How About a Kiss

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 6 February 1945, 7:00 PM

My Dearest,

          How is my Darling today?  How's about a kiss?  Gee thanks, Honey, but take it easy, what will the censor say?

          Worked all morning as usual.  Got to my room about 11:15 AM.  Surprise! Mail! I finally got the package containing socks, "vitamin pills," American Mercury Magazines etc.  I also got a beautiful leather picture frame folder from Deb and Dave.  In addition I got some Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Bulletins, the National Jewish Monthly and a greeting card from the Goodfriends mailed on November 30.  Hope the rest of the packages come through soon.

          The socks are not longies and are swell.  If you haven't done so already how about half a dozen more.  Got hold of an "Omnibus," a magazine with best seller condensations.  It had "Immortal Wife" and I read it between 4:15 and 5:30 PM this evening.  Then I censored some mail, showered and dressed for dinner.  Enjoyed the breeze topside and here I am.

          Now that I have some coloring pencils, I'll do another Valentine to add to your collection.  I finished "Fountainhead" last night and I must say all the characters are most unusual.  It's hard to believe people would act like they are portrayed.  However it was most enjoyable and easy to read.  In fact it was about 1:30 AM when I finished and turned the light out.

          Darling do you remember when I wanted to read at night and you wanted to turn the lights out and go to sleep?  Well I'll let you turn the lights out but I don't know about the rest.

          Good night honey until tomorrow.

Loving you always,

Gil

         

          

Reading Fountainhead

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 5 February 1945, 7:10 PM

My Darling,

          Here I am once more.  Just the usual routine this morning.  Worked on patients until 11:15 AM and then I read a little from "Fountainhead."

          After lunch, except for an hour in my office, I spent the afternoon listening in on a court martial.  It was very interesting but I can't tell you anything about it.

          At 4:30 PM I went to my room, stripped down to my skivvies and read some more until 5:15 PM.  Then I censored a few letters, showered and dressed for dinner.

          After eating we stood up on the bridge and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze.  Thought for sure it would rain, but the clouds passed on with very few drops coming down.  We have "See You in St. Louis" tonight so I hope it doesn't rain during the movie.

          There was no mail for me today so I have nothing more to talk about.

          All kinds of talk as to how long we'll be here but none of it seems reliable.  Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

          By the way Sweet, have I told you I love you lately?  Well I do and I miss you too.  Poetic aren't I, but very corny too.

          Darling do you remember when you'd bring me my dinner and ride with me the summer I operated a tram on the ocean front?  That was ages ago and we were just two happy kids in love.  Well, we're not kids anymore but we're still that way about each other.

          I'm going to sign off now Honey.  Good night.  I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Valentine Someone Dreamed Up

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 3 February 1945, 10:15 P.M.

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just got back from the movies.  We had "The Thin Man Comes Home" with William Powell and Myrna Loy.  It was pretty good.  Last night's "Carolina Blues" was very poor but it did help pass a couple of hours what with shorts and such.

          Today was an unusually hot day with very little breeze to make it comfortable.  Did very little work this morning.  Was standing by for inspection.  However I made up for it this afternoon by seeing six patients.

          Was through with work around four.  Had a cold, refreshing "coke" and then retired to my room, stripped down to my "skivvies" and read a little from "Fountainhead."  Soon it was 5:15 P.M. and time to shower and dress for dinner.

          After eating I indulged in the usual routine of enjoying the cool evening breeze on the bridge deck, but not for long.  Soon it began to rain so I had to go below deck for shelter.

          I'm enclosing a valentine (?) someone dreamed up.  But the sentiment is way off the beam.  Do you think so?  Well anyway! Add it to your collection.

          The mail brought me just one letter, a note from my mother mailed the 26th.  Besides all the packages I'm expecting, I'm missing letters of the 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th.  I'll probably get them very soon now (I hope).

          Nothing new out here.  However the war news is most encouraging on both fronts.  It does look that there is a good chance of a sudden collapse in Germany.  As far as Japan is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised to see her surrender once the Philippines have been completely retaken.  Japan has much to gain by an early surrender and thus preserve her industry in Japan proper.  Then she can hope for a comeback and another try again in 25-50 years just as Germany did after the First World War.  However I do hope that this time we'll win the peace as well as the war and give neither Germany nor Japan the chance to become strong enough to wage war again.

          We've been at this place a lot longer now than I'd ever expected.  I do hope that we get out of here before the real hot weather sets in.  However no one tells me anything. We could leave tomorrow or six weeks from now and then again we could stay here until June or July.  Who knows?

          Oh well, everyday is that much closer to my homecoming and the end of the war.  One thing I'm pretty sure of now.  When I do get back to the states, I'll never have to leave you again.

          I'm all run out now Sweet, so I'll sign off with love and kisses to all my girls.  Good night and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Love You The Way You Are

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 2 February 1945, 7:05 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just another routine day today.  Worked all morning and finished up at 11:15 AM.  Had lunch and then collected the monthly mess bell from the wardroom officers.

          If was cloudy and rainy looking but I went up on the poop deck anyway and got a half hour of sun.

          This being Friday, "field day" was the order of the day this afternoon.  My corpsman worked, cleaning polishing and I caught up on my book work,

          This morning I got a letter from you dated the 24th and two this afternoon of the 23rd.  Also got one from your mother.

          Now to your letters.  You seem to be teaching regularly.  I do hope it isn't too much for you even at $10 a day.  Why are you so anxious to lose weight?  I love you just the way you are, tummy and all.  I haven't been on the scale lately but I don't believe my weight has varied any from what it was when I came aboard, 170 lbs. clothes and all.  By the way I slipped the other morning and lost my mustache.  Don't believe I'll ever raise another.

          I have a recollection of the party at Ruth's that you mention but a very faint one at that.

          I haven't started "Fountainhead" yet.  I finished "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" last night and that book is next.  I would enjoy "Immortal Wife" so send it along.  I do believe that Xmas mail will soon be caught up and that packages will get out here in about thirty days.

          As long as you keep getting letters from me I don't see how you could expect me to phone you.  After all air mail goes so much faster than any ship.  Just take it easy dear and hope.  I still think that I have a mighty good chance to get back when my year is up and something could happen and bring me back sooner.

          Yes dear I got my fifth assignment finished and on its way.  The sixth should be ready to go by the end of this month.

          I'm glad that Linda is behaving so well.  I do hope that Norma snaps out of it and gives you more rest at night.  Losing an hour or two of sleep just spoils the following day completely.

          I hope you work out something nice at Arrowhead for this summer.  If I get back and you're there I'd rather spend our time up there together than anywhere else.  After all that was the locale of "our first night," wasn't it?

          Boy I sure could use some of that cold weather.  I do hope we move on before long.  The summer and late spring out here are just hellish.  It's hot enough in the winter. I'd just as soon scram.  However I'm just a (j.g.) in the dental corps and don't run the Navy.  It's probably a good thing for the Navy.

          The movie tonight "Carolina Blues with Kay Kaiser and Ann Miller and is rated only fair.  Guess I'll go anyway.

          Am signing off now darling.  Good night with love and kisses to my three girls.

Yours always,

Gil

Gil doesn't mention going to ashore for a few,  but here is a chit. Was it his?

Nine Fillings, Examined Eight Men

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 18 January 1945, 6:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day. Another dollar.  Began today with my usual morning routine.  Put in nine fillings, examined eight men and appointed them for work.

           Then mail call. Got a letter from Mike, a short note and the baby announcement from Bob.  Then there were a couple of Xmas cards from patients and some Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery literature.  Then I went up to my room and found the book "Fountainhead" you had sent and also the book Libby had sent.  By the way if you send me any more books be sure they are properly wrapped for mailing.  The binding was slightly warped, probably got wet.

          After lunch I read some until the afternoon mail came.  I got a letter from your mother and one from you written on the back of the Yearbook circular letter.  Yes dear, I'll enjoy the "Yearbook" a lot.

          There really isn't anything new to write about.  Three of the officers are still awaiting orders back to the states but so far no soap.  We are five officers over complemented so orders should come through most any day.

          Today has been unusually hot and now that the sun is down we'll all cool off a little.

          The movie tonight is a 4.0 picture, "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby.  I think I've seen it but I enjoy a good musical the second time just as much as the first showing.

          Darling do you remember when the Navy sent you a check for transportation for you and the kids from Santa Monica to San Diego?  Did they send you my original orders to report for active duty?  If you have it please send it on.  It should be in my personal file and I don't seem to have it.

          Well Sweet I'm just about run out.  Do you remember when you went to Philly and I wrote to you?  Am I putting more down in writing now than then or am I still keeping "under cover?"  Well, when I get home to hell with the cover.  I can hardly wait for those happy days.

          Good night Honey, I'm going to sign off now.  Love and kisses to you and ours.

Love,

Gil