High and Dry on Reef

Letter misdated--Correct date 18 September 
Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Tuesday 19 September 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello darling here is your shipwrecked sailor on his ship sitting high and dry on a reef.  Everything is pretty much under control but we won't know what gives until we are pulled off the reef.

          The flag moved off today and until we get off we'll really live in style.  All to myself, I have an excellent stateroom on the bridge deck with an adjoining toilet and shower.  All these staterooms have a two way intercom system.  All I have to do to speak to any of the other officers is to flash and switch and carry on.

          All afternoon, we had a couple of tugs trying to get us off the reef, but they couldn't budge us even an inch.  Guess they'll put about two more on in the morning.  Four should be able to do the job okay.

          In the meantime, all we can do is sit back and take things easy.  We only have about two hundred men aboard.  Most of them are all fixed up dentally speaking so I have very little to do.

          Again today, there was no mail.  Guess it'll stack up for several days and then I'll hit the jackpot again.

          After yesterday's letter, this one will probably seem very short and uninteresting.  But there is nothing more to talk about.

          Good night Sweet. Love and kisses to all my three gals.

Devotedly,

Gil

Letter Misdated