Need a Piano Tuner

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 6 August 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day, another dollar or so the saying goes.  About 11:30 last night the medical officer we've been looking for arrived and this morning Cox's relief also showed up.  Now Dr. Bushyager and Dr. Law are waiting to see who moves.  Bushyager hopes he'll go back to the states as he has eighteen months out.  It won't make any difference to Law.  If he leaves here he'll get another assignment out here.  Well, we'll wait and see.

          I worked all morning as usual and this afternoon. I took a picket boat for a run into town to see about a USO show.  I've got one scheduled for Friday night provided I can find a piano tuner in the meantime.  I've got a line on a couple but I won't know definitely until tomorrow.

          I got back to the ship at 4:30, reported to the captain and retired to my room.  Took a shower and then censored mail and read until time for dinner.  After chow we played cribbage until movies and now here I am.

          I got two letters, a copy of the Outlook and some Navy literature.  So the visitors were uninteresting?  I'm sorry they had to spoil an evening for you.

          My mother's report about Nat's office is surprising.  Now is the time to make money and it can't be done under a set-up such as his.  Somehow I can't feel about things as Jimmie does.  Maybe I'll feel different when I'm closer to the activities.  I feel I'm doing an important and necessary job and though our separation has been a long one we'll make up for it later and in many ways.

          Of course Ruth wants Leon to be there for Harry's 50th.  However if she's going to make such a fuss about it how can she ask everyone to go Dutch.  What's the matter?  Did Harry lose a couple of thousand in the market?  Gosh she's tight.

          Yes dear we got the dope on the plane crash into the Empire State.  As a matter of fact we have a very complete newspaper that comes out every night.

          Tonight's movie was old and lousy.  "Barbary Coast" with Edward G. Robinson, Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea.

          That is thirty for tonight so I'll sign off. Pleasant dreams my Darling.

Love

Gil

Time Magazine article about Ulithi, dated August 6, 1945.

The Movie

Cyst, Fillings, Abscess, Extractions, Treatments, X-rays

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Thursday 8 Feb. 1945, 7:15 PM

My darling,

          Here I am again.  This has been a "bitch" of a day.  The way I was working today would make outsider think I was getting paid for each operation. Began the morning with a nice juicy cyst that almost extended into the nasal cavity.  Then I had nine patients off other ships to take care of.  By 11:40 I had removed a cyst, filled 14 teeth, X-rayed several teeth and extracted a couple more.  After lunch I had a couple of treatments, lanced an abscess and filled another tooth.  By then it was 3:00 PM. I was tired so I just quit.

          I was talking to a commander.  He thought that there was a tax forgiveness on 1943 incomes for men in service during 1944.  Ask Dave if he knows anything about that. After all we paid over $5000 and all or part of that would come in real handy later on.

          Did my letter of yesterday make sense?  I was feeling pretty good as you probably concluded.

          The movie tonight is the "Woman in the Window" with Edward G. Robinson.  It is supposed to be 4.0 I do hope so and also hope that it doesn't rain.

          No mail today.  It has been several days now since any "bird" mail came aboard.  I suppose I'll hit another jackpot in a few days.  Also hope those other packages arrive soon.

          I got the "Esquire," January issue yesterday so I guess that'll be coming through now.

          Sweet, do you remember the long walks we used to take on the ocean front when we lived in Venice?  Those were the carefree days but more are just around the corner.

          Nothing new and nothing different so guess I'll sign off with love and kisses for my whole family.

Devotedly,

Gil