Tag Archives: World War II

Staycation (Gladys)

: July 4, 1943, p. 1

: July 4, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 4, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Another 4^th and traditionally hot. It was cool this morning after a good rain during the night but this afternoon the heat was so intense and the humidity so high, Mother was all in. She went to bed early. She thought she would go with me to Wilmington to get J. & M. but thinks now the trip would be too tiring. I went down to Clara Molter’s and asked her to come stay with Mother. She can’t come all day but is going to come up several

[page 2] times during the day and come at noon & fix her lunch. Mother has been taking sulfasuxadine a week now but is thru with it. Is still taking Bepron. She said today her stomach & bowels feel better. If she could just get her strength. She ate a pretty good meal at noon. If she doesn’t improve next week I think I’ll take her down to St. E. for a thorough check-up and glucose if necessary.

It is thundering and lightening some. May have rain and storm before morning. It hadn’t rained for a week when it rained last nite. Things were getting dry. A few days like this & Indiana corn sure will grow.

[page 3] Bun Walkup brought Iva Jean & the girls out this evening. Iva Jean had never seen D. I took her upstairs to see him – he was asleep but not too soundly – he woke up and was so hot I brought him down and we compared babies. He is 4 hrs 14 minutes older than their Carolyn. She weighed 8 ½ at birth & D 6-11 – He now weighs more and is quite a bit taller besides having more tan. Susie is a cute little child with curley hair. David’s hair curls when it’s damp but Carolyn’s is definitely straight. She has six teeth to David’s two. However, I think he will have more before long. He was so hard to do anything with today. He misses J. & M. (and so do I). They help so much in taking care of him.

[page 4] I would take him out in the yard & put him in the buggy – most of the time he was standing or trying to hang out head first. Maybe I am a little indulgent with him, but he seems to have such an urge to climb it seems out the question to hold him down. He knows what no-no means – when he want too. If he is in a good mood he laughs at it – if not he trys to cry – and if in a bad mood crys with all stops open.

I called Ruth M. to tell her I would be over to get J. & M. – Earl & Mark are going fishing tomorrow. Both boys said they weren’t ready to come home but I don’t want them to wear their welcome out and I need them here. Link left a $1.25 for John to mow his lawn next Wed. Statons went to Monticello today for a week. I think I’ll spend my vacation at home.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/19/staycation-gladys/

To Begin With…(Roscoe)

3 Replies

: July 3, 1943 envelope

: July 3, 1943, p. 1

: July 3, 1943, p. 2

: July 3, 1943, p. 3

: July 3, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.
July 3, 1943

Dear Mother

Your letters air mail of June 12, 14, & 16, v-mail of 8, 13, 15 and air of May 13 and one from Uncle Wess of June 17, and a v-mail from each of the older boys and one from Ruth M. arrived yesterday.

To begin with we need say no more about the uniform and travel money because I got the word that you have received all. I may report the same thing in a letter or two but it’s a relief to know it all arrived OK. Along the same line I’m going to increase the allotment sometime

[page 2] this month but it won’t be effective before Aug. or Sept. Sc The old one should carry right along until the new one takes place but I’ll try to send you a check in a few days to carry you over in case there is a mix up. Our pay accounts are here now and in the next week or ten days I think I can send you the check. If the allotment comes thru OK you can use the check to pay off your insurance loan and/or buy some bonds, etc. More about that in letters to come.

The pictures were swell – sure gave a good idea of how D. and the rest of the family is coming along.

[page 3] The views of the house and surroundings were equally good. The grass did look a little long on the back terrace but with all the rain you’ve had there it must certainly grow fast.

You mentioned something about Salmon – don’t send any. Of course if you have OK – we have that here, and since the sardines take so many points don’t send those either. In fact I don’t believe it’s necessary to send anything because our food is good and it may become lost on the way and besides that it takes good ration

[page 4] points to get those things. I’m

I’m sure your scrap book will be interesting – The two items you mentioned were swell and by now you probably have others.

You wrote of Joe R. – you will have my letter telling of his visit etc. before long. His commanding officer has been on duty here and sure is a swell fellow. It would be OK to be in an outfit like that – Not any better than what I’m doing at present but there are lots of others worse.

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/2014/09/18/to-begin-with-roscoe-2/

A Quickie (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: July 2, 1943 envelope

: July 2, 1943, p. 1

: July 1, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60 F.P.O. San Fran.
July 2, 1943

Dear Mother,

This will have to be a more or less a quickie as I have some work coming up. I’ll just hit the bare surface and promise more tomorrow. I’m afraid if I wait until later in the day the whole mail will be missed and might be late and of course you might say what if it is since it’s no letter at all.

Another of my tent mates is being shipped to a different

[page 2] location so that means someone else will come in – Seems when I get to a place I stay for some time and then all of a sudden I leave, but so far there are no indications of my leaving here but it all happened so sudden at the last place, and th life is getting pretty good here – good food etc – I mean.

Well, I promise to at least try to do better next time.

Love Daddy

A new runway, Russell Islands, 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/16/a-quickie-roscoe/

Everything Excepting David (Gladys)

1 Reply

: July 2, 1943 envelope

: July 2, 1943, p. 1

: June 2, 1943, p. 2-3

: June 2, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 2 1943

Dear Daddy –

No letters today but had June 21 – 22 & 23 this week. Some are still enroute earlier than those but they will come – they always do. It is still chilly enough to have heat in the house. The fire went out last nite so had to clean the furnace & start a fire this morning to get wash water hot. I want to take Mother down to Dr. M. this afternoon. Would have this

[page 2] morning but didn’t get around in time. David didn’t wake up till 7 a.m. so that made his next meal come at 11 – by the time I got him taken care of it was getting on past 11:30 and I didn’t want to go in so late before the noon hour. Everything (excepting David) is so quiet around here with J. & M. gone – the Zell’s gone – and Jimmy kept inside. Mrs. James is getting ready to go stay with Margaret a while – She is expecting her baby any time. She told Mother she didn’t know how long she would stay – She has had such a time with Jimmy this summer

[page 3] I know she is glad to get away for a while. She has been taking liver shots and doesn’t seem to get much better but I think it’s the strain she is under. Irene is taking a 2 week vacation. They are going over to Monticello for a week and then stay home a week. This will be the first time Mrs. J. has been away from Jimmy for about 2 ½ years. I intended to give you a complete acc’t of our finances today but haven’t had time yet to figure things out – have been doing week-end work all morning. Will try to get it for next letter then if you get this one & not the next you will wish it had been in this one.

[page 4] My checks came this morning, so will have to go the bank today. You know they come in ants of 170 & 30. I have been moving around all morning & getting hungry so will stop & get something to eat. – after a few minutes pause I’ll try and add a line. I glances thru the Newton Co. E. and saw a letter from Vincent Clark – he is in North Africa. John Ade and Emory Richards are in the Navy Training Station at Purdue. I told you before Cliff Shandy is in Harvard Navy Training School. He got an Ensign. – Speaking of rain – we have had over 12 inches of rain since May – It hasn’t rained since last Sat. – It has been too cool –

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/15/everything-excepting-david-gladys/

One Year Ago This Month (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: July 1, 1943 envelope

: July 1, 1943, p. 1

: July 1, 1943, p. 2

: July 1, 1943, p. 3

: July 1, 1943, p. 4

: July 1, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

Notice the date. The first thing I did upon arising this A.M. was to torn my calendar over. One more calendar moth behind but not quite a month as far as leaving the states is concerned. It sounds good to say, however, that I got my orders one year ago this month – I don’t know what time means because so far as I know no definite time has been set, but we always have hope.

[page 2] I’m not very “writy” this A.M. for some reason – just seems all I can do is sit and look out over the cocoanut trees.

My garden is going to be as I said before a total flop so I don’t have to worry about the work of cultivating or weeding.

We were told we can buy a case of beer today so we can have a little liquid refreshments. It of course will be warm but that isn’t so bad. I’m afraid it would be stolen if it were stored in our Fox Hole but that might keep it a little cooler.

[page 3] I’m writing this on the corner of the table and I mean the corner because it sure is stacked high all over the other portion. Just let me list some of the thing. Three magazines under the paper I’m writing on, 4 novels not stacked neatly, 2 canteen cups with a deck of cards in one – Some pictures of the Island that can’t be sent home. One canteen – Three tubes of burn Jelly are Three cans of burn Jelly – One cup made out of Half a cocoanut – used now as an

[page 4] ashtray, Three china cups for drinking purposes, one copy of the naval regulations, one box of aspirin, one scrub brush, one tin box for my chewing gum, one flash light, one medicine glass – another ash tray and one roll of toilet paper – There may be other things but from where I’m sitting I can’t see them. The other furniture is as orderly and well kept as the table so you can use your imagination –

Love Daddy

P.S. I missed a bottle of merthiolate and a bottle of glue – They were behind something – also six

[page 5] magazines under the pile.

Possibly one of the pictures of the island that couldn’t be mailed home

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/14/one-year-ago-this-month-roscoe/

July First (Gladys)

2 Replies

: July 1, 1943 envelope

: July 1, 1943, p. 1

: July 1, 1943, p. 2-3

: July 1, 1943, p. 4

: July 1, 1943, p. 5

: July 1, 1943, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
July 1 1943

Dear Daddy –

The first of July and chilly enough to have heat turned on. And after all the intense heat in June. Just the kind of weather to expect back home in Indiana. It is a relief tho, and it has its points, even tho the corn doesn’t grow so fast in weather like this – so much more for Indiana “corn.” I am trying to get this written before the mail man comes so he can take it. With J. & M. & Zell girls gone I have to go to town myself to do anything and thought I would get my daily letter written then wouldn’t have to worry about

[page 2] going to town. Yesterday I rec’d yours of June 21 & 22 – however there are a few June letters still en route earlier than those rec’d. I am wondering if you are still getting the pictures I send once a month. The last I send was on June 26, the photographer’s picture of David for his 9^th month.

I went to town yesterday and took a specimen of urine for mother in Dr. M. Dorothy ran the tests on it and said she found infection sugar & albumin. Dr. M. had given Mother Sulfasuxadine and said to continue two more days then bring her back in – She gets up every morning and dresses but lies down most of the time on the couch.

[page 3] I saw Lucile in town. She had Jimmy Ed. He is quite a young man. Is about to sit alone. He still has eczema but I think it’s gradually leaving. He has hair now and doesn’t scale any more. I suppose he will just have to outgrow the “stuff.” Ed is having an allergy – it’s between his fingers – how uncomfortable – don’t I know – well Lucile called me yesterday morning about the H.C.L. I used & she used – Ed has had the condition some time now & Lucile wanted him to try our remedy. I am having a touch of the thing now – I think it’s due partly to the drastic change to cooler weather. My fingers are a little swollen. I

[page 4] had to get up last night and put the lotion I always use to keep from rubbing them. They are better this morning – I missed the mail – just got your letter of June 23 – in which you were talking about a heat lamp – I would think a sun bath would be hot enough. – Maybe that would be too hot.

Mother had a letter from Dolores yesterday. She said it had been hot & dry in Washington – I thought it was raining everywhere the way it kept raining here. We haven’t had rain now since Sat. & this is Thurs. so maybe our rain is over for a while. – – This is afternoon – I have put out one washer of clothes since I started to write, had lunch and done a few odd jobs around here.

[page 5] The Democrat came and I looked it over for any news of interest to you but failed to find anything unusual. I saw an ad in a magazine about spam. There was a Navy officer’s picture & telling about how glad the boys were to get spam. I just laughed to myself and thought that wasn’t the way I heard it. I didn’t use all our red points in June. I was talking to Arlene about having points left over – She suggested that I stock upon spam, etc. I told her I would be afraid to have it on hand when you came home, so she agreed with me it would be better for me to buy something else. We

[page 6] didn’t use all the red points but when Parttens’ butcher in the fall I’ll have to turn in enough points to cover half or quarter of beef – which I get. Milk (canned) takes meat points but we still have enough. I bought 24 cans this week. I intend to keep David on canned milk thru the summer yet. He is awake now trying to shake his bed apart. The screws do loosen and I have to tighten them up once in a while. He looks at me and laughs when he isn’t sucking his thumb. I can see him from where I am sitting. I will have to get his dinner ready.

Love Mother

David at 9 months

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/13/july-first-gladys/

Soundscape (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: June 30, 1943 envelope

: June 30, 1943, p. 1

: June 30, 1943, p. 2

: June 30, 1943, p. 3

: June 30, 1943, p. 4

: June 30, 1943, p. 5

Letter transcription:

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

Dear Mother,

I couldn’t got go to sleep for a period last night so tried to think of what I might write and nothing seemed to come. Then all of a sudden I began to realize I had been listening to the sounds around about so I thought why not describe those. Those would not be military information so why not. First

In describing sounds one does not know whether to take the near ones – the far – the loud etc. In describing a landscape I learned long ago to read it someplace – A point of view had to be selected – like a high hill

[page 2] or a tall building. Well the point of view of my sound description is my bunk with only a pair of trunks to protect my nudeness. Approximately 7:30 P.M. Dark as only a tropical dark night can be with a gentle, soft breeze floating thru the screened walls of the tent. As far as near or distant sounds were concerned there is no way of knowing exactly so I’ll not bother. I’ll just take them as one they came to me and was then were crowded out by the next.

Crickets or some such – were filling the entire atmosphere and it seemed nothing not another sound possible but a slight breeze scraped the long frown of the palm trees and gave a rustling sound much louder than that thru our well known maple trees at home. “Screach” the

[page 3] door to the bath house was opened as a late bather decided on a bath in darkness – Maybe he is the modest type. Ring Ring – the telephone still gives me a little start, however it’s never for me. Then a sharp bang followed in a few moments by another “screach’ of a rusty hinge. Someone had a belated B.M. The first bang was the hinged lid over the hole – purr airplane!!! No just a jeep or truck in the distant – Squeak, squeak high up – Rats fighting in the tree tops. They build nests way high in the air among the cocoanuts and seem to have their affairs at night. They can also be heard just outside the tent gnawing – and also inside scampering from one place to another. The loudest sound

[page 4] was almost missed – It’s also the most consistent and that is probably why it didn’t break thru – The Surf – The roaring swish beginning low and in a crescendo like sound finally breaking and one could imagine the white spray leaping high and then the receding waters – The whole process repeated over & over again. Just made one think of a huge monster rushing to escape but the chains always holding him back.

I suppose this could go on and one but why bother when can use the imagination after looking at the National Geographic.

Another sound purr – airplaine!!! No just a small patrol boat or distant truck – whistle whistle – The shrill whistle of the Bosun pipe – which means

[page 5] that all is secure – and ok! “Golly” I’m getting sleepy – Hoping you are the same – good night –

Lots of Love Daddy

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/09/12/soundscape-roscoe/

Very Quiet Around Here (Gladys)

2 Replies

: June 30, 1943 envelope

: June 30, 1943, p. 1

: June 30, 1943, p. 2-3

: June 30, 1943, p. 4

: June 30, 1943, p. 5

: June 30, 1943, p. 6

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
June 30, 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of June 21 & 22 came today and you had rec’d mineo f June 2 – 4 – & – 5 – The one of the 3ᵈ was air mail and I wrote it while Mark was coming out of the ether. I mailed it at the hospital. I stated the bank balance in a letter a few days ago, but after I get the Hancock ins. paid, rent, etc., I should have a balance of 150⁰⁰ – which will take the July 1 check – I have a balance now of about 90⁰⁰ – tomorrow or next day will get the 200⁰⁰ allotment. The rent will come out (48³³) and groc. bills – which are somewhat higher than they used to be, due

[page 2] to increase in price in about everything – so unless something comes up I haven’t counted on should with everything taken care of have a balance of around 150⁰⁰.

Had a letter from a music shop in Laf. that they have used grand piano for sale. If I get down there soon will go look at it. I really am not enthused about buying anything but do feel it is a shame for John not to have a good piano to work with. He took his music and Mark’s too along to practice on while they are at Ruth’s. Earl said they were on vacation but I told him it would do Mark good to settle down a little while each day and rest. Mark seems

[page 3] to be all over any nervousness but when he got over there Sunday he was so excited about seeing all his “friends,” I wonder if he won’t play too hard.

I hear David. He has had a nap and in good mood. Dorothy & Ruth played with him so much yesterday I was afraid he would be spoiled today but he seems as good as ever. He gets harder to handle every day. He is always reaching for something. If he keeps on at this rate I am afraid he will have to have plenty of love taps to keep him out of things – – Had to stop and fix lunch – Just put David down in his pen and he didn’t like the idea – He has been saying

[page 4] da-da for a long time – now he says mom-mom.

It is cool enough today to have heat turned on. Such a drastic change from Monday. It was cool yesterday too. Floyd came for Ruth about 6 P.M. yesterday. He didn’t have to go to Brazil after all so they were returning to Bluffton, but are going to C.C. for the 4^th – I don’t know yet whether Mother will feel like going any place by Sun. If not I’ll have to get someone to go with me to get the boys in Wilmington. The grass isn’t growing so fast now that it isn’t raining so often and not so hot so maybe the grass won’t need cutting before John comes back. Had the lawn mower worked on so it isn’t so hard to push.

Love Mother

[page 5] P.S. I just looked up the old policy & it was issued Dec. 24 – 1923 so this payment I will make in July pays it up. I rec’d the cancelled note today. The amt. of prems. Due in July on all three that are due amounts to 77.28. I have to buy an auto stamp today (last day) and that will be 5⁰⁰ – Also last day for meat stamps (red) and I have a few left. I bought 3 frys last week and still have enough left for several meals. I am going to try and get salmon with my meat stamps today. That & sardines are scarce articles. The only place I know of to buy canned chicken would be Chicago – Ruth Mutchler said she saw canned pheasant at the Stop & Shop in Chi. at $3.50 a can.

[page 6] If I can find suitable articles will send out another box – but hate to send them if you don’t get them. We can’t register letters or insure anything – at least I was told at the P.O. that registering didn’t insure delivery so quit doing that.

Zells have gone away for a week – John & Mark are gone – Statons are leaving soon and Bill & Arlene are talking about going to Wisconsin – I don’t know if all these vacations are going to be at the same time, but with the Zell girls & our boys gone it is very quiet around here. Irene had 5 moles burned off Sat. She asked the Dr. if she could go in swimming – She went to a Dr. in Indpls. She was afraid of skin cancer. Mary is having a baby & Mrs. James is going there to stay two weeks –

Love – Mother

The Smell of Steak (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: June 29, 1943 envelope

: June 29, 1943, p. 1

: June 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Calif.
June 29, 1943 1500

Dear Mark,

Of course you knew I had not forgotten you even though it has been a long time since I’ve written. I believe both of you boys have written at that since I have.

Who is ahead in the garden? You or the weeds! I’ll bet those radishes and lettuce sure does do taste fine.

I almost forgot – I sure was glad to hear you were such a brave guy when

[page 2] you had your tonsils out. I want you to remember how you felt when Dr. Romberger told you to take a big smell of that stuff and you took her down so you can tell me.

Writing of smells there is one that I’ve missed here a lot and you can help me out. Get an envelope full of steak broiling smell and seal it up tight and send it “kerplank” right on out.

Well, I know you are a busy man but if you can find time drop me a line

Love Daddy

P.S. give Mother a big “squeeze” for me.

Mark (January 1943)

Catching A Train Whistle (Roscoe)

3 Replies

: June 29, 1943 envelope

: June 29, 1943, p. 1

: June 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner
Navy 60
F.P.O. San Fran Calif.
June 29, 1943 1435

Dear John

I’ll just bet you thought I’d forgotten all about you but I hadn’t. Maybe Mother let’s you read parts of my letters or does she?

In some spots here the grass grows to only a few inches high and never any taller – Isn’t that wonderful? Or I mean wouldn’t it be wonderful if our yard had that kind of grass?

It’s a little hard to write because you haven’t written

[page 2] for so long either and since I can’t say much about here the subject matter is a little on the down grade.

There are lots of things I miss out here and one this one I believe you can help me out. I’d like to hear a train whistle, so the next time one goes by you get an envelope and catch the sound and seal it up tight and send her whizzing right on out. I’d ask you to put it in a bottle but it might get broken.

Well if you aren’t too busy

Write –
Love Daddy

P.S. Don’t forget the big “hug” you are supposed to give Mother for me.