I Could Go Into Business

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 15 May 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Began today as every other day with work and kept busy all morning. 

          After lunch I organized a shell hunting expedition to one of the other close by islands. The island is completely surrounded by a coral reef and it is impossible to bring a boat right up on the beach.  So the boat came in as close as we dared and then we all swam ashore.  When we got there the tide was fairly high but was going out rapidly. We went to work--it really was work.  You see we waded into the water up to our waists and then turned over pieces of coral and rock on the bottom looking for the shells.  The live ones have a beautiful luster and color. Whereas the dead ones, which one can find on the beach, change color and lose their shine.  We spent about four hours. I brought back over fifty live shells and a number of dead ones.  Some of the shells I have sell for $1.00 each while others sell for less than 25 cents. If I felt like it I could go into business, but I won't.

          We had to swim back to our boat which was waiting offshore.  And then we returned to the ship.  By the time I showered and cleaned up it was 6:45 PM.  I was too tired to eat.  So I had two scoops of ice cream and here I am.  After the movie I'll have a sandwich and some fruit.

          Tonight's movie is "Keep Your Powder Dry" with Lana Turner, Lorraine Day and a whole bevy of other pretties.  I hope it's good.  Last night's "Grizzly's Millions" was a murder mystery and wasn't bad at all.

          No mail today so this is thirty for tonight.  Goodnight Darling and sweet dreams.

Love,

Gil

Gil misspelled the title as "Grizzly"

No Wonder Some Prefer Duty On A Man-O-War

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 22 December 1944, 9:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          And so another day.  This damn monotony is sure bad for me.  Come hell or high water, a bunch of us are going ashore tomorrow and get plastered.  It's no wonder that some of the officers prefer duty on a man-o-war where something is popping all the time.  Don't begin to worry dear; this is just a temporary thing with me.  I've had a few days of loafing but soon I'll be swamped under again and the days will pass by much more quickly.

          What did I do today?  Well after breakfast I went down to my office and worked from 8:30 to 11:00.  Read from "Strange Fruit" until noon and chow.  Then loafed some more till two, the time the Glee Club rehearsal was scheduled.  The turnout was so poor that I got mad and called it off.  Aren't I in a swell mood?   Returned to my room and read some more.  Visited on deck with the OD and then showered and changed for dinner.  After chow until movie time, I visited with the doctor and some corpsmen in sick bay.  Tonight we had Lana Turner in "Marriage Is A Private Affair" and it was very good.  See it if you haven't already.

          The mail today brought me nothing but a dental magazine so I have nothing to cheer about there either.

          Darling do you remember how I'd come home from the office mad about something or another and how sweet you'd be to snap me out of it?  Gosh a little of you sweetness in my arms could sure be a swell tonic.  Oh well that can't be yet, but still five months have already gone. Who know what the future may bring? Orders can come through unexpectedly and all we can do is pray.

          I'm going to close now Sweet, there isn't a thing more to say except three little words, "I love you."

Yours as ever

Gil

Card sent to Linda and Norma