Smoking a Cigar

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 13 June 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello my Darling, here is that guy again.  At present I'm smoking a cigar so draw your own conclusions.

          At 8:00 AM three of us shoved off for town. Each had with a particular errand.  I had the job of lining up a USO show. Though I got nothing definite I did get a promise for next week.  So I'll have to check up on it later.  We got back at noon just in time for lunch.

          After chow, just to make a day of it, I joined a group going over to the club for a few drinks and now you can see the results.  We got back at 6:00 and had a late dinner at 6:30.  Someone gave me a cigar.  Who I don't know but I'm smoking it anyway.

          When I returned, I had expected some mail. No luck.  Hope tomorrow does better by me.

          The movie tonight is Bob Hope in "My Favorite Blonde."  I think I've seen it before but hope it will be just as good a second time.

          We still don't have a copy of that particular ALVAV but I know it's out and the communications officer promised to have a copy for the old man (captain) tomorrow.  Then I'll be a lieutenant officially.

          Nothing more for now so I'd better sign off before I say something foolish.  "Nite-nite" my Sweet. I'll do better tomorrow night.

Love,

Gil

Gil in front of Officers' Club

Trench Mouth

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 27 January 1945, 7:15 PM

My Darling,

          This being Saturday, we didn't work all morning, standing by for Captain's Inspection.

          After lunch I read for awhile from "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and at 1:30 PM went to my office for a little work.  Filled three teeth, qualified a man for sub duty, treated a case of pyorrhea and one of trench mouth.  I'm surprised at the small percentage of trench mouth aboard.  In San Diego a large percentage of the patients were afflicted.  Guess my hammering away at those that had it did a lot of good.

          I was talking to one of the Jewish boys aboard, a Sam Shapiro, and learned that he is a nephew of the "Sakalids" (spelling may be wrong) who live in the Paloma Apartments.  You must know the people.  As I recall, Mr. Sakalid is a very loud and coarse person.  Shapiro is a fine chap and is well liked by the officers and enlisted men.  He caught up with us in Pearl; he had been on leave and visited California.  In fact he seemed to recall meeting my mother, but wasn't quite sure.

          No mail today but after the load I got the last two days I wasn't looking for any.

          I enjoyed the Bob Hope "Princess and Pirate" move last night.  Tonight we have a stinkeroo (I think) entitled "Hi Beautiful" with Noah Berry. Jr. and Martha O'Driscoll.  Guess I'll go anyway.

          Sweet there is nothing more for today.  Do you remember those happy days when you and I went rumba dancing at the Miramar on Saturday nights?  We'll have to practice up on our steps together when I get back.

          Good night darling.  Love and kisses to all my three girls.

Love,

Gil

          

Put Mail Orderly On Report

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 26 January 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          I really wasn't expecting any mail but I got two letters and a card with your lip imprint on it.  All were postmarked the 19th, that's only six days to get here.

          This morning was a rather busy one for me.  By 11:00 AM I had done thirteen fillings, one extraction and qualified two men for submarine duty.

          This afternoon was field day, so while Alexander was scrubbing and polishing I "crapped out" in my rack and finished reading "Forever Amber."  What a gal!  I suppose you are wondering why I haven't begun "Fountainhead" yet.  I want to finish the books I've been reading for some time.  When I get them from the library, I must read them and get them back into circulation.  "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is the last on my list and then I'll read my own books, "Fountainhead" and "The Apostle."

          This afternoon the mail orderly got out of line with me and I put him on report.  The captain held "mast" on him and gave him fifty hours extra duty.  That fellow is very arrogant and mean. He is disliked by the whole crew.  I understand that after today's episode we're going to get rid of him.

          Now to your letter.  I'm sorry that Norma has been acting up at night lately.  I do hope it is a very temporary indisposition and that by the time you get this letter she'll be all over it.

          It doesn't look like we'll be leaving here soon, but there is still a good chance of our returning sometime between April and June.  Tomorrow this may change again.

          You seem to be getting plenty of teaching now.  Between our combined salaries we should come out ahead on the deal.  On the first of the month I'll have $344 due me.  I'll draw $44 to pay my mess bill ($30) and $14 will be pin money for the month.

          Go ahead with you Arrowhead plans.  If and when we get back and you're up there I'll arrange to join you there.

          "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "To Have and Have Not" are both worth seeing.  Tonight we have "Princess and Pirate" with Bob Hope.  Having a flag aboard does help us get better pictures and other comforts as well.

          Don't be afraid of your letters being dull or too long.  Every word in them is precious.  Believe me without mail I'd go nuts out here.

          Glad you liked the necklaces.  There are numerous varieties shells and your necklace will be of a different variety (when I get a long enough chain.).  I'm going to make a charm bracelet with a variety of shells and send it on right away.  I'll see what I can do with the other chains you sent.

          Yes Ambie is the guy who lost his appendix.  He is an engineer, about 31 or 32 years old and a lieutenant.  He is addressed as Mr. Hansen, not lieutenant.

          I couldn't explain about "Philippine Victories" but nevertheless that is the case. I'm going to sign off darling with remember the night of July 25, 1934 at the Roosevelt Hotel?  How about having our second honeymoon there?  OK it's a date.

Love,

Gil

You May Not Get Mail Regularly

Lt (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

             USS Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
              Sunday 22 October 1944, 9:05 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, did you have a pleasant Sunday?  Today is the day I usually spent with my girls. Oh well, after this is all over there'll be lots of Sundays for you and me with our two girls to keep us busy.

          This has been a rather quiet day.  I worked all morning and part of the afternoon.  About 3 o'clock I broke out a new phonograph we got and some recordings of radio programs.  We had a little trouble getting the machine hooked up but finally did.  Then we tried out a few of the programs and they will be swell when radio reception isn't favorable.

          The movie this evening was a real "oldie" but quite enjoyable--Bob Hope and Betty Hutton in "Let's Face It."  Although I had seen it before I got a lot of laughs out of it so it must have been good entertainment.

          What did you do today? Did you go over to Ruth's and have dinner there or is that program discontinued? I had expected to see Al today but it was impossible to reach him and I had the medical duty aboard.

          Please darling, be patient come what may.  You may not get all the answers and get mail regularly but believe me I love you, always have and always will.

          For a change,  this has been a cool and comfortable day.  A few clouds in the sky do make a difference especially when they get in the way of the sun.

          Sweetheart do you remember how you always had to prod me to write a letter.  Well dear after the war you are once again appointed official correspondent for the Steingarts.

          Good night darling and pleasant dreams.  Love and kisses to you and a couple of hugs for our girls.

Lovingly

Gil

 

 

On Watch

Tuesday 18 January 1944

1900 o'clock (7:00 P.M.)

Dear Eleanor,

          Good news--will be home Friday night.  I'm on "watch" tonight.  When you're on watch on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night you get 72 hours leave.  Watch means that you're on duty all night but probably nothing will happen.  We have a nice bed and the corpsmen take care of it.

          Bob Hope and his troop are on the base tonight, and I can hear the broadcast over the public speaker system.

          I finally got all my papers taken care of and began work this afternoon.  I started with what we call the "carriage trade," a commander.  Today, I visited with the men at the auxiliary clinic on the other side of the base.  Things are very quiet now because there aren't many ships here.  They come and go all the time.  When they're here, patients must be taken care of and in a hurry.

          Everyone here says I'll have a hell of a time getting back to the base by train or bus on Sunday night.  Men begin to line up at 4:00 P.M. and all they talk about is getting back.  I'll probably have to pick up a "junk heap" soon.

          Note my address on the envelope.

Love to all,

Gil