Penicillin Is Wonderful

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday, 20 August 1945, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          A real hot day for a change and on top of that I was swamped under with work. It was past 3:30 when I finally called it a day.  Then up to my room, off with my clothes and a cold refreshing shower.  After that I censored some mail and read a little from "Try and Stop Me."  First thing I knew it was 5:30 PM and time to dress and go to chow.  After eating we played cribbage and then to the movies.  We had an oldie tonight, "The Cowboy and the Lady" with Merle Oberon and Gary Cooper.  It was so old it was new.  I couldn't remember a scene.

          The mailman brought me four letters from you and one from Mary Regan.  She was home on leave and now is back in Miami.

          Three of the letters were of the 8th and 9th and there is lots of repetition.  The other is of the 13th and that is the newsy one.

          Sorry to hear Deb is having so much trouble with her breast.  Penicillin is a wonderful drug but oral administration is experimental.  I guess the doctor knows what he is doing.

          I couldn't write the Bureau until I had a year out and now the letter is on its way.  In spite of your unfounded hunch, I feel pretty sure of getting the Long Beach area for my next duty.

          No I haven't seen Sol.  I've checked on his ship but couldn't find it listed.  I'll look it up again tomorrow morning.

          There isn't any more for now.  Goodnight Darling and please be patient.  The next few weeks will be difficult and then we'll all know more about what to expect.  Goodnight again.

Love,

Gil

Spirits

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 8 July 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, I hope you are still feeling well and keeping real busy.  Simmie had seen last night's movie and didn't wish to see it again. But he insisted I go while he took a nap.  After the movie we went up to the wardroom, had cokes, and sat and talked until 11:00 PM and then turned in.

          This morning I ate a regular breakfast to keep Simmie company, and besides, I always had breakfast at home on Sunday.  Then I saw a few patients while Simmie read some magazines.  Then mail came. I got an Esquire, two letters from you, one from your mother and one from Mary Regan.  We read and loafed around until lunch time. After eating I saw Simmie off on the ferry to the beach.

          Now to your mail.  I'm worried about Norma's bilious attacks. Does she take after her mother?  I wish you'd take her over to Sieger's office and have him check her over.

          You are entirely too sensitive.  The Steins were seldom guests at our home.  Their interests and ours were always different.  They are still as good friends as we have in Santa Monica.

          I don't know why you wish to make yourself miserable losing weight.  You look OK to me in those snaps you sent. You could stand a smile on your face, but I'll attend to that later, personally.

          Trying to have a boy long distance is impossible anyway so I won't discuss it now.  You'll have to wait until I come home.

          We have a good movie (I hope) tonight.  It is "Colonel Blimp" and is 18 reels.  Hope it doesn't drag.

          So ends another week.  One week less for us to be apart.  Sweetheart I sure do miss you and hope we'll be together again soon.

          No more for now so I'll sign off.  Goodnight Darling.  Try to be in good spirits.

I love you as always

Gil

           

Got Scotch Wiskey

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday, 8 June 1943, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, here I am again and this time just a wee bit tight. 

          I've begun re-examining the crew and checked twenty men this morning. Then I worked until 11:30 and secured for the day.

          After lunch I joined a party of officers going ashore.  We had a swell afternoon.  For the first time since I left the states, I was able to get scotch whiskey.  We all drank plenty of it.  We got back at 6:30 just in time for a late dinner.

          After dinner I went down to my office and found three letters from you, one from Libby and one from Mary Regan.  When I finished reading them it was time for the movies so I shoved off.  The picture wasn't too good.  It was "Leave it to Blondie" but there were two good short subjects with it, one a Leon Errol comedy and the other a travelogue about Cuba.

          Now your mail.  One was an oldie of 8 May and the others were of the 30th and 31st of May.  Looks like my wife is still trying to teach those brats and they just won't learn.  Oh, well!  No dear I'm not at Okinawa so quit worrying.

          Parkus is a lot of bull.  I know because I did business with him. If Foreman and Gordon are his busiest dentists then he must be slipping.  Nothing more to say.  I think I'd better turn in.

          Goodnight darling.  I'll try to do better tomorrow night for I do love you.

Devotedly,

Gil

P.S.    No ALNAV as yet but scuttlebutt persists that I'll make lieutenant this month after all.

Played Cribbage With the Captain

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Wednesday 9 May 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          This hasn't been too busy a day, but it has been a full day.  I worked on patients all morning and for an hour this afternoon. Then I let the doctor talk me into going ashore; or did I sell him a bill of goods? Well anyway we went ashore.

          We found a table under some trees and sat, talked and drank beer all afternoon.  At 5:00 P.M. our boat picked us up and we returned to the ship.  After a nice cold shower, I dressed and then it was time for dinner.

          After chow Cox (my roommate), another officer and I joined the captain in a game of cribbage. We (Cox and I) won all five games (with a little luck).  Then it was 7:30 PM so we broke it up and went out to see the movies.

          The movie tonight was "Frisco Sal" with Susannah Foster and though she does some good singing I can't say much for the movie--just fair.

          The mail brought me seven letters today.  There were five from you, another from Libby and one from the Regan gal.  Now here goes.

          I hope you haven't closed our San Diego account yet.  I told you not to until I gave you the word.  There will still be a check going there this month.  It takes time for a change to clear all the red tape.

          Bet Leon ships out soon after this present leave is up.  That is usually the way it works.

          You might as well give away my German books.  I don't suppose they'll ever be used again.  At least not until our girls grow up and go to college and by then we should be able to afford some new ones.

          Yes I know about your earrings but I doubt that I'll locate anything like that until I head home again.  Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open.  Maybe I'll make you something you'll like better.  It's a surprise and practically finished.  Something for you, Norma, and Linda.

          I don't know how much Phenobarbital you are taking but it is habit forming and I'd be careful about taking anything like that regularly.

          You've really had a busy week with the Rosen party, dinner with Ruth, Cappy and Frieda, the Mah Jong game, etc.  Also your letters have a tone of cheer that I'm very happy to see.  When you get down in the dumps, you'll never know how much your letters worry me.

          That's about all there is this time Sweet, so I'll sign off.  Good night Darling and may all your dreams come true and soon.

Loving you as always

Gil

Drinking beer on Mog Mog Recreation Island, Ulithi

The nightly movie

Drunken Brawl

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 27 March 1945, 11:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, here I am again.  Did I have a busy morning.  Besides a completely appointed morning I had six emergency patients to care for and it was twelve o'clock before I was through.

          After lunch a group of officers went ashore for a little party where some nurses were to be present, but I begged off.  At 3:00 PM (I had patients until then), the captain and two other officers came down and insisted I join them and go ashore for the party.  We took some steaks, sixty of them to be exact, a gallon of olives, a gallon of pickles, a pound of butter and away we went.  Well it was a drunken brawl but I was a good boy and here I am.  We just got back and we all had coffee before retiring.

          There was no mail today except a return on my correspondence course and a letter from Mary Regan.  Do you remember her?  She worked for the Board of Equalization in the Bay Cities Building and was sweet on Leon.  Besides that she was a patient of mine, referred to me by Abe Cohen.  Anyway she is now in the Coast Guard, stationed in Washington and is momentarily awaiting her orders to Pearl Harbor.  She just received my Xmas Card and hence her writing me.

          Outside of that there is nothing new to write about.  So considering the time and my present slightly (?) inebriated condition, I'll sign off.

          Good night Sweetheart, I'll be with you again tomorrow.  I love you so!

Forever yours,

Gil

The Battle of Iwo Jima ended on Mar 25, 1945. Was the purpose of the party to celebrate?

Dave must have clipped this article from the Marine Corps Gazette. The U.S.S. Ocelot was the flag for Squadron 10.