Really that sounds like a pretty good high price to pay for a remodeling job and I believe if you could get it into the Den and then see what will happen in the next few months, we maybe can use $100 at a pretty good advantage in places other than on it. That is my feelings right now but you do as you think best.

I’ve spent the entire afternoon listening to the radio and reading. Most of the fellows here went to a football game so I took the convoy duty for a (jg) so he could go. I’d rather just sit and listen. The crowd was about 60,000 and the only way we had of getting there would be street car and I don’t like that way of getting around.

I’m hoping that something will come thru this week – I mean in the way of orders. This is really getting monotonous. I heard a little scuttlebutt that on the 15 of Oct. the points would be dropped to 55, and that would be a big help,

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and that reminds me about what you wrote about Bill F. and what he could do. I still don’t believe I’d like that kind of help right now because they sometimes like to throw too much power around and it might back fire.

The show last night was “I Love a Band Leader” with Phil Harris. That was the first time I had seen him and I was rather disappointed in his looks. He should be on some tooth paste program because of that pseudo smile or rather it appeared to be pseudo. The show wasn’t bad, however, Rochester was good. I suppose I’ll go tonite for lack of something more exciting to do.

You must have made pretty good time getting home last Monday. I was just about getting to Liberty, Mo., when you got home but I guess I wrote that before. It just didn’t seem possible we could have gotten there that fast. The Dr. that was with me and went on to Maryland isn’t back yet. Commercial air is most difficult to obtain and naval air probably doesn’t do in the area he went to. He probably will get by OK but if many more do that it will cause all these leaves to be cut short.

Well, Dear, I’ll have to get to the office so solong,
Love Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/04/listening-to-the-radio-and-reading-roscoe/

David’s Birthday (Gladys)

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September 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 23, 1945, p. 1

9-23-45

Dear Daddy –

The party is over and we have had a little supper. We put David to bed before we ate because he ate ice cream & cake and drank punch and then after refreshments he kept eating candy so I didn’t even try to get him to eat supper. We just had some ice cream & cake that was left – I snitched a sandwich but J. & M. didn’t want anything else. Dorothy came out early – they had to go to Chicago this afternoon – and brought David’s gift. She had Lucile Jones bake him an angel food besides. I put the birthday trimmings on it. I baked one too but it didn’t look as smooth as the one Lucile made. I asked Dorothy about ice cream and since the drug stores are closed Sun. afternoons, she had Betty Lou bring the ice cream out from the restaurant before they left for Chicago. I was afraid it wouldn’t keep in the frost chest if I put it in last night. Arlene overslept so she didn’t get here with her youngsters until the party was nearly over, but since we had two cakes, I sent cake home with her and gave the children their favors. I fortunately found some candy that was wrapped individually and different shapes so it made nice favors. Altogether David received $5.00 and several nice toys and a pr. of corduroys. Lucile gave him a telephone with a dial that works – it looks like a real phone. It was quite popular with all the children. Arlene brought a little pull toy – a wagon with two hares that bob up and down like the push toy I got for him. She also gave him the corduroys. Statons brought a pull toy and

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a set of graduated blocks. Dorothy gave him a Mickey Mouse toy that turns somersaults. He likes cards so much and seemed to enjoy his cards very much. Mark gave him a magic slate this morning and he was quite delighted with it. John gave him a card with a dollar. When he saw the bill I said, “What is that?” He answered “Money.” He put his pennies in the birthday offering and planted three flags in the sand. He is so much more grownup acting than the little Smith boy (McCloud) who is just a day or two younger, but David has been with J. & M. whereas the Smith children are younger. I had the boys bring up that old play table from the basement and with a good dusting off and a white table cloth it served perfectly for the little folk to eat their refreshments. Also brought up that old bench and with a covering it served for chairs. Martha, Myra & John Hufty, Jimmy Ed and David had a good time at a table by themselves. John, Mark, Jimmy, Betty & Virginia were seated in the den at a card table and the mothers were seated at the dining room table. I placed the play table by the south dining room wall so the mothers could keep track of the children. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The children played with the toys and the mothers visited. After the rain and cool weather yesterday it was so warm today we stayed out in the yard except when we came in to eat. It has been warmer today than it has been for some time.

Mrs. Washburn in Club President this year and is having the opening meeting at her home in the country. Lucile dropped club so said she would keep David for me. I told her I was planning to go. I kept Karen & Jimmy not long ago and she said she would keep David for me sometime.

September 23, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Dorothy didn’t get to go to Laf. last week so she said today she is planning to go sometime next [week]. They are serving Rotary Thurs. evening. Nick served them Thurs. noon last time, but they would rather have evening meetings. John & Gladys are opening Wed. this week. I wonder if Rotary will go there. It’s a cinch John will have all the business he can handle – so maybe he won’t want special dinners.

John is doing homework and keeps asking me for words. Mark said he had a headache and wanted an aspirin but I told him I didn’t think he needed one – so he went out of doors and came back in much improved, he says.

So far my thumb is still stiff – It seems to have affected the joint. The allergy is gone and it’s about all peeled off but I can’t bend it very far. I can use it but without bending it much. Jimmy had another attack of asthma and Lucile thinks it was caused by red beans. She said they had chili for supper and that night Jimmy began to stop up – the next day he was in the kitchen and ate two red beans she was preparing for lunch. She said while chewing the second one he began to cry and said it burned his mouth and wanted to spit it out – He had a severe attack after that. In checking back Lucile said they had had beans before another attack of asthma he had.

David was so tired I think he must have gone right to sleep. I haven’t heard a sound out of him since he went to bed. John decided this was a perfect day for the birthday. It has been warmer than any Sept. 23 in the past 3 years. I remember last year it poured down rain in Mo.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/03/davids-birthday-gladys/

Illinois vs. Pittsburg (Roscoe)

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September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 22, ‘45

Dear Mother,

Three letters today – Sept. 18, 19, 20. Now maybe that the mail has started it will keep coming regular.

Right now we are listening to the Ill.-Pitt. football game. It is 1230 and it is almost at the half. There was a game in Berkeley this PM which we could have attended for free but I decided I’d rather listen on the radio and not have to buck the crowd, etc.

Well, we had another gossip visit at Stanich’s last night. We had meat loaf, baked potatoes, etc., a very good meal and I really enjoyed it. Mrs. Stanich said she would like to have you come out which sounds like a good idea but I’m not so sure it is practical at present. There is no news as to orders, etc. Of course, I think I wouldn’t forget to mention things like that.

I was glad to get all the news from home in your letters – What was Mr. Smith doing when he fell? Some people I would have been suspicious but not Smith.

I suppose it would just be our luck to have the oil strike cut off the oil supply just about the time we get the oil installed. Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as the newspapers here make it, at least, I hope not.

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I’m try to listen to the game and concentrate on writing but I’m not having too much luck at either. You can substantiate the writing angle – I should wait until after the game but I’m afraid it would be too late for the mail. It is just now time out in the game so if I hurry maybe I can get a few thoughts in.

One of the Drs. here wondered if there was any athletic gear we might use. I looked at him with a very disgusted look and he said we don’t all creak like you do. Seems as if I’d heard things like that before but it makes no difference to me “I yam what I yam.” I suppose Mark is listening to Great Lakes or some of the local games. I just heard Ind. is ahead of Mich. This radio seems to be doing pretty good even though I haven’t gotten a longer areal.

Bill Stern announcing the fame said it is raining in Ill. We had a fairly heavy rain this morning, the first I’ve seen since coming here. It was really more than one of those heavy fogs, and strangely enough, there hasn’t been any fog for a couple of days, but it has been rather cool.

Well, I hope I have a few little things in this letter other than football – I was glad to hear you say or rather write that you had a good time over the weekend. It sure was mutual and I’m looking forward to better times –

Love,
Daddy

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/02/illinois-vs-pittsburg-roscoe/

Office Plans (Gladys)

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September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

9-22-45

Dear Daddy –

It is a rainy Sat. We have been cleaning the house getting ready for David’s party. I washed the wall in the hall where I had used the paint and it washed nicely. The dirt came off easier with a brush. I am not planning to paint the hall now because it looks good enough as is. Will just wait until spring and maybe we can have a painter do the whole house. David rec’d a birthday card from Sherill Thrailkill and one from Ruth & Floyd. John asked David what he wanted for his birthday and he said a card, so John is going to give him a dollar with a card. Mark got a magic slate for him. Lucile bought a telephone for him one time while we were shopping together in Laf. I got the horses for him but he found it and has played with it two weeks. I thought I would buy him a wagon – there is a war model at the variety store, but Norma gave him the old tin wagon their girls had – she says they don’t play with it. Dorothy never did make the trip to Laf. so I didn’t get a chance to shop there. John wanted me to go today but I have been so busy getting ready for the party and since it has started to rain would rather not make the trip.

The boys are listening to a football game but there is quite a lot of static (Illinois & Pittsburg at Champaign).

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Just heard Ind. is leading Mich. 13-0 at first half. J. & M. went to the ball game here last night. Mark got to play in the 7^th & 8^th grade game. John asked him who won and he said it was a tie. I stayed at home and knitted. I started Bobby Krull’s snow suit. I finished the jacket & cap and Dorothy seemed well pleased. She is still having some cold, but was downtown yesterday afternoon.

I went to Cosmopolitan club yesterday at Mrs. Harry Hufty’s and met Phyllis Merrill’s mother. She said she had met me once before in C.C. I attended a Past Matrons meeting at Mrs. John Gilsons – (you remember or do you). Mr. Gilson works for the Lbr. Co. in C.C. I remember attending the meeting, but don’t remember Mrs. Merrill. There were a number of people there from Hymera.

John Krull is having his opening the 26^th – pretty good time after the fire. He should have plenty of business – especially at noon, since Nick still closes from 11 to 3. The Nu-Joy site is about cleaned off. Just curious to see if they rebuild there.

You said something about a central hall thru the back room – I still think the hall at the west side would be better because it would lead directly to the door that goes over into the room back of Mildred’s place. I am enclosing two plans, and you can see there would have to be a turn in the hall if it goes thru the center.

David is cutting waste paper to amuse himself – it’s hard on him to stay in – he seems to be the outdoor type.

Love,
Mother

A Letter From Mom (Lovina)

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September 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 22, 1945, p. 1

Sept. 22

Dear Roscoe,

Well how are you? Hope you [are] well and can come home soon. I baked a cake this morning to take to the church tomorrow. They have the homecoming. I don’t feel very much like working. I’ve not felt very good for a while. I had rheumatism or something in my right ankle about all week. I could hardly walk but is better now. Pop is out fixing fence.

September 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] They round Doyle Cordell. They say he is alright and well. Willis is with him. I don’t know where he was but he is Manilla now. You might get to see him when he comes through there and Hershel Steiner is on his way home. He was in Okinawa. He wrote the 5^th of this month he would leave the 7. He is in the 34 Batt. Minnie told me yesterday evening his folks didn’t know where he was till now. Don Kirkling was gone so long before Minnie heard from him. He was in Norway and Scotland.

September 22, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] He thought he would soon be back over here. Ralph is laying the brick for his hen house. Clarence has some of his soybean down. It’s been so cloudy and rainy can’t put them up. If we know you were at Kentland last Sunday some of us would of come up. I have my canning all done. We haven’t had any frost yet but it’s been pretty cool. I must get my dinner ready, want to go to town this after

September 22, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] noon. We had our dinner for town.
Love Mom

[Editor’s note: Doyle Cordell was reported missing in March 1943 while serving in the Philippines.]

A1 Condition (Roscoe)

1 Reply

September 21, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 21, 1945, p. 1

21 Sept. 45

Dear Mother,

Probably will have time to write before the regular weekly inspection. Inspection is always held here on Fri. PM. That is the word inspection – they don’t have personnel inspection here only every 3-4 months – I’ve been here for one so maybe will miss the next one.

There has been no new news on orders – navy policy, etc., since yesterday. So we just sit and wait and expect. I think I told you I was going out to Stanich’s again tonite for dinner. I feel I should take them out to dinner someplace one of these days but I don’t know where to take them. We will see about that as “time marches on.”

September 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] The party last night was about what one would expect. I went to the show afterwards but it was rotten – something about “Wild Geese Flying.” The guest of honor was a Lt. Cmdr. Nurse and I think she was properly “recepted.” I’d say she is near 50 and looks the part very much. She used to be at Great Lakes while I was there so when she talked with me I put on the dog and reminded her that we were “old shipmates.” I’m not just sure what I mean by old but I don’t think she caught the word at least her eyebrow didn’t twitch when I said old. She and I were quite a bit alike – neither of us

September 21, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] danced – we just let that to the younger generation. I always say I like to see the younger set enjoy themselves, they always seem so “gay” as digger might put it.

The ship’s service have some very nice pursers here – alligator hide. They are supposed to be very, very good. The prices range from $25.00 up. Now would you be interested in one at that price? If so tell me about the color – size, shape, etc. Or if you can suggest some other articles – you know your birthday. That seems a little high for a purse since possibly styles change but

September 21, 1945, p. 4

[page 4] if you think you could trust my judgment in selection and want to part with that much “doe.”

I sometimes wonder if this ship service here isn’t on a regular civilian price scale. They sell a little bag of peanuts for 25₵ which I believe can be bought for 19₵ at any cut rate drug store.

Well, I guess I don’t have to buy anything there if I don’t want to.

It is almost time for that inspection to come off so must get out and go over the ward and see if everything is in A1 condition.

Love Daddy