Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert
Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O.
San Francisco
Monday, 26 March 1945,
10:30 PM
Dearest Eleanor,
This has been
one busy day. Believe it or not this is the first free time I've had since I
got up this morning.
I worked all
morning and at 12:30 I took a liberty part of eighty-eight men ashore for a
little recreation. It rained most of the
afternoon and by the time we got back to the ship at 5:15 we were all
thoroughly soaked.
I peeled off
my wet clothes and after a hot shower dressed for dinner. Just as I finished eating the exec informed
me that Claude Thornhill and his show had been obtained for us for tonight and
to get ready.
The first
lieutenant got his carpenters together and a small platform stage was rigged. I
got the electricians busy on lighting and got our PA system hooked up. For a backdrop we hung a number of colorful
signal flags. We were all ready at 7:45
and that was really making time.
I met the
entertainers on the quarterdeck and took them below. As I wrote before Jackie Cooper, Bobby Riggs
(Mary Lou imitator of the radio) and several others are in the show. Claude Thornhill was an arranger for
Castellanez (?spelling) as well as a band leader in his own right. His musicians are taken from many well known
bands such as Goodman, Weeks, and others.
The star attraction was Dennis Day and he really is good. He is an ensign. After the show he came up to
the wardroom and we sat around and talked until his boat came for him. By the way, after the show we served ice cream
to all hands. Now here I am.
I hit the
jackpot today. This morning, I got eight
letters from you and one from your mother. When I came down to my office to
write to you a few minutes ago I found two V-mails that came this afternoon,
one from Libby and the other from Edward Rubin of the B'nai B'rith.
Linda is
getting to be quite the young lady.
Movies on Saturday, dancing school and soon the piano. Well I'm hoping to be there when she starts
in the fall.
You mention
Sophie and Fay several times. Are they
the two service wives you recently met?
Anyway I'm glad you've found some new congenial acquaintances.
Such
dreams! I have only one girl friend and
you know who she is. No matter where I
go when I get back my three girls are all going there with me.
What about my
girls' Mommy? Well gee whiz can't you
wait and be surprised? If you can't
you'll have to anyway.
So Jerry and
Marty are still feudin'. Well it's a
small world with many "small" people.
"The
Angels Sing" and "A Song to Remember" are both very enjoyable
and I'm glad you got to see them.
I didn't know
Dr. Lewis was back. Guess one of your
letters telling me more about it will bounce in one of these days.
I can't tell
you what kind of shots we got but it really doesn't matter now, does it?
I really
didn't enjoy the American Weeklies much. Really, I have plenty of reading matter so
please don't send any more unless there are some novelty books or magazines you
think I'd enjoy.
The Coast
Guard pharmacist you mentioned--does he know the Ocelot or is he just speaking
generally? Don't let it get you down
dear. He could be wrong.
Well this has
been a long winded letter. I hope I
didn't tire you out. I'll sign off now
as it's 11:20 and I should turn in.
Good night Sweetheart
and the next time dream about us being together.
Loving you always,
Gil
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