Promotions

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday  5 June 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Honey, here I am again.  Nothing exciting today.  Worked all morning and though I could have gone on liberty this afternoon, I didn't.  Instead I finished another one of the gadgets.  Now Linda's and Norma's are finished but what I'm making for you isn't.  I should finish up this week and I'll send a box of stuff home.

          Late this afternoon I censored a stack of mail and just as I finished I received two letters from you and one from Herman Stein.  Your letters were old ones and rather short so there is little to comment on.  I read over the clipping about the $2,500 fine against the Ocean Park Boxing Arena. The story isn't all there, so I couldn't tell what it was all about.

          We had a pretty good movie tonight, "Dangerous Passage," with unknown leads but still a good picture.  However it isn't your type so don't bother seeing it.  It's an adventure story with murder, shipwreck and grand larceny all in one.

          The promotion ALNAV is not out yet but there is scuttlebutt out that from now on promotions will be few and far between.  From what I could learn the Navy is reverting to the plan the Army used early in the war.  If a ship calls for a j.g. or a limit in a certain job, an officer cannot be promoted past that rank unless he gets a change of duty.  However I'll wait and see what it's all about.  If it is so, I may get a change of duty sudden-like. If I don't I'll write in asking for one.  In the meantime keep your fingers crossed.

          No more for now Sweet, so I'll sign off.  Love and kisses to you and our girls.

Yours forever,

Gil

Fillings, Extractions, Gingivitis and Examinations

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Friday 27 April 1945, 7:20 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, here I am again.  The morning was another one of those days.  Between 8:30 and 11:30 I filled twelve teeth, extracted four, treated two gingivitis cases and examined two men.  I was really glad that today was Friday, "field day," and no appointments for the afternoon.

          After lunch seven of us officers went ashore for a few beers and relaxation.  At 5:00 PM our boat picked us up and we returned to the ship.  We had just enough time to shower and change before dinner.  After eating we stood up on deck and watched the sun set in a glorious blaze of red fire and a great big yellow, tropical, moon rise in the heavens.

          I really hit the jackpot today.  I got six letters from you and one each from "I" Bergman, Herman Stein and Ethyl and the Arrowhead card from you.  So-o-o- here goes.

          Don't do a thing about income taxes until I get home.  It'll be perfectly OK. There is no reason to worry.  
          The old set of golf clubs contains several of my original clubs. They are worth $3 or $4 each so don't give them away.  However the old irons with the wooden shafts can be passed on to Dick if you like.

          Sounds like you have lots of flowers around the house.  Wish I were there to cut and arranged them you around the house.

          Don't worry. When I get back, wherever I go we'll be together, all four of us.  That is a promise.

          The snaps of Linda and my mother are swell but where are my other two girls?  Yes, I know you looked terrible (or so you say) so you didn't send them on.  You'd look good to me anyway and don't you forget it.

          I see you got a couple more days of teaching.  Swell--that makes two days less to have to fill up some way."Winged Victory" was good but I didn't enjoy the Durbin movie, "I Want to Sing" or something like that.  Did you like it?

          Don't worry about "babies."  I'll take care of everything when I get back and that's a promise.

          Ruth is no different than she always was.  It's Ruth first, last, and always.  No there wasn't anything in the letter I wrote her.

          Where is Sol's address--is it a military secret?  Get it and sent it along.

          Darling, I'm worried about you again.  You accept any and all invites.  Don't worry about how cordial they are.  The chances are they do want you but you are just too sensitive about the whole deal.  Ethyl wrote me, evidently right after you called her, but she never mentioned your crying.  Guess she didn't want to worry me but still you do.  Snap out of it gal and maybe soon this will all seem like a bad dream.

          Well, there is no more for now.  Good night Sweet and pleasant dreams.

Love

Gil

P.S.    Can you tell by my handwriting--am I tight or not?

G.

Snaps of Gil's mother (Lena Steingart) and Linda

Too Damn Hot

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 3 April 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          This has been one busy day.  In addition to all the work I had, it has been plenty hot so I did plenty of sweating today.

          This afternoon at three o'clock when I finally cleaned up my last patient, I went to work on my monthly mess statement but after an hour's work I quit because it was too damn hot down here.

          So--instead I went up on the poop deck and got forty-five minutes of sunshine.  Then I returned to my room, showered, censored some mail and dressed for dinner.

          After dinner we sat around on deck enjoying the cool evening breeze and the sunset.  Now here I am.

          The mail brought me three letters today.  One from you, one from Dr. Ivie (a nice friendly one) and the last was an official letter relative to new reports that I have to send in.

          Your letter was written on the 15th and I've already received one written on the 22nd so there isn't much to remark about. I see you are teaching though you hadn't done that for several weeks.  Guess you're glad to get back for a spell.

          "Lost Island" sounds like an interesting book.  I would enjoy reading it.  Send it along.

          The movie tonight is "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" with Monty Woolley and it is rated 4.0.  Guess I'll go, as if I ever stayed away.

          I'm planning on answering Herman's letter next because I don't want to get behind.

          So much for now.  Goodnight sweetheart, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Extra 1/2 Stripe

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 2 April 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another busy day today.  I worked all morning and afternoon and wasn't through until 3:00 PM.  I went to my room and censored some mail.  The sun was out in all its glory so I spent from four till five on the poop deck improving on my tan.  Then I returned to my room, showered, and dressed for dinner.  After chow we went back up on the poop deck and just relaxed and enjoyed the cooling evening breeze.  Now here I am.

          Beginning with the May allotment, the check will go to the Santa Monica Bank of America so be sure and notify them to accept same and credit it to our account.  I've increased the amount to $225 a month because I'm expecting the May ALNAV to give me that extra 1/2 stripe you've been looking for.

          I'm enclosing a money order for $100.  Buy Linda a $100 bond and use the difference to buy her something more material for her birthday from her daddy.

          The mail today brought three letters from you, one from Herman Stein and one from your mother.  Honey, I don't know what to say about the house except that if it needs paint and repairs why have it done.  Of course I agree.

          I hope you won't get the "G's" down on you for the dress deal.  You know how they like Ruth and may not like your giving her the dress.  Anyway I'm too far away to know and say what to do.  Use your judgment.

          You're sure making a great to do about Linda's eyes. With all the fuss you're making it's no wonder she's all a twitter about wearing glasses.  Take it easy dear and don't cross any bridges till you have to.  Although Dr. Kinney is a good man, I wish you could have taken her to a Navy outpatient clinic. 

          Your letter written 5:00 PM on the 22nd is not complete.  The last paragraph says and "now to your letter. Didn't you see Claudia, etc" and nothing more.  No signature or anything.  Guess you're all excited and busy getting ready for the Mah Jong game.  I also gather that you've been teaching, but there are several letters still to come to fill in the blanks.

          The movie tonight is a stinker entitled "Tahitian Nights" with I don't know who but I guess I'll go anyway.

          So much for today darling.  It is almost time to go to the movies and I'm all run out of stuff and such so--

          Goodnight, I'll see you in my dreams.  Love and kisses to you and our sweet girls.

Yours always,

Gil

Roosevelt Is Still President

NOTE ON LETTER IN ELEANOR'S WRITING: Received November 17.  Postmarked November 11

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
             Thursday 9 November 1944 1:45 PM

My Dearest

          Here I am again.  It's so blasted hot that I have a sheet of paper under my right hand and forearm to prevent this sheet I'm writing on from getting soaked from the sweat off my arm.

          I had an interesting experience today that I can talk about so here goes.  I was talking to the doctor in sick bay when a young ensign who was visiting one of the patients saw my B'nai B'rith ring.  He asked me what lodge I was a member of and it turned out that he is a Long Beach boy.  He knows many of our friends.  His name is Bill Spitzer and he is acquainted with Herman Stein, Mort Eisner, Bruce Stern, Dave Gindoff and Abe Weinberg.  Isn't this a small world?

          Well, my Sweet, the election is over and Roosevelt is still president.  We have a couple of "diehard" Republicans aboard and we've really had quite a time discussing politics and the future of our country.  Personally I am happy about the results and do feel that our country will be better off than if Dewey had been elected.

          How is by you?  I haven't received and mail since the last jackpot but I do hope to get another batch tomorrow.  Don't worry about the irregularity of my mail, it just can't be helped.  Anyway when I get back I'll have some interesting stories to tell.

          In the meantime, Honey, please be patient.  My love for you is unending and you are in my thoughts always.  Will write again tomorrow.  Until then

Love

Gil