Ocelot Won't Budge

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 19 September 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling here I am again and here we are still.  When the tide comes in the tugs pull and strain but the "old" Ocelot won't budge.  It really doesn't look like she'll ever be much good again.  I'm hoping that we'll celebrate you birthday together.

          I don't know where the days go, but they do go with very little to show for their passing.  We were all called out of our bunks at 3:15 this morning because the tide was high and we thought maybe we'd get off the reef.  Well all they can show for four attempts at getting up off at high tide is a lot of sleepy officers and men.

          I did move all my gear to my new stateroom.  I've never been quite as comfortable on this ship before.  However I've got some of my stuff in a sea bag which I won't unpack until we see what comes of the present operation.

          We just learned what would have been if the storm hadn't wrecked us.  This morning we were supposed to shove off for Tokyo, stay there for a couple of days and then go north to Ominato, then back to Tokyo, Okinawa and finally Shanghai.  The itinerary involves several months so as far as I am personally concerned, things happened for the best.

          After dinner tonight, we got some mail aboard.  I got letters from you and my mother and a stack of dental literature and Navy dental bulletins.

          We had an excellent movie tonight.  You must see it.  "That's the Spirit" with Jack Okie and Peggy Ryan was the show.  I found it unusual and very entertaining.

          Gosh I'm sleepy!  Will I ever catch up?  Hope we don't have to get up at 3:30 AM again.  That is when the tide will be in.  Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

          In the meantime Darling, goodnight.  I'll see you in my dreams because I love you.

Yours alone,

Gil

Hell of a Lot of Work

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

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Friday 14 September 1945, 6:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Okinawa may be one thousand miles north of the Philippines but it certainly isn't any cooler.  The temperature went up to one hundred and two this afternoon. Because of the lower humidity, it seemed cooler than Leyte. 

          My "tochas" is still sore but I've been comfortable except for a few minutes after a BM.  Anyway tomorrow I'm going back to work.  I have quite a backlog of patients to take care of so I'll be quite busy for the next week or so.

          This afternoon I settled down and wrote letters to both mothers, Libby and Ruth.  Tomorrow I'll write Uncle Mike, Uncle Bill and Deb.  Then I'll be about caught up.

          Mail came aboard in the late afternoon and I really hit the jackpot.  I got eleven letters and a card from you, a letter from Libby, two letters from your mother and my electric shave to boot.

          I know how disappointed you must feel at my not coming directly home.  However I do expect to be back in the United States before the end of the year and maybe long before.  Here is the situation.  A service force supplies troops and ships with fuel, food, clothing and repair necessary for maintaining an active force.  Naturally there are no establishments ashore yet but as soon as they are built, the headquarters will be established ashore and we won't be needed anymore.  That is the long way of looking at it.  Admiral Smith should have another flagship within three weeks.  There is a very good chance of our returning home then. Believe me we are all praying that will be so.  Anyway you needn't be concerned about my safety because Japan is well under control now.

          It sounds like your last days in Arrowhead were quite full.  I hope you didn't let Ruth spoil your stay by hurrying you home before you had planned. My guess, however, is that you were fed up with the inconvenience of the place and that you were ready to get back to decent comfort.

          I received the gold braid and the tailor will go to work on it in the morning

          The war is over but there is still a hell of a lot of work to be done.  Did you know that Marine Corps officers need sixty points to get out?  I wouldn't be at all surprised, even if Leon doesn't think so, to hear that he was sent out again.  He has had a tour of duty overseas but he's been back in the United States a long time and there are still many doctors out here who'll need relieving.  Now you know about the extra quarter point per month for sea duty.  I'm expecting extra points for children to be announced soon.  Of course it doesn't hurt for civilians to write their congressman. I bet they are doing plenty of writing.

          Tonight's movie is "Patrick the Great" with Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan.  It should be amusing. 

          Now Sweet please try to hold on a little longer.  The going has been rough and you've been alone and unhappy.  But deep down, we were always together in spirit and very soon now we'll be together physically.  Keep smiling and one of these days I'll be writing you the wonderful news you've been looking and praying for.

          Goodnight my love.  I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

P.S.    We are supposed to sail from here on Tuesday 18 September so there'll be another break in mail.

Gil

Buy G Bonds

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 17 January 1945, 6:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Well I did it again today.  This morning I got the National Jewish Monthly and the American Dental Association Bulletin.  This afternoon I got six letters from you, marked 4th, 6th and 8th. Also a nice letter from Harry.  And best of all I got the recordings of Norma's and Linda's voices and yours too. Sweetheart it really was good to hear all three of you again.  In the future cut the records a little deeper.  There is an adjustment for it on the cutting head.  With the needles we use out here the home recordings are easily ruined when shallowly cut.

          Now to your mail.  No I didn't send cards to Krause or Kramer.  They're not on my list and I've just got to draw the line somewhere.

          I don't recall the exact bank balance in the Santa Monica Bank account, though you could check it by the day book from my office.  In the back there is a perpetual balance carried forward.  I do think however it was around $2,300.  Check it and let me know.  How about taking $1,000 out from the San Diego bank and buying a series "G" bond.  That is the same type we bought with the $2,000 from my office equipment.  It is negotiable so it can always be cashed in and 2-1/2% interest is better than nothing.

          The signatures on the menu were those of the officers and crew, though probably several missed signing it.  All the drawings on menus and greetings originated from my office.  My corpsman is quite clever and when we get together we always get something nice out.

          About the liquor dear, I would have felt like a 24 karat heel to bootleg some of it to one of the crew.  Sorry I can't agree with you on that point but it isn't important, really.

          Scuttlebutt still is the same though a month has been added to the original three that I heard of at first.  Still I'd bet money that I won't be out longer than a year at the most.  Keep your panties on.  You'll have plenty of time to get ready when I get orders to return and then will there be a hot time in the old time! Wow!

          You mention three letters written on the 5th but I only got two.  Bet I get another stack tomorrow.  This mail is hard to figure.  One of you letters tells me about records you're sending me and the records got here the same time as the letter.  Yet one came air mail and the other regular mail.

          I see my guess about the Seitz home was correct. We'll still have a "real" home after this war and you'll be real proud of it.  Just wait and see.

          The box of fruit and nuts Deb sent were glazed and very delicious.  My roommates and I enjoyed it to the last crumb.  The "vitamin pills" arrived in excellent condition but I still have most of them.  You see, we can get chocolates and candies, so it's not as novel as the fruit.

          The Mary, Willie and Wally story is nothing new as far as I'm concerned.  Surely you knew what was going on too.

          If Dick thinks the Merchant Marine as a job is better than the Navy he is in for a rude awakening.  They may not have the strict discipline but Merchant Marine ships usually take part in invasions and are easier marks than Navy ships because they don't carry as much armament as a Navy ship would.

          Today has been just a routine day.  Worked all morning examining and filling teeth.  I've made a survey of the crews' health records and found 83 who hadn't received treatment in the past six months so I'm calling them all in, 10 per day.

          After lunch I went over to a nearby ship and bought a pint of ice cream for a dime and did I enjoy it.  Then I looked after some library, welfare and mess duties that had been awaiting my attention.  By then it was 4:00 PM so I undressed, showered, censored mail and read until 5:30.  Then I dressed for dinner, ate and here I am.

          I forgot to mention that we had pictures of the whole ship's company taken yesterday and every man will receive a copy.  I hope that the chief censor will allow them to be sent home.

          "Wilson" last night was good though it was slow in places.  Tonight we have "This is the Life" with Peggy Ryan and Donald O'Connor and its rated 4.0.

          Well darling I've been writing now for forty-five minutes and my fingers are getting tired.  Do you remember in the good old days when you were my social secretary and did all my writing for me?  After the war you will receive you reappointment for life.

          Good night Sweet I love you and miss you and look to the day when we'll all be one again.

Impatiently,

Gil

Get Hold of a Chicago Tribune of October 19th

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

             Sunday 24 December 1944, 6:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Got ten letters today and they were a most welcome Xmas present.  There was one from Libby and one from your mother.  The rest were from you.

          I was slightly inebriated last night and though I wrote you I probably didn't make much sense.  Anyway I feel swell today and I've snapped out of that mood I was in.  I didn't work today so I've spent a leisurely quiet Sunday reading eating and resting.

          No dear I don't play the piano.  It is in the mess hall.  I explained in a previous letter why I don't use it.  There is plenty of music aboard now so please don't send any more.  Yes I received the correspondence course.

          I don't know how long we'll stay here.  By the way get a hold of a Chicago Tribune of October 19th.  There is an interesting story in there which will answer many of your questions.  We should be moving further west in thirty days or so but that depends entirely on how well we fair in the present Philippine engagements.

          Yes, Hartfield will stay on as skipper. Our exec was the navigator aboard.  Right again.  I meant jigsaw and not crossword puzzles.  The Ocelot greeting when it is reduced in size is in V-mail form and photographed will look a lot different than it does in the original.  However I didn't send any out personally.  Instead I sent the cards I bought in Honolulu and those you sent me.

          Most of the men who went back to the states had been at sea since last January.  So you see there is a lot of chance for me to get back within the year and maybe sooner than we dare hope.  Let's keep our fingers crossed and see.

          Hartfield is a lieutenant.  I learned today that Samuels got in on construction of a new APA.

          How far do you think two pair of socks will go?  Send me half a dozen.

          Now Dearest, by the time you get this letter the holidays will be past and I do hope you've overcome your blueness.  I know it's hard to take but you must face it.  A few more months and who knows who'll walk in?

          Back to me.  Had religious services aboard today as usual and have arranged with a nearby aircraft carrier to send our men over there for Xmas services tomorrow.

          The movie tonight is "Kismet" with Marlene Dietrich besides a "March of Time." Last night's movie was "Babes on Swing Street" with Peggy Ryan and a couple of shorts not worth mentioning.

          My mustache and beard are coming right along and I do hope I can have a picture taken before I take it off.  I wonder if you'd know me?

          Darling, do you remember when we moved to San Diego how happy we were to be together?  Well this is our last separation.  When I return the war will be almost over and we'll always be together from then on.

          Good night my love, parting is such sweet sorrow, till me meet tomorrow.

Devotedly

Gil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mosquitos and Ship Construction Disturbed My Sleep

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

29 September 1944, 10:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day closer to when we'll be together again. A very uneventful day.

          Had my usual juice and coffee for breakfast.  Then worked for about two hours.  I've arranged another beach party for the crew and that took up the rest of the morning.

          Also, Jim called this morning. He is driving over to have lunch aboard with me tomorrow.  After lunch I had a little more work and then mail to read.  A card from my mother, a couple of letters from you and the September Journal of the Southern California State Dental Association.  After I finished reading, I had my hair cut, showered and got ready for dinner.  Then I sat around on the fo'castle listening to some more recordings of radio programs made for broadcast overseas.  The records play for half an hour and are just as good as the original program.  Then movies, "The Merry Monahans," with Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan and Jack Okie.  Very good entertainment--see it when you can.  After the movie we visited for awhile on deck and then--here I am.

          You mention Mike's visit.  I dropped him a line about 10 days ago.  Maybe that helped.  Anyway I'm glad you're able to get along and don't have to walk or ride buses.  Anything that is lost in moving should be claimed for.  Notify Al and let him worry about it.  That is why we pay those premiums.  Make a claim for the movies and glasses along with the rest.  By the way did you ever get that last roll of movie film back?

          I am drawing $118 a month.  When I'm at sea, $35-40 will be all I'll need.  However situated the way I have been here, money just goes.  Been having liberty every other day and a drink here, a cab there, and meals beside and--not enough money especially after a few shopping tours.  Figure it out for yourself.  Dear, a "fruit salad" pin is a must on my next shopping tour. You may wear it and when I want to wear one I'll get another.  Don't worry about Dr. White and his bill, although you might suggest paying him, he'll say no.  Then go out and buy him something nice.  I'm sure it will be OK.  That charm bracelet you mention runs into money out here, but I'll look around and see what I can do.  A couple of dolls are on my Xmas list as of now.  Enough for now.  I'll be with you again in the morning.  Good night, dearest.

Saturday 30 August 1944, 8:30 AM

          Good morning, Sweetheart.  Didn't sleep well last night.  Some men working on the ship made a lot of noise and woke most of the officers up.  Then those mosquitoes decided they had left me alone long enough and went to work.  I've several beauties--not mosquitoes--bites.

          Nothing new since last night.  Do you remember how you used to make lunch and bring it up to the office and have a bite with me?  Seems so long ago.  After the war we'll have lunch together often, won't we dear, and you won't need to bring it up.  That is all for now, will be with you again tonight.

Loving you as ever

Gil

P.S. Regarding Mrs. Numma, I advised against having her teeth extracted and she went somewhere else to have it done.  Then she came to me to make her a new set of dentures; the others didn't fit (?)  Unless you know her you wouldn't understand the problem.  However, dear, before communicating with patients in the future regarding any complaints, let me know first if possible.

Gil