Boxing

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 25 March 1945, 6:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, here I am again.  Today for a change I put in an honest day's work. I saw eight patients this morning and two more this afternoon.  Besides that I spent some time digging out additional information for my annual and quarterly reports. Now the Dental Corps has more control over its administration. Seeing as I am the senior dental officer aboard I have more reports to make out (ahem!).  It's a good thing there aren't any more dental officers or I'd probably be junior.

          I was beginning to run low on shorts so I bought a half dozen more today (35 cents each).  It has been raining or threatening to rain all day so I spent my leisure time in my room reading and censoring mail.

          There was no mail today for a change.  I do wish the service would settle down so that I'd get one or two letters every day instead of all at one time.  Well, I shouldn't complain, I still get more than most aboard this ship.

          It's hard to realize that next week is Passover.  All days are alike and as a matter of fact I'd never know it was Sunday except the chaplain is around.  Talking about chaplains, one has been assigned to our ship and I'm looking for him to arrive most any time now.  Won't I be glad.  Then the job of Welfare Officer and Librarian will be taken away from me and given to someone who has the time and training to do a real job of it and at the same time give me more opportunity to do what I'm here to do.

          We finally got a boxing ring built on one of the hatches.  While we are waiting for the chaplain, I'll try and promote some bouts before movies.

          By the way, in one of the letters yesterday you asked if I wanted some fruits and nuts.  I've still got some left and have been laying off them because I've gained a couple pounds lately.  There isn't much chance for exercise but I still eat two meals a day and even that seems too much.  So the answer is "no thank you."

          The movie tonight is "Fighting Lady" a picture about the carrier, "Yorktown."  It is very much like the movie we saw of the flying fortress "The----Belle." I can't remember the rest of the name.  We saw it in Diego together.  Also it is rated as excellent.

          I'm going to sign off now.  Good night, my love, my Sweet.  Till tomorrow with love and kisses.

Yours alone,

Gil

Ocean Spray Blew Over the Gunwales

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Wednesday 14 February 1945 11:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweetheart, how is my Valentine tonight?  I began this letter at 7:00 PM. I hadn't gotten any further than the heading when I got a call to leave the ship.  You see the ship's officers were invited to a party. I couldn't leave until the doctor got back.  Well as soon as I got word that he was aboard I was off in a flash.

          It was a pretty nice. By the time I arrived almost everyone there was as tight as hoot owls.  I proceeded to try to catch up but gave up when I saw how impossible it was.  I understand 70 bottles of whiskey and 12 cases of beer were consumed so you can see it must have been quite a party.

          Anyway we got back to the ship at a few minutes past nine.  I was drenched to the skin from the ocean spray that blew over the gunwales of the boat we came back in.  I had a cup of coffee and went down to my office to write this letter.  The doctor and a commander were "shooting the breeze" so I joined them. A few moments ago they decided it was time to break it up so here I am.

          Wasn't quite as busy today.  Had a full program but I wasn't rushed and was able to work along leisurely.  Cleaned up for the day at 3:00 PM.

          Today's mail consisted of a letter from you and a card from my mother. I've heard lots of talk about "Fighting Lady" and hope we have that movie aboard soon.  I also liked "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier."

          I'm not at all surprised about Linda's report card.  She takes after her Mommy and Daddy so why shouldn't the report be good.  I did write to her in yesterday's letter and will write again next week.

          I had hoped your mother was completely recovered by now.  A week or so ago, she wrote me she was better. Wish someone could prevail on her to see a doctor.  Self medication especially with sulfa drugs is dangerous and should be stopped.

          I see you are having trouble laying "Forever Amber" down.  It is the kind of a book you don't want to stop reading.  See, I told you so.

          I'm glad you are going ahead with summer vacation plans.  A change will do all concerned a lot of good. 

          I didn't mention last night's movie.  It was "Face in the Fog" and it was just as well not to have mentioned it.  Tonight's picture was an oldie, Carol Lombard and Charles Laughton in "They Got What They Were After."  I didn't see it because I went to the party.

          So darling another of my monologues is just about finished.  However it would be incomplete unless I told you how much I love you.  How much?  Well how deep is the ocean? How high is the sky?  That Sweet will give you a rough idea about "how much."

          Good night honey, it is past midnight and time I turned in.

Yours alone

Gil