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

Chief Engineer Fell Down a Ladder

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 8 March 1945, 10:15 PM

My Darling,

          This is the end of another busy day.  Worked all morning again and it was 11:45 before I was through.

          After lunch I relaxed and read the morning's mail.  I got four letters from you postmarked February 8, 10 and two on the 28th.  I also got a short note from Leon.

          At one o'clock I went down and sat in on a court marshal.  At two I had my wardroom mess statement audited, after which I returned to the court marshal.  However it was too hot so at three I gave up and came topside.

          Then I went to my room and read until 5:30 when I showered and dressed for dinner.  I was tired all afternoon and finally decided that the shot I got this morning (yes, another one) must be giving me a mild reaction.  Oh well in the morning I'll probably wake up fresh as a daisy.

          The movie tonight was "A Song to Remember" with Paul Muni and Merle Oberon and is a story of the short but productive life (musically speaking) of Frederick Chopin.  You must see it if you haven't already.

          Excuse me for a minute.  Somebody fell on his face and I've got to go.

          Well, all is well that ends well.  The chief engineer fell down a ladder in the engine room and hit his jaw.  However X-rays show no break so outside of a sore face for a couple of days he'll be OK.

          Now your letter. The 8th and 10th are about Mary and Willie and I've said my piece about them.  I do hope she either quits taking poison and then changing her mind or takes something quick acting and gets it over with.  Callous aren't I?  Yet I don't know why they bring all their troubles to you. I don't like it.  I see you are teaching again. Well after a week's layoff you're probably glad to be called again and the color of the money looks good too, I'll bet.

          I owe the lodge a letter. Joe Orenstein wrote me and I'll answer through him.  On second thought I'll write him and the lodge as well.  Last night I dropped a line to Marty and Ruby but I bet I don't hear from them for a long time.

          Glad to hear you are active as program chairman for the Auxiliary.  I am looking forward to the clippings you say are coming.

          I liked the poetry of Sara Teasdale. More please!  Don't send any funny papers somehow I didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I would.

          Glad to hear you're getting all dolled up.  It'll give you a lift and believe me I can tell just how you feel by just reading your letters.

          So darling, no more for tonight.  If I was home now we would both have a "nite nite snack" after the movie.  I feel like it.  Then to bed, listening to the radio---?

          Good night Sweetheart until tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Heat Rash

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 29 January 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello darling, here I am again.  Had quite a busy morning and wasn't through with work until after eleven.  Then I went to my room and read until lunch time.

          I broke out with heat rash so after lunch I went up of the poop deck, stripped down and got the sun for a half hour.  Sunshine seems to be the best remedy for this type of rash.

          Then back to my office for more work.  I was all cleared up by 3:00 PM so I had a coke for a little refresher and censored some mail.  By then it was four o'clock so I stripped down to my skivvies (shorts to you) and worked on a jigsaw puzzle until it was time to shower and dress for dinner.

          After eating a few of us stood out on the bridge deck enjoying the cool refreshing ocean breeze.  And so here I am.

          There was only one letter.  It was from Ambie.  He is en route to San Francisco and promised to phone you when he gets there.  He seems to be feeling very well. No doubt the fact that he is returning to the states has helped him a lot.

          The movie last night, "Belle of the Yukon," had lots of stars and possibilities, but it was only fair.  Tonight we have Merle Oberon and Franchot Tone in "Dark Waters" and I do hope it's good.  The story was run in the Post magazine recently.

          Nothing that is new, Sweet, so I'm going to sign off.  Good night, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Poker

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
              Sunday 3 December 1944, 9:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello my Darling, Sunday at home was never like this.  Worked all morning. When the mail orderly returned--not a thing in his bag for me.  Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait.

          This being Sunday I was a busy man as welfare officer.  Got the crews' mess hall arranged for services with piano, record player and microphone.  Sent one boat at 1:30 PM to bring the Protestant chaplain and an hour later to bring the Catholic chaplain.  We had a better turn out than last week.  Guess the word got around.  Both services were very nice with choral music and piano accompaniment for the hymns that the men sang.

          After dinner I sat in at a poker game, 25 cent ante and $1.50 limit.  After a couple of hours it was time for movies, so I quit 25 cents to the good.  I only won two pots in all that time so you can see that they must have been good ones.

          Well honey, what's new?  By the time you get this letter you'll probably be shopping for a tree.  Do get a nice one and fix it up real pretty.  At least, I do want our girls to have one even if I can't be with you to decorate and enjoy it.

          Darling do you remember your first or should I say our first tree with the blue and while balls and bulbs?  And the lecture your cousin Leon gave you?  Well after this war we'll have many trees on many Xmases and let Leon or anyone else lecture someplace else.

          Good night my love, parting is such sweet sorrow, till we meet tomorrow. But tomorrow is still months away.

Love,

Gil

 

Note: The movie was "The Lodger" with Merle Oberon, Lair Cregar and George Saunders.

Evenings Are Lonely

Wednesday 9 February 1944, 10:40 o'clock

 

Dearest Eleanor,

          Please don't let yourself get so upset about every little thing.  I tried to phone tonight at 6:00 and the operator said that it would be 8:15 before I could get an open line.  I went to the movie and got back at 8:00 and found a note to call the Santa Monica operator.  It took another half hour to get through--so the delay.

          You keep on talking about phoning these different builders and realtors.  If you could only hear what the different officers on the base say about conditions but you would know that phoning a stranger will get one absolutely nowhere.  However, if we have an inspection Friday, I will have two hours for lunch.  It only takes a few minutes by car to reach these different offices.  I'll make appointments and run out and see what the situation is.  Monday night is the B'nai B'rith meeting which I will also attend.  Frankly, I feel more will be accomplished through one of their members than any other way.

          In the meantime dear, please don't be so impatient and make yourself so miserable.  In spite of my daily activity, the evenings are very lonely for me too.  I didn't even enjoy a gory murder picture this evening with Laird Cregar, Merle Oberon and George Saunders. Knowing me as you do I'm sure that sounds at least unusual. And then from 8:00 PM every evening--what?  Go out and get drunk or chasing women?  You must see I'm just as anxious to have you and the kiddies here as you are to be here. Good night my Sweet until tomorrow.

 

Your, just as impatient husband,

Gil

P.S. This stationery isn't worth a darn--it is too thin so I'm going to use it up writing home.

Gil

"Sirs" and "May I"

AMERICAN RED CROSS

9 February 1944

1735 o'clock

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day gone and am I glad.  I had only three patients today and that was enough.  One had five cavities, another three and the last one twelve.  All were from a ship that is leaving tomorrow, and the work had to be done right now.  So, Steingart got the call.

          It began to rain when I left the clinic so I decided not to go downtown.       I am going to take in an early show tonight and then I'll probably run down and make the reservation.  They are showing "The Lodger," with George Saunders and Merle Oberon.  I hope it is good.

          I didn't get a letter from you today.  Anything new about the equipment?  Be sure to arrange the moving out of the stuff this week.  Store it in Bekins.

          Things have really been peaceful and quiet here as regards the corpsmen.  A lot of "sirs" and "may I' and "please" today.  I don't think I like it half as well as the way things were.  But this is the Navy.

          Bought a $1.10 box of Schraft's chocolates for 70 cents and finally got sections for my wallet.

          Nothing new about a place I think I'll do some chasing Friday noon if we have an inspection.  Guess I'll sign off till tomorrow.

Your lover,

Gil