March 21, 1944

March 21, 1944 Honey, I expect you were glad of the opportunity to work at the hospital for Rowena, since it gave you an excellent opportunity to look about and size up the situation pretty well. Was hard to believe that the collections have held up so well during these months that I have been gone but the farmers are making money hand over fist and of course will pay on the line for everything. Marty Bascom wrote me that farm land is up 50% and that farm and lake property are now at a premium. So believe that you have made an exceptionally fine buy in the farm and lakeshore property - if you wanted to you could probably double your money by selling it now but wouldn't know what to tell you to do with the money. How much did Phil pay for the McCarthy farm? I just happened to remember that Gilbert bought the place for $50.00 per acre in the depression in 1932 I feel pretty good today but it about kills me to have a B.M. My knee is doing O.K. You will probably be moving out to the farm soon - Was glad to get Dick's address will write to him real soon - He must be doing a great job up there - All my love Roddy

March 26, 1944

March 26, 1944

My Dearest Wife.

I am up and around the ward now with the aid of crutches and Maj Godfrey who operated upon me has been very nice to allow me to help a little with the cases, so I am gaining a little knowledge even though I am still a patient. The work with the new drug penicillin is marvelous, in the ward north to [sic] us it is being used early in the treatment of compound fractures (these expand to the air) Ordinarily one has to wait several weeks before attempting bone plating - the wound must be completely healed - Now after 2 or 3 days on the drug the fracture is bone plated and the wound closed secondarily at the same time and the results have been spectacular - It will save months of hospitalization for the men and the danger of osteomyelitis is cut down to the minimum - These experiments are being tried only in a selected number of places and this hospital is one of the designated spots - High ranking medical officers with big names in medicine are here to supervise the work so I feel rather fortunate to be able to observe this work first hand. This without a doubt is one of the greatest contributions to medicine during this war and will have far reaching effects in the revision of treatments of compound fractures. Love you dearest, Roddy

After March 26, 1944

Honey

The mail hasn't come from the 52nd Station Hospital since last Monday so I am anxiously awaiting some mail from you, when you are not so occupied there is more time to think about home. Have made a nice recovery to date but Maj. Godfrey tells me today that I will have to have my shoe built up a bit to protect the knee joint for a while and he will place me on permanent limited duty which means that I will be stationed at a fixed hospital in the same capacity as I am now occupying so I plan to get back to duty in about 2 weeks. I certainly get restless lazing around as I haven't had any experience like this before. The war news is much more encouraging and everyone here is quite optimistic.

Love you sweetheart and love and kisses to you all Roddy

March 27, 1944

3/27/44
52nd Station Hospital

My Dearest Wife.

I think that Ben and Helen have been very considerate of you and the children and I entirely agree with you that we should spend more time together with the children and will want them included in most all of our activities. I have always liked them individually but thought they were a little hard to get acquainted with since we had nothing in common with them - perhaps that had been all my fault - but the fact that they have been so nice to you in my absence has proven them to be real friends (I could just hear you telling them about all the surgical experience I am getting - with the idea in mind they would pass it along - Now didn't you do that Honey? Will have to brush up a bit on my O.B. and Gyn business for I haven't seen a female patient in 2 years - it would almost scare me to death to have to deliver a baby after doing straight surgery for 2 years but am sure it will all come back very quickly. We are having nice spring weather now and am feeling real good - Weigh 190 lbs now and outside a few more grey hairs am getting younger every day. Devotedly Roddy.

March 27, 1944

March 27, 1944

My Dearest Wife.

Received your letter of March 12 today and I am amazed at your administrative ability. How in the world you have been able to complete the income tax returns in such a fine manner is beyond me - I have never realized that you have possessed all these qualities before. Was apparent that most of the tax for this year will be forgiven and this will allow us to file up a surplus for the 1944 tax. Yes I would like to have the indebtedness on all our insurance policies cleared up especially the one with the Equitable Life ? Society of N.S. for this will reduce the amount of interest - By the way interest paid on life insurance policies is deductible. Was such a grand feeling to begin to have some financial security and I feel that you begin to have done more in this respect in 2 years than I have been able to accomplish in a life time - We can now concentrate on educational programs for the children and our new home when I return and it would seem that eventually we should have a nice little nest egg Love you sweetheart Roddy

March 28, 1944

March 28, 1944

My Dearest Wife

The breakdown of a Majors salary is somewhat as follows. Base Pay $250.00, 10% Overseas Pay $25.00. Rental Allowance $110.00 and Ration Allowance $60.00 - Total Salary overseas $445 per month. Insurance on $10,000 is $8.10 per month and 75 cents per day for rations is deducted each month. So on this basis I will be able to increase the allotment to $350.00 per month and this will leave me about $55.00 per month which will be more than is needed since there is very little to spend money for over here - It costs approximately $15.00 per month for incidentals at the apartment such as laundry, extra food and an occasional bottle of wine. I want to save every penny that I can for we will have many places to put it on my return home, that is why I would like to have all indebtedness removed from the insurance policies, so if bad luck should over take us we always have a ready source of cash available - Isn't it a wonderful feeling to have financial security Dear? I love you Roddy

March 28, 1944

3/28/44
52nd Station Hospital

My Dearest Wife

This has been a nice warm spring day and have been out on the porch quite a lot and the fresh air is very invigorating. I can imagine by now you have begun plans for the coming spring and summer at the farm - and hope that you will not attempt such a strenuous program this year It would be better for Don to get some kind of a job and have Bill take care of the chores and perhaps the lake shore paper route. It doesn't seem right to have you work so hard dear - I know it is better to keep your mind occupied but not to the extent that it may injure your health.

I have had many interesting conversations with officers and enlisted men concerning the conduct of the war at the front of late and it would be a great help on the home front if more of the actual experiences were available to you - We all feel that Ernie Pyle's column comes as near the truth as anything that is being published and all the men have a very high regard for him

I will not have a chance to change my allotment for a while but will plan to send the extra money home by money order as I certainly do not have any use for it over here All My Love Roddy. continued

March 29, 1944

3/29/44
52nd Station Hospital

My Dearest Wife,

I forgot to mention yesterday that Phil should increase his monthly pay as of Feb. 29 1944 to $418oo per month. I have deducted my $25oo over seas pay for I have to pay for my own room and subsistence so that should make it about even. Will you be sure to tell him this for I think it better for you to speak to him directly in my behalf in this matter - I will increase the allotment to $350 as soon as I can get to a finance office. I am doing considerable work around the ward now so in reality I want loose so much time. Many of the battle casualties have been before a board and will soon be on their way home. Did you read the article in the Reader's Digest on how these men should be treated upon their arrival home? It will require a lot of psychology to get them rehabilitated. I hope you and the children are well - I am fine but haven't been so light in many years - I hope I can keep my weight down for I feel much better - I love you Sweetheart Roddy.

MS 1048 - Donald F. Rodawig Papers | List of Transcripts
Manuscripts by Subject | Family Collections | U.S. in Wartime