Tag Archives: World War II

Too Much Noise Not Enough Music (Gladys)

: August 4, 1943 envelope

: August 4, 1943, p. 1

: August 4, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 22 came today. It is hot & sticky today – It has been cloudy & raining for two days now the sun is making the ground steam. It is more oppressive out of doors than in. It is very pleasant upstairs. There is a good breeze thru and isn’t as hot as I thought it would be. Mother doesn’t feel so well toady – I would fix her a bed downstairs but she would rather be up. She stays in the little bedroom most of the time. I try to get her to stay in our room but she likes that bed in her room the best. It’s softer and also I put a feather bed on for her. As cool as it is I thought she would feel better today but she isn’t so well. She ate about as much today as usual which isn’t much. She is entirely on a soft diet and I sometimes think I’ll run out of things to fix because she soon tires of one thing.

David is taking a nap. He is coming along fine in his cast. Doesn’t seem to mind it. He certainly knows how to get people to admire him. He smiles so much & seems to like everyone who will smile at him. He stands now that we will allow him to. He pulls up very good considering the heavy cast on his left leg. The worst thing about it right now is the odor – can’t help that but I keep him powered & that helps lots.

[page 2] I haven’t been away from home except to take D. to the Dr. & get Mother’s medicine, so don’t know much news. Ellsworth Wilson called me about the renewal on the car Ins. He says his no. is 13 and he thinks he will have to go this fall. There were headlines in the paper to the effect that all pre-Pearl Harbour father’s would be subject to call. I told him I thought the Army would be a good place for him and some others. He said you women just wait until the men are gone – and I said “What do you think I have been doing for the past year.” He said “Oh you have an officer’s salary to go on” – I said “yes, you people think we get rich off our salary.” He said it was better than a buck privates, and soon and on. He said something about the allowance for each child being $1⁰⁰ per mo. – said he would have to go into mass production to get anything at that rate.

I gave you the finances yesterday but will give a little repeat – With the ck you last sent and my allotment I have a bal. of $444, but haven’t paid the groc. bills yet – I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds lost month & pd 100⁰⁰ on the piano – wrote to the Ins. Co. for the amt. to pay off that loan but haven’t heard from them yet. Will give you a full report when I get the bills all pd. & Ins. loan pd. off.

Mark had his cornet out in the yard – I think I’ll have to call him in. He makes too much noise & not enough music with it. He says he is going to band practice tonite. If I can find a reed instrument for him I think he will do better. John says a reed is easier to blow and I think he would practice better on something not so hard.

Love – Mother –

Gladys, Mark & David, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/18/too-much-noise-not-enough-music-gladys/

A Radio (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 4, 1943 envelope

: August 4, 1943, p. 1

: August 4, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

Bucking conversation this AM but it doesn’t seem to be any chance of slowing off so just as well get going.

Your v-mail letter of July 17 came yesterday – It seemed to just slip in because there was very very little mail and along with it came the Clay City news of May 14. So figure that out.

Seems as if the Funks are trying to populate the wor[l]d in a big hurry – we may be getting behind but I guess that is OK. No guessing about it.

[page 2] Seems as if the conversation is getting thicker instead of thinner. Another of the originals came in and the stuff is getting deeper and deeper. I think I’ll be able to buy a radio today. One of the fellows who is leaving has one and the He is asking 50⁰⁰ and the three of us are going to buy it – a little expensive but that is about the only luxury we have – and I think we can sell it when we leave – when we leave –

Well, The Convo is still going on strong –
Love Daddy

Lt. Roscoe S. Yegerlehner, mostly likely in the Solomon Islands

Roscoe at New Caledonia, 1942

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/17/a-radio-roscoe/

August Finances (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 3, 1943 envelope

: August 3, 1943, p. 1

: August 3, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had July 21 & 23 yesterday – Some more unusual weather we are having. It started to rain last night and it’s still raining today and much cooler – Before the rain it was hot. We have the doors & windows closed today so you know it’s cooler. I am glad for Mother it is cooler – She suffers so when it’s hot. Dr. Cole said yesterday to continue with the same medicine. She doesn’t seem to do anything much either way. Only on hot days she feels worse. With John gone this week it’s rather quiet around here and with the rain today the neighborhood all around is quiet. Mrs. James & Jimmy are back & so are Arlene & Bobby but so far Bobby hasn’t been around this week. He had a start of hay fever but as soon as Arlene got him to Green Bay it stopped. While Arlene was gone the Lubberty girls took care of Donnie – Sunday Theresa had him out and stopped here. He is the picture of Bill – He is still larger than David but D. has more hair. When they get together they take each others’ toys – not exactly exchange – if one takes a notion for the toy the other has he just reaches, grabs & pulls – the one that can pull the hardest wins. Of course since D. is in his cast he isn’t a match for Donnie. I believe Donnie will like to fight when he gets old enough. I think Bobby has taught him a few tricks.

[page 2] Sister J. said it wouldn’t hurt David’s leg for him to stand so I allowed him to pull up today and enjoy standing and did he love it. He sat some but that breaks the cast across his bottom so I try to keep him from doing that. I was surprised to see how well he handles himself with that cast on but it doesn’t bother him any. Margaret Kruman brought him a soldier doll from Culver – she said she didn’t know whether he could have a soldier’s doll or not. It’s about half as big as he is but he like to pound it.

I checked on our finances this a.m. Our present bal. is $455 – but I haven’t had a reply yet from the Ins. Co. so I am sure about 180⁰⁰ will come out of that bal. I went ahead & got the piano & hade a bal. of 188⁰⁰ to pay on it by Dec 1 but think I’ll clear it off before then – I pd. 100⁰⁰ on it and got 15⁰⁰ for the old piano but had to pay 6⁰⁰ on the hauling. I bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds last month and will try now to keep buying one one a month. That makes a total of 21 – 18⁷⁵ bonds & 6 – 37⁵⁰ we have – and John has 2 – 18⁷⁵ – David 2 – 18⁷⁵ & Mark one 18⁷⁵ – The difference there is that Mark didn’t save his money & John did. I have car Ins. to pay this month and your Laf. Life pol. Comes due in Sept. and as soon as the Lbr. Co. gets coal in we should get a supply – I am no on the waiting list. Of course I won’t pay for coal until we get it – I haven’t been to town yet and our monthly groc. Bills will have to come out of the bal. above. If I see there will be a surplus I’ll buy bonds. I ate some sliced tomatoe at noon and feel a little itchy so I won’t eat any more if I can help it – and I think I can.

Love – Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/16/august-finances-gladys/

A Short Trip (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 2-3, 1943 envelope

: August 2-3, 1943, p. 1

: August 2-3, 1943, p. 2

: August 2-3, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Aug. 2 & 3, 1943

Dear Mother,

First I must apologize for not writing yesterday. It seems what with getting back from my trip to see Commander Frericks & Dr. Joe and with routine stuff to do after coming back I didn’t get a chance to write. I spent Sat. night with Joe and Sun. and Sun. night with Frericks. It wasn’t a pleasure trip but one in which business could be tied in with a slight visit. My Sunday’s letter was written from there so you can see if their mail is faster than ours.

Comdr. Frericks wrote told me that his

[page 2] wife had received some newspaper clippings from Mrs. Howell in Reno Nevada. Mr. Howell told me his wife would send some to you at the same time. I’m just wondering if she failed to send them to you or whether you thought best not to write about them. It would not be out of order to mention them if you did get them but she might have over looked sending them to you. Those would be interesting if you had a chance to read them.

I suppose bet by the time this gets to you the boys will be preparing to get their school togs ready – just doesn’t seem possible that that time has rolled around again. Or does it? It’s a little hard for me to remember what grades

[page 3] the boys will be in. However, I remember D’s grade – You might say the walkie Talkie grade or the crawley jabberin grade.

Our mail again – There isn’t any but it will come floating along in a great bunch. My mail to you according to your letters isn’t quite as spotty as before but still isn’t as good as you or I would like for it to be.

I’ll have to send John a some token of some sort for his birthday – I’ll send it the next day or two and I guess that will be plenty of time. I’ll have to remember D. a little later when his year is up.

Well, I guess that is about all for today –
Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/15/a-short-trip-roscoe/

X-Rays (Gladys)

1 Reply

: August 2, 1943 envelope

: August 2, 1943, p. 1

: August 2, 1943, p. 2

: August 2, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 2 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of July 21 & 23 came today – I went to Laf. today to take David to Dr. Cole – He reinforced the cast around the top – He rolls around on it so much and has managed to sit and breaks the cast above the leg. He wanted an X-Ray – said he wanted to see how it looked after “mauling” around a week, so we went out to St. E. and Sister J. took and X-Ray and showed it to me – everything fine – There wasn’t anything really to get out of place, and there is a metal piece in the cast to hold it firm. I asked if it would be alright for

[page 2] him to stand and Sister said it would be. When Dr. Cole puts the cast on, she was helping and said to tell you “Quack” helped. I think I forgot to tell you that when I wrote from the hospital. Dr. Cole said he couldn’t stand or sit and he has done both. I am to take him down again next week. Mary Parttens went with me today. She is more or less worried about Ruth – In case you didn’t get the letter telling you about her – She was kicked by a colt on the hip, breaking her pelvic bone on both sides. She has been in bed six weeks and has two more to stay. She hasn’t been in any kind of a cast – while in the hospital 3 wks she was in a swing. Matthews & Ross have been taking care of her. Mary is wondering if she will be able to walk. I had to get Mother’s prescriptions refilled today – Bacillus acidophilus broth and another medicine to take after meals. She doesn’t seem to change much either way.

[page 3] Sister J. asked me if I had written you about David & I said yes – she thought I shouldn’t worry you with it – I said when you knew the extent of the break (a crack not half way across, at the angle of the femur) I didn’t think you would be so upset – Also he may be out of the cast by the time you get this – at any rate I am doing all I can for him. He really doesn’t mind the cast as much as an older person. He is just as active as ever – the only thing he can’t get around quite as well – and this is going on the second week – times passes quickly and it won’t take long until it’s time to take the cast off. Sister J. X-Ray’d him several times to be sure there were no other breaks.

Mark stayed home with Mother today so I brought him a new belt & 4 pencils. He tried to bake a cake while I was gone and it was a flop.

Lucile was out with Jimmy Ed yesterday – His exczema is about all gone. She suns him every day for about an hour but he isn’t nearly as tan as David. He is fair skinned. I’ll give you a financial report in next letter –
Love, Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/14/x-rays-gladys/

Quite A Visit (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: August 1, 1943 envelope

: August 1, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
Aug 1, 1943

Dear Mother,

You will of course note the great change in stationary. That is because I’m bumming and can’t be too fussy.

I’ve talked to Joe R. In fact had quite a visit and may see him again today or tomorrow. He sure likes his work and has a swell commanding officer. Their I can see what he meant by saying that our area was a beautiful place when I see where he is located but there are advantages to the pla their location.

The thoughts and so on don’t come well this A.M., must have been something I “et” last night, but I did have an egg sunny side up for breakfast.

This is a crazy disjointed letter and I’ll again have to use the well known and very good excuse – I’ll do better next time –
Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/13/quite-a-visit-roscoe/

Before Breakfast (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 31, 1943 envelope

: July 31, 1943, p. 1

: July 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. S.F.C.
July 31, ‘43

Dear Mother,

Today sure winds up another month – It really isn’t the end of the month as far as our duty is concerned but another calendar month. It seems the summer or I should say winter has gone rather rapidly when in retrospect.

I’m writing this before breakfast because I’m going to try to go see Joe today and have to get at things early in order to get my

[page 2] work caught up. So this is one of those letters which will hardly be worth mailing, but anyway it’s a note.

There hasn’t been any mail for two days but with getting so many three days ago I hardly expect any now for a few days again.

It’s time for chow so must get going –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/11/12/before-breakfast-roscoe/

Smelled Rags Burning (Gladys)

3 Replies

: July 31, 1943 envelope

: July 31, 1943, p. 1

: July 31, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 31 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

The last day of July – The folks went home this morning and John went with them to stay a week. Mark and I have to take care of things. After lunch I was all set to take a nap but David insisted on staying awake and is still singing to himself, so thought I might as well write. Dad said he never had seen a better baby than D. He has been very good to have a cast on one leg. I am to take him to see Dr. Cole Mon. I put some fresh tape around on the cast this morning.

Had a letter from Ruthie. Floyd had a nail accident and had to have a tetnus shot and got a reaction from it. It got red and itched terribly. Ruth had a letter from Herschel Steiner.

No letters today but the 28^th got your of the 20^th Also have the big. ck deposited and bought 7 – 18⁷⁵ bonds to make one a month for this year.

[page 2] It is cloudy today and not so hot. It got so hot yesterday, Mother felt it so much. It is quiet around here today so I think she will rest better. There was a lot of confusion yesterday with everyone around & the piano coming. Ruth & Romaine left in the afternoon and Dad, Wilma, John & Mark went along so it was quiet all afternoon yesterday. This morning when Wilma got ready to leave she couldn’t find her coin purse – we haven’t found it yet. Thurs. after the folks arrived they put some things in the garage – among them a package of sheets Mom brought along so I wouldn’t have so many extra sheets with all the company – I told Mark to take a sack of garbage to the furnace I had put in the box by the door – well we couldn’t find the sheets at bed time – you guessed it Mark took the package of sheets and put them in the furnace. We all laughed about it – the best thing to do – besides buying new sheets which I will try to do as soon as possible. Dad was sitting in the yard and said he smelled rags burning.
D. has gone to sleep so think I’ll go try and get some shut eye.

Love – Mother

One Year Ago (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 30, 1943 envelope

: July 30, 1943, p. 1

: July 30, 1943, p. 2

: July 30, 1943, p. 3

: July 30 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran. Calif.
July 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

I remember one year ago today early in the morning, but I’d rather pass that scene rather rapidly because it is a little shall I say saddening – I remember also the hard tiresome ride that day – The longest hardest ride I’ve ever had. I remember the disappointment at not finding Lentz that night. The meeting of he and I next morning & our reporting next day. The the furious next several days – getting this and that etc. And then on the last day meeting Hicky and going to Helen W. and then the long train ride and finally getting aboard ship. The long interesting, tiresome and exciting sea voyage – often talking with Walsh and wondering how long it would be before our letters would get back home and our speculation as to our destination was something to marvel at = for we didn’t know.

[page 2] I remember how when land was sighted we added finishing touches to letters and went ashore. How good the terra firma felt under foot again. The stamp shortage – finally after a few days we were permanently located in a goat pasture. The wild scramble to see as much as could be seen of the Island – Swimming and shell collecting – where was our mail finally after about 1 ½ months our first letters came – but no word of babies arrival. Our first letters came the day he was born, but the news reached me much later. I remember getting settled to the humdrum of routine again – Then the slicing off of our personnel. Friends leaving for different areas – The final disbanding of our unit. Then the drab months with no change in the daily schedule – day after day. Drs. P & W and I trying to amuse ourselves to keep from getting on each other’s nerves and possibly not doing so well at times – but in general doing a good job of it. Then I remember while doing the regular routine one morning a big shot coming in and motioning to me and informing me I had been selected – you can take just enough clothes for a change or two – draw field packs – field rations – first aid kits and numerous first aid bandages and emergency medical

[page 3] supplies – That was something – reactions – excitement, anticipation, responsibility, importance and possibly some fear. I remember as long as the preparations were being made everything was swell but I also remember that letters were hard to write – to crowd out the million and one non writable things and include only the things that would not cause alarm. Those I repeat were hard to write. Finally aboard another ship – maybe the atmosphere a little more tense than then the last ship. We landed a much more interesting historical place this time. Now more days of preparation, and again to sea – another new land – my memory is still good but I’m not at liberty to reveal the entire extent of it. I remember the days spent in the channels around our new home – the jungle trips – The fishing trips – the call it exploring trips. I remember the indescribably non light nights – beautiful tropical moons, and the black nights when one has to push the darkness aside manually

[page 4] in order to get thru. I remember the work to get set up again – The usual long wait for mail – the anticipation and anxiousness as to whether our mail was getting home. I remember the taste of cold spam, cold meat & vegetable hash. The taste of rain water chlorinated. The fun we had with our own laundry our bucket bathes and ofen of necessity our ocean dips. Then I remember our first locally killed fresh beef. The rank taste because of lack of refrigeration and freshness – then one day a fresh onion – Then a fresh egg – not many of them – fresh potatoes fresh apples, oranges and the most exotic thing fresh celery. Never a time when I don’t remember appreciating mail and an equal appreciation of pictures – Then I remember writing a kidding note relative to a picture of my wife in comparison to another officer’s wife and I remember her answer and I hope she didn’t mean it for I was only kidding, and then I remember last night thinking of the wife and of and the mother of R.S. Yegerlehner’s boys – Love Daddy

Grand Piano (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 30, 1943 envelope

: July 30, 1943, p. 1

: July 30, 1943, p. 2

: July 30, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 30 – 1943

Dear Daddy,

Fri. and no letters – but had several earlier this week and won’ be disappointed about none today & yesterday. Ruth & Romaine went home – Wilma, Dad, John & Mark went along – Wilma driving our car – otherwise Ruth & Romaine would have had to go to Chi. On the bus then down to Wilmington from there on the train – I talked to Ruth M. about getting the piano – she thought it was the thing to do so I had it brought up today – and they took the old piano back so you won’t need to worry about the old piano being in the garage when you come home. It is sitting in front of the French doors and looks very “grand.” I paid 100⁰⁰ down – got $15 for the old piano and had to pay half the hauling which cost me 6⁰⁰ – so I still have 185⁰⁰ to pay – I am going to pay the Ins. loan off when I get a reply to my letter and if I have enough

[page 2] left will finish paying the piano now. Your Mother stayed with David & I while the others went to Ruth’s. I fed David and thought he would go to sleep but he is still awake. We all agree he is very good to be in a cast. He just about manages to sit up and I imagine he will manage to stand before the cast is off. With all the rubber protectors taped on around the edges he is “smelling.” There was a little skunk in the movie “Bambi” called Flower – That was what Ruth said we would be called David before he got the cast off. Dad sat out in the yard with him this morning and would blow smoke to entertain him. David would laugh every time. Dad says he is the best baby he ever saw. He gave him his bottle last night. Mom, Dad, Wilma & John are going home in the morning. I don’t know yet how John will come home but they can take him to T.H. and he can go to either Laf. or Watseka.

Helen Washburn is home for a few days. She lives in Omaha, Neb. Now. I promised to take the baby down to see her tomorrow afternoon She wanted to know if you had seen Hickey.

[page 3] Funks have a camp at the Fair Grounds for the detasslers. Nick is managing the meals. The cooks are from the Frat houses in Laf. (By the way I think most if not all the Frat houses at Purdue have been taken over for Military.) There was a broadcast from the Fairgrounds today – Al Cast, Bill & Carl Funk & Mr. Zell all had talks to give – I don’t know what else I was too busy to know anything of the kind was going on and after it was over John said he knew about it. It was on the Dinner Bell hour. Nick just keeps their restaurant open certain hours now – so he can run the cooking out there. Bill wanted Krulls to go on a vacation with them. Dorothy said if they did they would just close up while they were gone, but so far they haven’t taken said trip.

I hear David still singing – He can reach up and get the bottom of the venetian blind and swing it. I wish he would go to sleep so I could catch a nap but he seems to be wide awake.

After the first of Aug. will give you a financial report.

Love – Mother