Work on Ship Moving Right Along

U.S.S. OCELOT (IX-110)

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Saturday 6 October 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Well I did a little work today but instead of having a few week's work I'll have only a couple of days.  I guess I worked too hard at it before.  Now there is nothing to do.

          Dr. Bushyager's relief came aboard today, so Bushy should be leaving in a couple of days.   He got air transportation authorized in his orders, so he'll be back in the United States inside of ten days.

          Although we haven't received anything official, we heard over the radio that officers only need 45 points now.  Just as I figured I'll have enough points by March 1 or sooner if there are any more reductions.  However don't plan on my being out when I get back.  I'll be lacking a few points.  Being a dentist I can work for a month or more in the United States without having to learn a new job as line officers would.

          Work on the ship is moving right along.  If the weather stays nice, repairs should be complete long before the 22nd and then we'll be on our way.

          Today, the mail brought me two letters from you and a card from Ethyl.  Your letters were marked the 24th. Those letters were slow in coming.  I've received letters through the 29th.  Catalina sounds good to me.  I know we'll enjoy our vacation there next year.  It's a date.

          Tonight's movie was "Those Endearing Young Charms" with Robert Young and Lorraine Day.  It was amusing, in fact good for a few laughs. We also had a community sing film.  We all sang lustily.

          Five of us are planning to go ashore tomorrow.  Every time we plan to go something happens.  Hope tomorrow will be different.

          Goodnight darling.  I love you.

Your faraway husband,

Gil

Medical officers

Gil (left) and Bushy (right)

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"