Poker

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
              Sunday 3 December 1944, 9:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello my Darling, Sunday at home was never like this.  Worked all morning. When the mail orderly returned--not a thing in his bag for me.  Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait.

          This being Sunday I was a busy man as welfare officer.  Got the crews' mess hall arranged for services with piano, record player and microphone.  Sent one boat at 1:30 PM to bring the Protestant chaplain and an hour later to bring the Catholic chaplain.  We had a better turn out than last week.  Guess the word got around.  Both services were very nice with choral music and piano accompaniment for the hymns that the men sang.

          After dinner I sat in at a poker game, 25 cent ante and $1.50 limit.  After a couple of hours it was time for movies, so I quit 25 cents to the good.  I only won two pots in all that time so you can see that they must have been good ones.

          Well honey, what's new?  By the time you get this letter you'll probably be shopping for a tree.  Do get a nice one and fix it up real pretty.  At least, I do want our girls to have one even if I can't be with you to decorate and enjoy it.

          Darling do you remember your first or should I say our first tree with the blue and while balls and bulbs?  And the lecture your cousin Leon gave you?  Well after this war we'll have many trees on many Xmases and let Leon or anyone else lecture someplace else.

          Good night my love, parting is such sweet sorrow, till we meet tomorrow. But tomorrow is still months away.

Love,

Gil

 

Note: The movie was "The Lodger" with Merle Oberon, Lair Cregar and George Saunders.

Thirty Officers and Crew In Sick Bay

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
            Tuesday 21 November 1944, 9:20 AM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello honey, how is my sweetheart today? The mail service out here is lousy.  I haven't had any mail now since last Friday.  Here is hoping I get some this afternoon.

          Things were sure booming in sick bay yesterday.  We never did find out what it was but about thirty of our officers and crew turned in with nausea and diarrhea.  However after vomiting several times they got rid of whatever was causing their discomfort and this morning all is quiet and peaceful.

          We had a very good movie last night, "Summer Storm" with George Saunders and Linda Darnell.  See it if you can.

          I took out two impactions this morning.  One was rather simple but the other was a bear.  It was buried deep in the jaw bone and I had to split it into two pieces (the tooth not the jaw) to remove it.  I had expected several patients from another ship this morning but they didn't show up.  Hence I have time to write in the middle of the morning.

          Our library is in a hell of a mess once more.  It is open for only one hour a day and by the time the men get through browsing you couldn't tell where "a" ends and "z" begins.

 

12:45 PM

          Excuse the interruption; I've been busy with patients from 9:30 until 11:30 and then chow.  Now we'll continue our visit.  About the library--I spent a couple of hours there last night getting everything straightened out.  And then I noticed my watch had stopped.  I don't know what's wrong so I'll take it over to another ship where there is a watchmaker and try to get it fixed.  In the meantime I have my Bulova to fall back on.

          Mail came aboard this morning so I'm hoping there'll be something for me.  Am I perspiring!  I have a towel right handy and use it after almost each sentence. 

          Darling do you remember how tight I got at your graduation party?  That seems so long ago.  Actually it is only twelve years.  Guess a lot has happened since then.  Well dear, after the war we'll be together again and forever.

           So long honey with "lotions of love" (a la Winchell) I am your loving correspondent.

Gil

           

 

Evenings Are Lonely

Wednesday 9 February 1944, 10:40 o'clock

 

Dearest Eleanor,

          Please don't let yourself get so upset about every little thing.  I tried to phone tonight at 6:00 and the operator said that it would be 8:15 before I could get an open line.  I went to the movie and got back at 8:00 and found a note to call the Santa Monica operator.  It took another half hour to get through--so the delay.

          You keep on talking about phoning these different builders and realtors.  If you could only hear what the different officers on the base say about conditions but you would know that phoning a stranger will get one absolutely nowhere.  However, if we have an inspection Friday, I will have two hours for lunch.  It only takes a few minutes by car to reach these different offices.  I'll make appointments and run out and see what the situation is.  Monday night is the B'nai B'rith meeting which I will also attend.  Frankly, I feel more will be accomplished through one of their members than any other way.

          In the meantime dear, please don't be so impatient and make yourself so miserable.  In spite of my daily activity, the evenings are very lonely for me too.  I didn't even enjoy a gory murder picture this evening with Laird Cregar, Merle Oberon and George Saunders. Knowing me as you do I'm sure that sounds at least unusual. And then from 8:00 PM every evening--what?  Go out and get drunk or chasing women?  You must see I'm just as anxious to have you and the kiddies here as you are to be here. Good night my Sweet until tomorrow.

 

Your, just as impatient husband,

Gil

P.S. This stationery isn't worth a darn--it is too thin so I'm going to use it up writing home.

Gil

"Sirs" and "May I"

AMERICAN RED CROSS

9 February 1944

1735 o'clock

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day gone and am I glad.  I had only three patients today and that was enough.  One had five cavities, another three and the last one twelve.  All were from a ship that is leaving tomorrow, and the work had to be done right now.  So, Steingart got the call.

          It began to rain when I left the clinic so I decided not to go downtown.       I am going to take in an early show tonight and then I'll probably run down and make the reservation.  They are showing "The Lodger," with George Saunders and Merle Oberon.  I hope it is good.

          I didn't get a letter from you today.  Anything new about the equipment?  Be sure to arrange the moving out of the stuff this week.  Store it in Bekins.

          Things have really been peaceful and quiet here as regards the corpsmen.  A lot of "sirs" and "may I' and "please" today.  I don't think I like it half as well as the way things were.  But this is the Navy.

          Bought a $1.10 box of Schraft's chocolates for 70 cents and finally got sections for my wallet.

          Nothing new about a place I think I'll do some chasing Friday noon if we have an inspection.  Guess I'll sign off till tomorrow.

Your lover,

Gil