Showing Off Photo of Glamorous Wife

Tuesday, 19 September 10:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello my Sweet.  Got you picture today and have been showing my glamorous wife off to everybody.  One look at your photo and I knew I'd better get home soon or else.

          Since this morning I've been busy running around on some duties and that damned sun is hot.  For dinner tonight our executive officer had two guests.  One was a Jewish chaplain, the one who conducted the services here.  Didn't want to go to the movie tonight because I had seen it before.  "The White Cliffs of Dover.  All through the picture I kept thinking of you.  Do you remember when we saw it in Diego? Anyway I don't think it's the type of picture to show men overseas and from the Captain down all of us agreed on that.

          Well darling, on the day I stay aboard there is little to write about.  Just routine and that is all.  I did see the chap I sewed up and he looks swell.  Nothing interesting outside of that.  Will finish in the morning.  Good night, darling.

Wednesday September 20, 1944, 8:25 AM

Good morning Sweetheart,

          Did you sleep well?  I read the August Reader's Digest until midnight and then turned the light out.  I had hardly closed my eyes when it was 7:00 AM and time to get up again.  It seems the bugs were biting again last night.  We all have a few welts to show for the attack but they must have just taken little nips out of me because I slept right on through.

          So you've got nothing to do at night but bathe and stay clean.  Well I shower at least once every day because I have to.  I perspire so much that I'd probably smell to high heaven if I didn't.  I hasn't rained much here during the day but it rains every night and when I come out on deck in the morning everything is wet and fresh looking.

          My love, I'm going on liberty today.  Will check the proofs of my photos, look around some more for those books you mention and then?  Bye my Sweet, till tonight.

Loving you more & more.

Gil

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

 

 

Our Ship Won't Arrive Anyplace Until It's Safe

Tuesday 19 September 1944, 8:25 AM

Good Morning Sweetheart,

          I never believed in mental telepathy but I do now.  Either Sunday or yesterday I recalled our visit with Belle and Charlie.  In the letter that I received from you yesterday you did the same.  On my liberty yesterday I went to a bookstore looking for something suitable for Linda and saw those books you mentioned in the same letter.  However I hadn't seen the letter until I returned.  There must be something to this telepathy.

          Worked all morning yesterday.  Had lunch aboard and then went on liberty.  Stopped at the Chaplain's Office to locate Wally and Al.  Wally is nowheres near here.  Al is at a station some distance from the base but I'll arrange to see him soon.  Then I went and had some pictures taken.  Will see the proofs on Wednesday (tomorrow) and then will wait a week for the finished photo.  Then I did the shopping I mentioned.  By that time I was pretty warm so I went to the beach and had a cold drink.  As I walked into one of the hotels another familiar face greeted me.  You may remember the name, but I've forgotten.  But you must remember the officer who lived around the corner at Diego with whom I tried to get together and share rides to the base when my schedule was changed.  Well he just arrived on the 14th and was on his first liberty.  He will be based here and seemed quite lonesome and lost.

          I hope Linda's stomach is completely settled now.  If she has another spell take her to Harry Sieger's and have him check her over.  Dear, don't worry about Leon's ideas.  Though we are going places alright, our ship won't arrive until it is quite safe.  I can't tell you why but believe me I know.

          Have to go to work now.  Will write again this evening after the movie.  By the way, saw Henry Aldrich in "Henry's Little Secret" last night.  Very funny and refreshing.  See it.  Bye my sweet.  Do you remember us and the Weinsteins at Arrowhead one afternoon in our cabin?  After the war let's go back, but alone.  I love you dear.

Your husband

Gil

Lt. (j.g.) G. Steingart

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

 One of the photos