Scuttlebutt Is Unreliable

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 2 June 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,   

          Hello Sweet, I hit the jackpot again today.  I got ten letters in all, eight from you and one each from Deb and Ethyl.  Outside of that today was very uneventful.  I worked all morning and didn't get to read my mail until after lunch.  Then a few of us went ashore and got back at 6:00 P.M. and now here I am.

          I really was disappointed about missing Sol. As an enlisted man it is pretty hard for him to get around but if I had known the ship he was on (and I would have if I'd had the name), it would have been a simple matter for me to make the run. Of course it would be nice if our ship would make the states once in awhile, but I really wouldn't care for duty on an APA.  They are always in there when the going is tough and they have plenty of casualties.  Don't say anything to the "Gs."  You see even Sol didn't know he was going back to Frisco when I did.  I can find out about others but not about myself.  Oh, well!

          I've never given up about getting back soon.  However so much of the scuttlebutt is unreliable, I don't mention stuff unless it is well founded.  Don't worry, I'll ask for Long Beach and I'm pretty sure to get it.

          What do you mean my course grades should be 4.0?  Don't worry I won't flunk and anything above 3.9-- is excellent.

          It is getting close to movie time so I'll secure until later.  Don't go away.  I'll be back soon.

          9:45 and here I am again Honey.  We had an excellent movie tonight.  It was "Conflict" with Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith and Sidney Greenstreet.  Now back to your letters.

          Bet I know the photography place Wallie is taking over.  Do you remember the young Jewish fellow who took some pictures at Linda's 4th or 5th birthday party? He is married to a shiksa and is in the Army.  It all ties up very nicely.

          Your news of Iz Goldman is interesting.  By the by, you sent me Simmy Marcus' address once and I misplaced it.  Also Vic Spitzer's.  How about sending them to me again.

          Cox is my roommate.  He is married and has three kiddies.  He has been in the Navy for about ten years and is a lieutenant (j.g.) with a permanent rank of chief yeoman.  You see after the war all men's rank will revert back to what they were at the beginning of the war or when they were first commissioned if they came in after the war started.  Peacetime promotions are very slow.  Of course invite him over.  He still hasn't left here.  Lord alone knows where his relief is.

          I love your ideas about our new home.  They certainly are not too crazy.

          Yes I went to a lot of trouble for my shells but it was lots of fun, and the effort well worth the results or vice versa.

          Linda seems to be spending lots of time on her dancing and it sounds like she is getting quite good at it.  Gosh it's been so long now since I've seen any of you that I wonder if I'll know how to act when I get back.  I've really been living in the present and try not to think of the past or future.  Thinking of the past brings back many loving memories and thoughts but also makes me homesick and blue.  Looking to the future makes time drag, so it's just today.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.

          I do love you Darling and while all those couples you write about are together, we are far apart.  That is, far apart physically, yet you are always in my thoughts.

          I'm all writ out for tonight so I'll sign off.  Goodnight Sweetheart, until tomorrow.

Yours alone,

Gil

Ship's Company Photo

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 21 January 1945, 10:20 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling just got back from another good movie. We had "To Have and to Have Not" with Humphrey Bogart and it was 4.0, see it.

          This being Sunday I began work as usual and wasn't through until 11:15.  I'm reading an interesting book, "Forever Amber," with a background of the England of Charles II.  This gal Amber evidently had what it takes but I'm wondering how she can continue to dish it out for more than 900 pages.  I'll read and find out.

          After lunch I read some more and then finished assignment #5 of my course.  Now I'll get one of the boys to type it up and send it in.

          Got my copy of the ship's company photo and though I took a lousy picture I'm going to send it on.

          It seems that officers must take a physical exam every year so after dinner the doctor gave me the once over and found I was still qualified for sea duty.  No survey yet.

          The mailman came twice today but passed me up both times.  I hope he hoes better by me tomorrow.

          Nothing new or different to tell you except it was a little cooler today, not a hair over 85 degrees.  The sea has been quite choppy the past few days.  There must be a pretty good storm blowing at sea.

          Darling, do you remember when Linda was just beginning to talk? What a bang she got when I honked the horn in the tunnel on the coast highway?  How about Norma? Does she like that too?     

          I'm getting sleepy dear so I'll sign off.  Good night Sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

USS Ocelot Crew

First two rows are officers.

The other rows are enlisted men.

Gil is in front row on right end.

The Food Is Swell--No Ration Stamps Either

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

             U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco
             Tuesday 5 December 1944, 9:55 PM

My Dearest,

          Hello Darling, I never thought just a letter from home could make me so happy, especially when that letter is from my Sweet.  I got eight letters, five from you, one from my mother (card), one from Libby and one addressed to the chaplain. I pinch hit for the chaplain because there isn't one.

          Libby seemed concerned about me because she hadn't heard lately but she should receive my last letter soon now.  The one addressed to the chaplain was from a worried mother about her boy.  She hadn't heard in three weeks. He really has been writing.  Anyway in the morning, I'll get a letter off reassuring her that all is well with her son.

          Not let's get back to us.  Leon is slightly mixed up about his ships. An APA is a transport used to bring men up in attack.  They aren't called even that any more.  Now they are AP with the last "A" dropped.  The innards of the ship are the same as any troop transport.  Anyway don't worry we aren't that nor are we participating in any invasions.  I didn't say we weren't going to the Philippines.  I said we weren't there.  If and when we get there things should be well under control.  Spitzer was with us until his ship came in and then he left to join his outfit.  For a while we had many officers aboard and were quite crowded. As I explained it was only by accident that we got to talking.  Just a day or so before he left.

          The size of the ship is still the same, it always was a fairly large one and with a lot of men aboard sanitation is vital, hence the thorough daily inspections.

          Yes dear, Lt. Samuels is no longer our captain and the exec will be the skipper from now until relieved, not temporarily.  I gave Samuels your phone and he may call collect although I doubt that he will go to all that trouble. I didn't tell you sooner lest you'd hang (?) around anticipating a call that never materialized.

          Yes, we all enjoy movies.  Right now, I'm soaked.  It poured as usual just in the middle of the picture.  It was "Invisible Stripes" with Raft and Bogart.  At least five years old but good and we got a kick out of it.

          We'll probably be here for some time but there is no telling.  A few victories and off we go to new places.  I doubt whether we'll go back to the Hawaiians for a while.  As a matter of fact the next time I see that place will probably be on my way home.  Guam isn't our locality but we're not very far from it.

          OK Sweet that jewelry ensemble is a hit.  I now have $149 to my credit and my food bill for this month is paid.  Unless I run into some unexpected civilization, by the time I get home, I should have quite a wad saved up.  Don't worry about my uniforms, they are well cared for and they still fit.  As a matter of fact the khakis are size 36 and my greys were 38.

          The food is still swell.  We have large refrigeration space and carry enough fresh food to last three months or more, depending on how many we have aboard.  In fact we could get along fairly well for 6 months without taking on any addition supplies.  Yesterday we had chop suey and noodles for one meal and creamed chicken for dinner.  Today we had meatloaf and beef stew.  For breakfast you can have all of hot cakes, eggs (any style), French toast, sausage, bacon, fruit juice, powdered milk (when cold it tastes OK), canned whole figs, toast, butter and coffee.  No ration stamps either.  We make our own ice cream and the cream pies the bakers make are the best I've ever eaten.  I can see your mouth watering and it's really the way it reads.  In spite of it all though what wouldn't I give for one of you home cooked meals!

          Catching up on correspondence seems an endless job. Xmas greetings will have to take the place of many letters this month.

          Go a little south dear and see what you find.  Who cares what Sylvia thinks?  I'll take you as you are and how I'll love it--and you will too.  I hope.

          I hope I'll be home by summer. Thirty days leave spent at Lake Arrowhead sounds well.  Make plans to go there anyway and with a little luck I'll join you. I can dream can't I?

          I do hope Dave gets sent to officers training but frankly I doubt whether he will.  It is a long story but from what many ensigns have told me he just isn't eligible.  Don't say anything to Deb or him about it.

          Gosh, my clothes are wet but there is plenty of sweat mixed in with the rain.

          Forget about a Xmas job.  Are you crazy?  Waiting on people for eight hours in a Xmas rush is a lot different than teaching school and don't forget you still have two darlings at home to care for.

          Today was just another day.  Worked in the morning.  After lunch I censored some mail then the skipper, Cox (my roomy) and two other officers when ashore for a couple of drinks.  The club didn't have any beer so we drank cokes.  At three they serve whiskey for an hour but there was such a mob that one drink apiece was all we tried to get. Then we returned to the ship.

          Well, what a long winded letter! A fifty minute visit. What a swell one.  Dear, do you remember how we'd always recount the day's events when I came home from work?  After the war let's continue with that too.

          Good night my love, my darling.  I love you with all my heart and soul.

Devotedly

Gil

         

    

Found a Flat--Dispose of Gas Coupons

UNITED STATES NAVY

 

Thursday 23 March 1944, 1745 o'clock

 

Dear Eleanor,

          Another day and I really worked.  Put in twenty-four fillings and not all simple either.

          Stayed in last night, even the movie didn't sound interesting.  Tonight I'm going to see "Passage to Marseille" with Humphrey Bogart, Eric Dorn, Peter Lore and?  Hope it's good.

          I'm not going to do anything or make any arrangements about the flat until I've talked things over with you.  I suppose you're all excited now and making all kinds of plans.  Swell, but take it easy and don't make too many plans.

          Here at the clinic there is nothing new.  Six dentists are expected but who knows when?  There is room for five so that means someone is probably going to leave.  It'll probably be Dr. Saks, Dr. Jacobs or Dr. Boutte and then again maybe no one.

          It has really been warm out here and you know how much I like warm weather.  However a nice shower before retiring makes a big difference.  I think I'm still gaining weight, going to have to do something about that.

          I hope you disposed of the gas ration coupons.  Don't put too much gas in the Buick but have enough for the weekend.  I'm planning on calling on Oscar V. for a little on Sunday.  We'll have to get ahead plenty.  There'll be no place to chisel any gas down here.

          Not much else to say except that I'll try to be home early Saturday and I am looking forward to one hell of a weekend.  I hope you know what I mean.

Kiss my two girls,

Love,

You diddle partner