Tag Archives: World War II

New Washing Machine (Roscoe)

: April 29, 1943 envelope

: April 29, 1943, p. 1

: April 29, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 29, 1943
Lieut R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Fran. Calif.

Dear Mother,

Yesterday I had to forgo the washing because the machine was new and had to be adjusted but we got things going today. One of the fellows from Reno used to sell this machine so he knew what to do and we pooled our washing. His shirts are all 15 ½ and his pants are accordingly large so we had no trouble separating the finished product. Of course we took our work very serious and did the whole thing very thorough. Even to rinsing the thing twice and using the agitator to get the soap out and wringing the final twice. Now if

[page 2] just had an iron we’d be all set and maybe in time we will have those things.

We had a little party last night to celebrate the departure of one of our gang – sang songs and drank a little beer. And everyone was sober when the thing was over. We really needed some onion sandwitches to make things more complete but there was none to be had. Wish I had about one pound of onion sets but they would spoil before getting here.

Yesterday P.M. got a v-mail letter from Uncle W. saying he had sent some writing papers. His letter came thru without being photo – because he put his address in both places on the inside and left mine off. So it had to come that way.

Well must get going – 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/2014/05/12/new-washing-machine-roscoe/

Victory Gardens (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-28-43

Dear Daddy – No mail again today – the last I rec’d was dated Apr 6 – I mean the latest date – sometimes I get some back dates – but nothing has come so far this week. – – We are having a spring day with a few clouds that look like your – Have had quite a lot of rain this spring – That will make the victory gardens grow – as well as the weeds etc. The dandelions are in full bloom now. They are everywhere so why worry. I am still cleaning house and the ground is too wet to work in and it’s too early to set flowers out. The tulips are blooming and are very pretty (red). I was snapping my fingers to amuse David and he acted like he tried to snap his fingers. Mark wanted me to write that down in the baby book. I said no one would believe me if I told that but it’s true. If I wrote down everything Mark wants me to I wouldn’t have much time to write letters – David is developing I think about normal. Of course J. & M. think everything he does is unusual. Donnie Funk is still three or four lbs heavier but I think 18 lbs for a 7 mo old baby is heavy enough. He has been so well and as a good disposition so that makes him a pretty fine fellow – John & Mark have gone back to school and D. is sitting in his buggy by the desk doing things. Lucile & I are going to have Cosmopolitan Club Friday. I am going over there tomorrow to make cookies. She just called me & said Betty Lohr’s mother died. Mr. Steinbaugh was buried this morning. I wonder who will run the Democrat now.

Love Mother

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/11/victory-gardens-gladys/

Big Wigs (Roscoe)

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: April 28, 1943 envelope

: April 28, 1943, p. 1

: April 28, 1943, p. 2

: April 28, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr 28, 1943
Lieut RS Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother

This will include the letter of Apr. 27 also. For the past few days I’ve been out with some of the big wigs of the Profession who have been looking the situation over in general and as a result my writing in the daylight hour whas was impossible but now that that is over I think things can be carried on in the usual manner.

Last night late I received

[page 2] your v-mail letters of Mar 31 and Apr 1. Other fellows have gotten regular air mail later than that but I have given you that word before and I think my mail will be better when you switch back to air mail.

We have a nice new washing machine and if I don’t get tropical lead in my pants before I’m going to wash my laundry which has been piling up in anticipation of the washing machine.

I haven’t received any seeds as yet but am very anxious because I believe I can do

[page 3] OK and would surely like to sink my fangs into a nice crisp carrot or radish. We had fresh liver for chow last night but on onion for those few we had the other day have long gone the way of all strong onions.

I Don’t remember whether I mentioned it before or not but I have run on to a man here from Marion Ind. and a Dr. from Logansport and also a Dr. from Evansville Ind. so maybe the old State is kicking thru.

Well, I still feel like doing laundry so here goes –
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/2014/05/10/big-wigs-roscoe/

Snake Commando (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-27-43

Dear Daddy – Another day without any mail – the last dated was Apr 6 and that came about 2 wks ago. Last week I got 4 Mar letters. Maybe air service has stopped for us and your letters are coming by boat. I’ll keep looking every day. – It is a windy day – looks like it might rain – Had a hard rain last night. Sure is good for lawns, gardens, etc – – We are cleaning house but I am going to take time out to go to Club this afternoon. Arleen Sondergrath is coming to stay with David. – She hasn’t any classes after 1:30 so she can come. I’ll be glad when Mother gets back – I won’t have to get nurse maids then. Mother is coming back in May – Thought the measles were all gone but they seem to be breaking out again. Angus W. has them now, so maybe John will get them yet. The band contest at North Manchester is Sat. and John is hopig he won’t get them till after that if he has to get them. Do hope they won’t catch up with D. – but since he had the immune Globulin may be won’t get them. One of the Zell girls found a nest of snakes so Mark took his hatchet and went snake killing – He calls himself the snake commando now. He really enjoyed himself working on those snakes. There seem to be several around this spring – – The youngest Zell girl is sick. Dr. M. thought she had a kidney infection yesterday. Hilda Barce & Amelia Virgin are working at the coil factory. Ed is still stationed at Kokomo – Recruiting station. Hope you heard from him?

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/09/snake-commando-gladys/

It is still a jabber to me (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-26-43

Dear Daddy – Monday morn and no mail – The last dated was Apr 6 – Maybe some will come tomorrow. Will hope. It is bright sunny warm day – after the rain of yesterday – The ground is very wet so can’t do any work outside – I have the drapes down – cleaned some and airing the rest. Trying to get house cleaning done this week. Everything is dirty after such a long cold winter. I heard this morning that Mr. Steinbaugh died. I didn’t know he was ill, except he always looked pale. Ira D. is still in the hospital – They are giving him sulfa – He needs an appendectomy but has a kidney infection (or something) and they can’t operate yet. I’ll bet he has lost lots of weight since he has been sick. John wrote you a v-mail last night – I told him I doubted if you would be able to read it. He says he can’t write good – he has too much to do – I’ll be glad when he learns to play the oboe so it will sound like something – if it ever does. David is taking a nap – I will take him out this afternoon – He loves to be out in his buggy. He can sit alone now but can’t get up when he topples over. He reaches for things and has a good grasp so we have to be careful where we park him. J. & M. say that he says words – but it is still a jabber to me. He makes lots of sounds so maybe he will talk early. It is about time for J. & M. to come bounding in for lunch. School will soon be out (May 12) – and that should give me lots of help around here. I think I will be able to get along without Clara by then. They are going to help clean house after school this evening.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/08/it-is-still-a-jabber-to-me-gladys/

Easter in Kentland (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-25-43

Dear Daddy – Easter Sunday and about bed time. It rained most of the day but wasn’t cold. David is used to being out of doors and it was too cloudy to try and take him out in the buggy so I walked around in the yard with him. He was a bit disappointed when we came back so soon. I looked our garden over – there is spinach, peas, lettuce & radishes up. Bill F. said we are to have a heavy frost May 15 – The Seed Com House has a weather indicator and that is where he got his information – He says it isn’t always accurate. I didn’t go to Church today – but listened to several radio church programs. It is a little hard to manage the baby’s bath & 10 a.m. feeding. He is as regular as a clock on that 6 a.m. bottle. I hope I get some mail tomorrow. The latest I have is of Apr 6 – Just 4 letters came last week and they were Mar 27-28-29-30. I was cleaning out a place & found the v-mail you wrote to Mark Sept. 20 – 1942 J. & M. just have 3 more weeks of school. John mowed the lawn for the first time yesterday – I think several around here did their first – then it rained so the grass has a nice start. Ours isn’t so nice, but can’t buy lawn fertilizer this year so it will have to get along without. I worked on the shrubbery myself – I separated some of the larger bushes and filled in some blank spaces. If they bloom as good this year will take a picture and send.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/05/07/easter-in-kentland-gladys/

Easter Sunday (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 25, 1943 envelope

: April 25, 1943, p. 1

: April 25, 1943, p. 2

: April 25, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 25, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O.
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m starting this letter before breakfast. Just happened to be up a little early and time on hand. The talked of furniture is finished and I’m using it as a writing table at present – chow time

It is now 24 hours later hence your letter of 26^th now beginning. Things came up that I just couldn’t get to writing again yesterday and I really feel badly but it just couldn’t be helped.

[page 2] I didn’t even have a chance to get my weekly letter out to the folk. It of course being Easter Sunday.

We had fresh meat yesterday and ice cream. I mean those were the unusual things and of course we enjoyed them very much.

I heard indirectly from Dr. P. & W. and everything back there seems to be as tough as it used to be. We just can’ help but feel sorry for them and

[page 3] really mean it.

It is now chow time again I had better get this thing wound up and into the mail before it lays for another day.

So solong
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/2014/05/06/easter-sunday-roscoe/

Tomorrow is Easter (Gladys)

2 Replies

: April 24, 1943 envelope front

: April 24, 1943 envelope back

: April 24, 1943, p. 1

: April 24, 1943, p. 2

: April 24, 1943, p. 3

: April 24, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
4-24-43

Dear Daddy –

Sat. afternoon and the last opera of the season and John as tuned in so I may get some mixed up in this. Mark is out in the yard. It is so warm today wraps are unnecessary. This is about our warmest day so far. Tomorrow is Easter so maybe we will have warm weather now.

The Onargo people set a tree out for Zell’s so I talked to the “boss” and he promised to bring a new tree for us. He isn’t the same one they used to have. Also he promised to trim the east tree that grew so profusely last summer. The tulips are blooming. Bobby F. picked one this morning and we caught him. He promised not to do that again. One day last week he & Jimmy went to Mrs. Perry’s yard and picked her daffodils. Both got whippings but evidently Bobby’s didn’t take.

[pag3 2] I was going to get so much house cleaning done today but Clara got sick and couldn’t come but the boys have been helping. John had D go take a lesson at 11 – so that ended his helping for a while. It is about as much work keeping Mark doing anything as doing it myself but I have been trying all day to get him to help. If I could utilize some of the energy he burns up doing nothing. It rained yesterday so the ground is too wet to get any spading done. I wanted to plant more potatoes but the ground is till too wet – Maybe by Mon – if it doesn’t rain by then we can do some more garden work. This warm weather following the rains this week should bring our garden up. – – – Have been out in the yard taking down clothes – Lucile came and visited a while with Jimmy Ed. He slept in his buggy – David was in his buggy but had had his map so he entertained us. He loves to be out in the yard – stays contented without any attention. I just brought him him and put him down in his bed and he is blowing bubbles.

[page 3] These pictures were taken a few days before he has 7 mo. old – They aren’t as close as I wanted – will try to get a little closer the next time. I wrote you several times that the tax figured down to $157.00 – but just in case those letters don’t reach you I am repeating. We went over all the deductions we could – equipment etc. – I think we took off on everything.

John started the lawn mowing today. I had the lawn mower oiled and sharpened last fall so it is in good shape now. John said it was so heavy & hard to push, so I gave it turn and told him if it was any lighter I would fly with it – Elaborated some, but it isn’t as bad as he tried to make it.

Jim it taking a course now to become a C.P.O. – He doesn’t know how long he will be in school, but several weeks. He said they were moving but didn’t say where, so must be close to where they are now because he didn’t say anything about Thelma coming back.

[page 4]Mentioning the pictures again – you can see Mark was “acting up” when I tried to take the three of them together and John was squinting. I was trying to get D. to hold up and look at the camera so its not so good of me either.

I haven’t had any letters this week except the four that came yesterday dated Mar 27,28, 29 & 30. Last week I had gotten April’s to the 6^th. Maybe I’ll get a bunch Monday. Of course by the time you get this I probably will have had several more.

Tomorrow being Easter Mark wants to color eggs. We brought 6 dz home from C.C. but have used them rather freely so probably won’t feel like we can color many (38¢ dz now). Mark wanted to color enough for the whole neighborhood but we told him that was too much – He would like to have an Easter egg hunt on our lawn. I must get this ready to mail. – It is past 5 P.M. – I have been busy all day and plenty more to do if I want to don’t but I think I’ll leave something til Monday.

Love Mother

[Editor’s note: Based on the notations on the envelope, I am not sure if this letter ever made it to Roscoe.]

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

Good Friday and Easter (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 24, 1943 envelope

: April 24, 1943, p. 1

: April 24, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 24, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco Calif.

Dear Mother,

I’m still in the midst of my furniture building but I’m progressing and think I can finish today if not bothered to much.

Good Friday came and went and Easter tomorrow – Really I wish I could find a nest of bunny eggs. There isn’t any fun in finding a can of powdered eggs. Just isn’t the proper atmosphere for our present tropical abode.

I’m wondering what the Easter parade will be like this

[page 2] year at home – coming as late as it does I imagine it will be warm enough to allow people to don their finery. Here the predominate color and preferable design will no doubt be Khaki with a dash of olive drab now and then.

Last night a commander and I sat and talked until about 1 A.M. Just plain talky talk neither of us realizing that the time was as late, but the moon was out and if we forget our personal grudges of the tropic it really was beautiful.

Must get going,
Love Daddy.

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

7 months old (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-24-43 [4-23-43]

Dear Daddy – Yours of Mar. 27-28-29 & 30 came today but last week I had some Apr. letters – up to 6th – but was glad to get these even if they weren’t so new as last week’s. You had added a P.S. on the 31st letter about the seed and it good thing you did because you asked me to send them in the 30th letter and it came today and as it is I sent them out more than a week ago. David is 7 mo. old today and weighs 18 lbs. Quite a load to carry around. I took him out in the yard yesterday while I worked on the shrubbery. He got a good sun bath and to be sure he did he pulled off his bootees and got his legs tanned good. He has had his bath & breakfast and is about to go to sleep. We went to the Jr. band concert (Clara M. stayed with D. as he goes to bed soon after 6 P.M.) Mark did very good. I am going to try and get him a better horn. I think he would do better. The H.S. band is having a concert next Thurs. nite. John will play the sax but I think he will soon have the oboe mastered enough to play in the band. I will send a regular letter with some pictures today but you probably won’t get it as soon as this. Mr. Wittenberg is in the Navy now and has been sent to Camp Peary (where Jim is now) He is a Lt – Bob Tilton was sent home due to ill health – I think his trouble was allergy. Quite a lot of changing & moving is going on. Luelles sold their place to Chas Dienhart and have moved back to the farm. Dave Beaver is manager of the Monticello store and they live there now.

Love – Mother

From the Baby Book:

: 6th Month – March 23, 1943

: David – 7 months old

: 7th Month – April 23, 1943

March 23, 1943 – David is now six months old, weighs 17 lbs and measures 27″ in height.

Apr 1 – David went with Grandma and me to Wilmington to get Aunt Ruth and Romaine. The next day we all went to Clay City to see Grandma & Grandpa. That was the first time Grandpa had seen David. While visiting Grandma & Grandpa we visited Uncle Ralph and Aunt Fay, Mrs. Steiner and Inez Ley. When we returned home stopped to Visit Uncle Dave and Aunt Marie in Brazil.

Apr 21 – Had first shot for whooping cough and diphtheria

April 23- 1943 – David is now 7 months old and weighs 18 lbs – measures 28″ in height. Sits alone, Sings da-da, tries to snap fingers – He has watched me snap my fingers trying to get his attention while feeding him. David doesn’t like to eat his food from a spoon and sometimes he crys when I feed him

May 13 – Had second shot for whooping cough and diphtheria.