Cool Place

Misdated 1944

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 23 July 1944, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweetheart, how are you today.  This has been one hot day and I found it was just as cool working on patients as trying to find a cool place on this ship.  There just wasn't any.

          I showered at 5 PM, censored some mail and dressed for dinner.  Just as we went to eat a cool brisk breeze came up and it's been blowing ever since. I hope it continues for things have cooled down considerably already.

          We just finished our cribbage game and now here I am.  The mail brought me four letters from you and one each from Deb and your mother.  Now here goes.

          I think I've told you before about Eniwetok but anyway here goes.  We stopped there on the way from Pearl to Ulithi but we were only there two days.  Fortunately I was able to get ashore and look around.  Many didn't get off.  The atoll is similar to Ulithi but the scar of war is indelibly marked on the islands.  All that remains of many coconut palms are blackened, charred stumps.   Bomb and shell holes are all over the island.  The water is crystal clear and one could see to depths up to twenty feet.  However the bottom was not a sight of beauty.  There were sunken boats, fragments of uniforms and remains of soldiers.  Not a pretty sight to behold.  Because of the lack of trees and shade the place was hot and dusty.  I'm glad we didn't have to stay there long.

          Your descriptions of the house sound nice and I can't wait to get home to see it and for other reasons too.

          I had trouble making out Nina's letter but it does look like she appreciates him more after the separation.  It doesn't sound like she likes the WACs either.  Guess all in all being with her husband was a great improvement to what she's been putting up with.

          Getting your vacation straightened out certainly has been a problem.  I know how you must feel about it all. I'm surprised you didn't tell them to forget about it all.  It wasn't nice after asking you to so obviously indicate that they preferred not having you with them.

          I'm glad you are going to the Bowl and enjoying the programs.  It's just another thing to take up you time till I get there.  Then you won't have time for anything but me and not enough of that.

          Your ideas about a coat sound OK.  Go ahead. When I get back we'll see about a fur coat.

          It would be a crime if Dick is released.  What he needs is some real discipline and some hard work.  Genius my eye.  He is nothing but a selfish spoiled brat with no sense of obligation, loyalty, or honor.  I'd just as soon not hear anymore about it.

          Our movie tonight is "Salty O'Rourke" with Alan Ladd and Gail Russell.

          No more for now so I'll say goodnight.  So long Darling I'll be with you again soon.

Love

Gil

Hint of Victory

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday, 17 June 1945, 10 PM.

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just to celebrate and today being Sunday I took the day off and didn't see any patients.  Instead I visited for awhile with a couple of dentists who came over to our ship on business.  Then when the mail came onboard I found I'd hit the jackpot and spent the rest of the morning reading these precious letters, ten of them, one from your mother and one from Marty and the rest from my Sweet.

          This afternoon I finished "Saratoga Trunk," censored some mail and took it easy.  Showered at 5:00 PM and dressed for dinner.  Then we had our regular cribbage game until movie time.  Tonight's picture was just fair.  It was "Gentle Annie" a story of the Oklahoma frontier at the beginning of this century.  We did have two good shorts, one a color cartoon and the other a Wayne King musical short.

          Now to your letters.  They were postmarked the 5th to the 10th.

           Even when we're at sea the letters are postmarked the day the ship's post office receives them.  Understand?  My school marm seems to be kept quite busy.  Oh well, only a few more days and vacation will be here.

          From the program and your letters the dancing school show must have been excellent.  Why shouldn't our daughters be stars?

          No dear I didn't ask you to wait for you fur coat until I was a civilian, only until I got home.  However if you do run into a real good buy go ahead and get one.  I just thought I'd like to help you choose one.  That's all.  I do expect to be home by Xmas.

          Talking about pictures several have been taken of me and if we can find some time to develop and print them soon I'll send them along.

          You don't sound too enthusiastic about Nina's visit.  I do hope it pans out okay and that you don't have to put yourself out for her.

          So Norma is at the crying age.  Sorry to hear that she cries every time you go out.  Linda got over it so I guess she will too.  I do hope you aren't letting it upset you.

          Yes the papers are hinting at the possibility of an early victory over the Japs.   Thought the same thing a long time ago (two months ago).  Check my letters and see.  The next three months will tell the tale.  Either it'll be all over or we'll have a tough year of fighting ahead of us.

          Never be sorry for anything you didn't do or buy.  Bet our new home will be even nicer than the one you wish we'd bought.

          Your letters are precious dear and not "silly."  After all if you couldn't write your thoughts to me, who could you tell them to?

          There is no reason why you shouldn't put some money in Postal Savings.  There is some interest involved and it is available on demand.  Go ahead and do it.

          OK let's set the alarm for 2:00 AM.  Though I bet we won't need any alarm for awhile.

          I'm glad that Dr. Sands found you mother in better health than Leon thought she was in.  Just the same, she should take it easy. Ruth should hire some help to do her housework or maybe do it herself.

          So the G's want to know where Sol will go next.  I wish I knew, but it is a safe bet that before moving in on an operation his ship will stop at our last anchorage or come to where we are now. 

          The barber probably missed you because he's already in Florida which is his home.  Cox's home is in Arizona but his wife is planning to meet him in Long Beach and live there.  He is regular Navy and his three kiddies mark the three times he's been home in the past eight or nine years.  That's no life for me.

          There are several General Hospitals in this area and I'll have to have an address before I go off looking for someone.  I'll probably be here for awhile yet, so I'll hold on until I get something more definite to go on.

          No more for now Sweetheart so I'll say goodnight with the hope that all your dreams do come true and soon.

Loving you as always,

Gil

P.S.    I owe practically everyone a letter now, so I'll have to settle down to some serious writing real soon.  Bye now.

Gil

Hospital Ship Damaged and Suffered Numerous Casualties

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 4 June 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, how is my favorite wife tonight?  I spent a not too busy morning in my office, grabbed a steak sandwich and took the liberty party ashore.  We are now taking our men to an area fourteen miles away because it has swell facilities.  We go over in an LCI.  The skipper of the LCI, a Joseph Goldfarb, is a nice chap from New York.  He is an architect by profession and went through Columbia on a scholarship.  He must have something on the ball.  He has been married for 3-1/2 years now and has a nine month old baby which he has never seen.

          Anyway Joe and I went over to the native trading post, but the prices were so ridiculous we didn't buy a thing.  Soon it began to rain and we made for the only shelter available, the Officers' Club.  We had a couple of beers and at 3:00 PM went back aboard the LCI where we just sat around and visited.  We got the liberty party back aboard at 4:45 and got underway for our ship.  I had dinner aboard as Joe's guest and he came over to our ship to see the movie. It was lousy, entitled "What a Blonde" with Leon Errol--nuff said.

          When I came down to my office I found four letters from you.  I really wasn't expecting any letters for awhile.  Nina's is very hard to read; it looks like you'll be stuck with her for a couple of days.  Maybe it'll give you something different to do for a change.

          We had "Tomorrow the World" some time ago and I did enjoy it.  I'm not so fat; at least the scales don't think so.  I'm just about what I was when I left the states.  However I could stand some more exercise, although walking around the ship and up and down ladders is more exercise than one imagines.

          Linda's show seems to keep you quite busy with costumes, rehearsals and what have you.  I'd love some snaps of our girls in costume if that could be arranged.

          Sol's ship did see some action which is probably why she returned to the states.  I don't believe he saw a hospital ship sink though one of ours was heavily damaged and suffered numerous casualties.  I can't mention its name.  I don't know whether the information has been released officially yet.

          Nina mentioned the Franklin.  That carrier really took a beating.  I saw it soon after the engagement--what a mess.  You probably saw pictures of it in the papers.

          Well Darling, that is all for this time.  You complain about my originality or lack thereof in making love.  I always liked the old fashioned way the best.  Bye Sweet until tomorrow.

I love you as always

Gil

          

Misery Loves Company

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 17 April 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling here is your hard working husband again.  I worked all morning and afternoon and didn't secure until four o'clock.

          Then I went to my room, undressed, showered and censored some mail.  After that I read for awhile and then it was time to dress and go eat.

          After dinner we visited around on deck and now here I am.

          Got seven letters today, four from you, one each from Libby, Ruth, and Mary Regan.  This Regan gal sure has her eye out for Leon but with a face like hers I'm afraid she won't get very far.

          Libby's home does sound nice but you have no cause to be jealous.  We've always had more than they did and when I get back and into the groove, you'll have all the things you want again.  "We did it before and we can do it again!"  As far as gifts go, you've got the idea at last.  Anything will be OK.

          Sorry your summer plans aren't panning out.  Yet I think it is for the best.  Just a hunch plus some scuttlebutt but I do hope for the states this fall.  Maybe we'll be lucky for a change.

          Glad you're teaching.  Time goes so much faster when one is busy.  Believe me I know though I haven't said much about it.

          Did Wallie get a medical discharge or what?  I suppose he paid cash at Marbros but you should check.  He might have used you as a reference for all you know.

          That's what I like about you.  Always planning for the future, 1950-1960.  What have you on tap from 1945-1950 eh?

          If you like Nina's company, encourage her to visit you in June.  I doubt very much that she'll be in "our" way.  If I do show up, we'll just disappear, OK?

          My goodness such pride.  Don't be so proud Dear.  Encourage invites instead of turning them down.  I wouldn't feel too badly about the few friends you have.  In talking with the married officers I find that their wives have all had similar experiences since their husbands shipped out.

          Be sure to attend the Officers' Wives Club.  You'll probably meet several women you know and don't forget you all have a common bond and misery loves company.

          Well Sweets, I'm all "writ out."  Tonight's movie by the way is "The Lost Horizon of Shangri-La."  I can't find out if this is the old "Lost Horizon" or a new feature.  Anyway I'll see it and find out.

          Good night Sweetheart until tomorrow.

Loving you always,

Gil

Disagree With U.S. News Magazine

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 9 March 1945, 7:10 PM

My Dearest,

          Hello Sweet, how are you tonight?  Today has been an easy one for a change.  Saw a few patients in the morning and had some broken appointments, so I wrote letters to Bob and Uncle Mike.  Tomorrow I'll write Willie and several others that I owe letters to.  By Sunday I should be all caught up.

          After lunch I got the sun for forty-five minutes and had just gotten comfortable in my room to censor some mail when I was called down to my office.  I had three emergency patients from another ship and had to take care of them.

          When I was through I sat in on some more of the court marshal and because of its interesting matter I stayed on until the final verdict was given.  Then I returned to my room finished my censoring, showered and read the Post until 5:30 when I dressed and went up for chow.

          After eating we stood up on deck and enjoyed the gentle ocean breeze and pretty sunset and here I am.

          The movie tonight is "Winged Victory" and is rated as very good, guess I'll go.

          The mail brought two letters from you and a card from my mother.  We haven't had much rain lately but I see you have.  Enjoyed the publicity clipping you sent.  I thought you said your picture was to be run with it or is that something else?

          I'm glad you are getting the suit you wanted.  You sounded so disappointed in your last letter.

          In Pearl Harbor, I began "Earth and High Heaven" in the Collier's magazine.  It was run serially and I never did get past the first installment although I did try to get the following issues.  No luck!  Maybe I'll get hold of the book because I did want to read it.

          You and Nina are carrying on a regular correspondence.  Well she was nice to us and I think you enjoy writing to her so go to it.

          All the appendectomies have been successful though some of them weren't very simple.  Outside of minor stuff that is all the surgery that is attempted. Other types are usually not emergent and are referred back to a base hospital or hospital ship.

          The heat rash is all gone so forget about it.  I knew I shouldn't have mentioned it but I was just making conversation.

          Who am I to disagree with U.S. News? Yet I don't believe the Japs will fight to the bitter end like the Germans are.  The Nazis have nothing to lose.  The Japs, on the other hand, could give up all the conquered land and still have their home industries and cities intact.  Surrendering their fleet would be giving up something they haven't much of anymore.  Peace terms keeping them down to a fourth rate power wouldn't have to be so harsh as with the Germans.  Anyway that's my opinion and I'm stuck with it until we see what really happens.

          I'm very happy to hear all is quiet and serene on the home front.  Keep the home fires burning honey and don't let things get you down.

Loving you always,

Gil

Ulithi

Lt (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

             USS Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
             Friday 3 November 1944, 10:00 PM

My Dearest

          Today I hit the jackpot again.  After days of no mail I received twenty-two letters, all at one time.  Sixteen from you, a couple from Libby, Ruth, Gilman, Manny, and the Fleishers. That was some haul. Three of the letters bear an October 9 postmark and looked like they had been soaked down.  It is my guess that these letters were on that plane that went down between the States and some of our Pacific Islands.  Anyway they were late but plenty welcome.

          I have arranged your letters chronologically and will try to cover anything that needs any comment.

          First Honey, I'm glad that you are getting out for a little recreation.  As a matter of fact all your letters have a much more cheerful tone and believe me that does make me much happier.

          The mails are going to be very slow from now on until well after Xmas so be patient if you don't hear right on the dot.  If you have anything to send on don't stall.

          I do wish I could see your new hairdo.  So you think I'd like it?  Well you know me so you can tell even if I don't see it.

          My throat cleared up quickly as did my cold and I'm in the pink right now.  I am all through with my shots and their effects. It should be smooth sailing from here on out.

          I am looking forward to the book you mention.  Do you think it is safe reading with so many sailors around? Ah Well, I'll let you know after I've read it.

          Those Xmas cards will never reach me in time so I may stow them away for next year and we'll sign both of our names to them.  By the time you get this letter the package I sent should have arrived and I hope everything will be OK.

          The Halloween party sounds very nice and I'm very sorry not to have been there to see my girls parade around, play games and entertain.

          Nina's split up with Jack isn't all surprising.  You could see it coming every time you saw them together.  However I am surprised at her joining the WACs.  Frankly I don't believe that it was purely a sex problem.  She had her friends and ways: he had his and neither was willing to compromise and divorce is the result.  After all no woman would suit me either after having loved and known you.  By comparison the same probably applies in their case.

          Regarding the office accounts.  Write or phone all who haven't made payment s in the past 30 days.  If you don't get any response turn them over to the bureau.  Pay particular attention to: Shelling, Teaham, and Mitchel.  Go easy on Curry, Guber, and Mellick.  Turn over Buchwalter  right away.  Accept the $20 from Solgado.  We would only net $5 more if we sued and would have to wait for our money.  In the future use your judgment.  Too much time slips buy for me to advise you.

          I really missed Halloween and the kids. Though I wasn't there I was wondering what you were doing.  I suppose I'll get a full report soon now.

          I hope you've sent in my correspondence course.  It takes too much time to send it to you for typing, so I'll have to write it out longhand.

          Still worrying about money?  Forget it and I shan't repeat myself again.

          I told you Mary and Wally would patch things up.  I would have bet my bottom dollars.  And by the way lay off the liquor.  Give other gifts. Whiskey such as "V.O." is practically gone, so put it away and forget about it.  Get Dr. White something at the Marbros.  They have plenty of stuff for men.  Just how far do you think a bottle of whiskey will go with just the family?  Again I say leave it alone.  I sound like a real drunk but good stuff is very hard to get and I'd rather not give it away.

          Sounds like you had a nice time with Freda and I'll drop her a note as soon as I'm caught up on my correspondence.

          Sounds like Dick and his band are really going places.  Doubling with Tommy Dorsey is really something to brag about.  I bet Ruth and Harry are really proud and they should be.

          About the rumor that I'm coming home on a furlough (really leave).  I'm afraid it's just a rumor after all.  So Ivie and Crossland are shipping out .  Well maybe, I'll see them maybe.  This Navy is really small when it comes to meeting old friends. McPherson was stationed with Jim but hasn't been there for several months.  Guess Mrs. Schurr was a little mixed up.

          The party at the Beverly Hills Hotel sounds quite nice and when I get back we have a date to go there so put it down in you date book.  You can fill the date later on.

          From what you write I'm never know my girls when I get back.  I just hope they remember me if only just a little.  Norma is really moving, right along and Linda must be quite a young lady now.  I've been away now for a few days over three months and it seems like three years.  I have a hunch that when I return I'll be back for good even if this war is still unfinished. I do think that my returning won't be too long from now.

          I've written to Edith about a watch and though I haven't heard from her  I'm sure she'll take care of it for me.  As far as what you are spending, I don't care Dear, go ahead and have fun.  That's what money is for anyway.

          Well Darling, the invasion of the Philippines is moving right along.  Though I am not involved in that action, all Navy ships and personnel  in the Pacific area fit in the general plan and have their jobs to accomplish, each one small but all working to a common goal, a final and lasting peace after a decisive victory.

          It is now midnight and time I turned in.  Honey do you remember my first weekend home after I had reported in San Diego?  Well our next meeting will just make that seem like a couple of kids playing house and I hope it'll last more than just a weekend.

          Goodnight my darling, till tomorrow.  I'll see you in my dreams.

Lovingly

Gil

Eleanor didn't know, but this is where Gil was.