Camp in Okinawa

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 12 October 1945

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, here I am finally settled in a beautiful camp overlooking the sea up in the wooded hills of Okinawa.  The officers here turned their club over to our officers and the officers from two other ships.  Our men are also being well taken care of.  Now our only worry is how soon will we leave this place?

          The storm did a terrific amount of damage and many ships were lost.  To try to describe our abandoning ship would sound weird to you.  Someday I'll tell you about it.

          I went back to the ship today.  The stern was completely broken off and submerged.  Sick bay, including my office, can only be gotten into at low tide.  At high tide it is completely flooded so all the equipment and supplies are a total loss.  All my uniforms are a mess.  All I took off was some underwear and a few souvenirs that somehow others overlooked.  It seems that as soon as the storm abated, sailors from other ships came aboard.  Before the six officers and fifteen men still aboard could drive them off, they went through everything.  Anyway, who cares?  I'm safe and sound and the Navy will repay me for my losses.  Because I have such a little time left to serve, I'll not replace most of the stuff I lost and try to get by with one suit of blues and a few odds and ends.

          I wrote letters to you, Libby and my mother the night before the storm, but I doubt that they ever reached the post office.  It they did they were probably lost there because the PO ain't no mo!  I did write my mother a short note the day before yesterday (when I wrote you) and I'll write her again tonight.

          So Darling, all is well that ends well.  Goodnight and please don't worry about me.  No use writing me either because I won't ever get the mail.  I'll keep writing just the same.  Love to you and my girls.

Devotedly,

Gil

Remains of Post Office

Photograph Album That Survived

Officers' Mess

Shipwrecked

AMERICAN RED CROSS

11 October 1945

Dearest Eleanor,

          Now your husband is a real shipwrecked sailor.  Another typhoon hit this area two days ago (I think).  I've lost all track of time. Because we were not fixed up for sea we ran into trouble again.  This time we hit a reef and had to abandon ship.  I left the ship, down a line and onto a raft and hit the beach.  Outside of a couple of scratches on my legs I'm okay, so don't worry about me.  Most installations on Okinawa were wrecked so we are all living in makeshift quarters.  The first night I slept on the floor of a galley, but last night I did manage a camp cot. 

          All the clothes and gear I have is what I had on and some greens that I got ashore.  We've made arrangements to take a few of us back aboard to salvage a few essentials.  Everything else is gone either through pilferage or due to the storm.  We had three serious casualties that were flown to Guam.  A few had minor injuries. All are out of sick bay now.  The food consists of C or K rations and I can't say I care for it.  If I have to subsist on this food long I'm sure to lose weight.

          No one knows how long it'll be before we are evacuated.  I think I'll be home before I would have otherwise.

          Here are a few things you should know.  Don't worry if my mail isn't regular.  I'll write as often as possible.  Don't write me any more unless you get a new address from me.  All my mail will be held up.  Even the post office here is gone.

          I've got to close now because I want this letter to get off as CB (Seabee) mail.  Don't worry darling.  I'll try to write again tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Ocelot survivors the "morning after"

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