Pray VJ Day Is Here

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday August 12, 1945, 11:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling here is your tourist hubby again.  Today being Sunday I loafed around all morning.  At 11:15 I went to my room to read.  I had just sat down when in walked "Bud" Schurr, Sara's brother.  Now last night's mystery is solved.

          I had arranged to go ashore with a commander.  He was to pick me up after lunch so we took Bud along.  We covered as many miles as I had on Friday and even had time to stop at one of the clubs for a few drinks.  Bud had flown in from Manila and is on his was to New Guinea.  If the war ends, he'll probably fly back to Manila instead of going to New Guinea.

          We did a lot of talking and reminiscing.  The terrain around here is never changing.  Thick swamps and jungles are alongside the dirty, rough roads.  In every clearing there are native shacks with natives of course.

          We got back to town at 6:15, dropped Bud off, got our boat and returned to the Ocelot.  It has been more than ten years since I last saw Bud. If I hadn't had the message from him yesterday I wouldn't have recognized him.  He is much older looking and has put on weight (as have others you know).  However he does look well in spite of his three years out here.

          I got aboard at 7:30. The stewart fixed me a turkey plate with ice cream for dessert.  Then to the movies.  We had "Affairs of Susan" with Joan Fontaine.  It was a most enjoyable comedy.

          By the way, the book "Generation of Vipers" has several good chapters in it.  Although it's non-fiction you'd enjoy parts of it.

          The mail brought a lone letter from your mother, so I have nothing more to say tonight.

          Goodnight, my love, until tomorrow.

Yours forever,

Gil

P.S.  Now that we have submitted a counter proposal to Japan, the war should be over tomorrow.  I pray VJ Day is really here so that I may be home soon with you, my sweet.

Scenes from Leyte

Sailors 

Natives

Animal Life

Nightly Movie

The Peace That Isn't

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday, 11 August 1945, 12:10 AM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Here is your night owl husband again.  Last night's news hopped me up so much that it was 2:00 AM before I fell asleep and I awoke at 6:45 AM.  I worked this morning and the let down about the peace, that isn't yet, was very evident all over the ship.

          This afternoon I dozed for an hour and at 4:00 PM. I got a message from a Captain Schurr asking me to meet him at the landing in town.  I immediately sent him a message and arranged to be there at 7:30 PM.  I went over in a picket boat.  No Captain Schurr. I checked with the communications office and found my message hadn't been received yet and that Schurr is an Army captain.  I can't place him unless he is related to Silvia and Sara.  Anyway I left without seeing him.  No sooner had we gotten out of the inner harbor that a storm hit.  So we turned back and waited over an hour for it to abate.  Though it was still quite rough and raining at 10:45 PM, we got underway again and got back without any mishap.  All I can show for the trip is two hours of lost sleep.

          We had a real treat for dinner tonight.  Fresh cantaloupe and ice cream.  It was good. Yum, yum.

          I got two letters from my Sweet today so here goes.  Yes the sub base had some wonderful things, but so expensive.  All stateside stuff that could be bought for less money at home.  I feel badly about your attitude concerning our anniversary.  I didn't forget and really the amount of time I put in plenty of time on the lapel gadget. Had I sent you $100, you'd have blown it, no doubt.  Money doesn't grow on trees.  No, not even on lieutenant's trees.

          About the cake, I just happened to mention that on the 25th I'd be married eleven years.  The baker overheard it.  So without a word to anyone he baked a cake and left it for me in my office.  It served eighty men, so it wasn't small.

          No more for now Darling, I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Goodnight with love and kisses.

Yours forever,

Gil