Lieut. Gilbert
Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O.
San Francisco
Wednesday 25 July 1945,
5:00 PM
Dearest Sweetheart,
Happy Anniversary
Darling. I know that next year and
forever after you and I will be together to celebrate this and all the other
happy holidays of the year.
Today has
been another scorcher. The sun has been
smiling all day and I've been frowning. Wish
it would rain and rain. Then I'd be no
wetter than I am now but I would be much cooler.
I worked all
morning but I didn't see any patients this afternoon. I got out some official letters to the Bureau
requesting increases in allotments for our library and recreation. Then I found a cool spot and just sat there
and talked with others who had the same idea that I had.
I have a few
minutes before showering and dressing for dinner so here I am. I got one love letter today so I really can't
complain. Of all on this ship, I have the most loving, most faithful
correspondent and everyone else knows it.
The war news
is good but frankly I don't think the war will be over until the middle of
1946. I was optimistic up till now but
if the Japs were going to quit before total defeat they would have done so
before now. It is evident that they'll
have to be defeated decisively and I don't believe any large scale invasion can
be expected until next spring. It took
eighty-seven days to take Okinawa. Japan itself will certainly be at least
as tough to take. So my guess is July
1946 for VJ day. I truly hope that I'm
wrong this time and that it is sooner.
You are
constantly running into snags with you vacation plans but I do hope that
everything gets ironed out before you get this letter.
Yes Goldfarb
is a friend of the captain. At present he is underway to a new station. However this place is much pleasanter than
where he'll be.
No your
interpretation about the Flag set up is wrong, at least as it stands now. There is nothing definite and new scuttlebutt
comes out daily. It varies so I'm
ignoring it for the time being.
No one could
interest me in regular Navy with less than a captain's commission. That is
impossible and is probably why I set that as a minimum. Frankly I've seen too much inefficiency and
waste both of money and manpower to be interested. I'm not one to cow tow to another because he
outranks me. Civilian first class for
me. I'm doing my job as well and as
efficiently as possible but I'm ready for a change in my status anytime it
comes and the sooner the better.
No more for
now Darling so I'll sign off. I haven't
told you "I love you" lately but that is only because words fail me
when I want to tell you how much. Would
that you were near me and I wouldn't have to say a word. My actions would be all that you'd need. Goodnight Darling and pleasant dreams.
Your loving husband,
Gil
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