Salvage

Wednesday 24 October 1945, 9:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day gone to hell.  During the night a squadron of mosquitoes dive bombed me and this morning I awoke with a lump on my forehead, a swollen eye and a protruded lower lip.  Now the swelling if gone.  The hut has been sprayed with DDT so I hope they won't invade us again tonight.

          The day went but darned if I can say how.  Didn't even do any reading.  Dinner tonight was the first decent meal we've had since we've been ashore.  We had steak with French fries and peas. For dessert we had butterscotch pudding with peaches.  Then to the movies.  We had "The Angels Sing" with Dorothy Lamarr and Betty Hutton.  Some time ago, we had it on the ship.  A musical is good for two or three showings.

          Wish I had some new dope to give you but nary a word.  We are waiting on the survey board to have their say and then we can decommission in short order.  Everyone knows the Ocelot can't be salvaged, but the board still has to make a formal investigation and report.  That's the way the Navy is.

          No more for tonight Sweetheart.  So goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil


USS Ocelot

Star Was Dennis Day

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday, 26 March 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          This has been one busy day. Believe it or not this is the first free time I've had since I got up this morning.

          I worked all morning and at 12:30 I took a liberty part of eighty-eight men ashore for a little recreation.  It rained most of the afternoon and by the time we got back to the ship at 5:15 we were all thoroughly soaked.

          I peeled off my wet clothes and after a hot shower dressed for dinner.  Just as I finished eating the exec informed me that Claude Thornhill and his show had been obtained for us for tonight and to get ready.

          The first lieutenant got his carpenters together and a small platform stage was rigged. I got the electricians busy on lighting and got our PA system hooked up.  For a backdrop we hung a number of colorful signal flags.  We were all ready at 7:45 and that was really making time.

          I met the entertainers on the quarterdeck and took them below.  As I wrote before Jackie Cooper, Bobby Riggs (Mary Lou imitator of the radio) and several others are in the show.  Claude Thornhill was an arranger for Castellanez (?spelling) as well as a band leader in his own right.  His musicians are taken from many well known bands such as Goodman, Weeks, and others.  The star attraction was Dennis Day and he really is good.  He is an ensign. After the show he came up to the wardroom and we sat around and talked until his boat came for him.  By the way, after the show we served ice cream to all hands.  Now here I am.

          I hit the jackpot today.  This morning, I got eight letters from you and one from your mother. When I came down to my office to write to you a few minutes ago I found two V-mails that came this afternoon, one from Libby and the other from Edward Rubin of the B'nai B'rith.

          Linda is getting to be quite the young lady.  Movies on Saturday, dancing school and soon the piano.  Well I'm hoping to be there when she starts in the fall.

          You mention Sophie and Fay several times.  Are they the two service wives you recently met?  Anyway I'm glad you've found some new congenial acquaintances.

          Such dreams!  I have only one girl friend and you know who she is.  No matter where I go when I get back my three girls are all going there with me.

          What about my girls' Mommy?  Well gee whiz can't you wait and be surprised?  If you can't you'll have to anyway.

          So Jerry and Marty are still feudin'.  Well it's a small world with many "small" people.

          "The Angels Sing" and "A Song to Remember" are both very enjoyable and I'm glad you got to see them.

          I didn't know Dr. Lewis was back.  Guess one of your letters telling me more about it will bounce in one of these days.

          I can't tell you what kind of shots we got but it really doesn't matter now, does it?

          I really didn't enjoy the American Weeklies much.  Really, I have plenty of reading matter so please don't send any more unless there are some novelty books or magazines you think I'd enjoy.

          The Coast Guard pharmacist you mentioned--does he know the Ocelot or is he just speaking generally?  Don't let it get you down dear.  He could be wrong.

          Well this has been a long winded letter.  I hope I didn't tire you out.  I'll sign off now as it's 11:20 and I should turn in.

          Good night Sweetheart and the next time dream about us being together.

Loving you always,

Gil

Lucky

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 7 March 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          This has been another busy day.  I saw seven patients in the morning.  When I was through it was 11:45 AM. The score was eighteen fillings and three extractions.

          After lunch I censored some mail and then returned to my office to see a couple more patients.  Then I went up on the poop deck and enjoyed the sun for forty-five minutes.

          After that I went to my room and visited with a chaplain who came on board for the day.  Then I spent an hour or so mounting snapshots in the album the Goodfriends sent.  The first thing I knew it was 5:15, so I showered and dressed for dinner.

          After dinner we enjoyed the cool breezes on the bridge deck and looked for a pretty sunset, but there were many clouds on the horizon and it didn't pan out.  Now, here I am.

          There was no mail today.  If there had been some I'd have been surprised because I've been real lucky of late.  Come to think of it I was lucky when I married my loving correspondent and that luck has stayed with me all these years.

          The movie last night "The Angels Sing" was very good and though I thought I'd seen it I really hadn't.  Tonight's movie is "Something for the Boys" with Carmen Miranda and Michael O'Shea.  It is rated as being very good.

          Honey, that is all there is for today.  I wish there were some new encouraging scuttlebutt about me coming home or something but there isn't a damn thing worth talking about.

          So--good night my love, I'll see you in my dreams (I hope).

Loving you always,

Gil

Fourteen Fillings and Three Extractions

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 6 March 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          I really worked this morning.  I only saw five patients but the count for the morning was fourteen fillings and three extractions.  Besides that there were a couple examinations and a denture adjustments thrown in.

          I hit the jackpot this morning.  I got nine letters and a card from you, a card from Linda, and a letter from Ruth.  I also got a snapshot album from the Goodfriends and a can of almond butter crunch from Deb and Dave.  The album is very nice and covered with tan leather.  The candy is delicious and is practically gone.  Everyone enjoyed it.

          This afternoon I attended to my Mother's Day shopping.  Saw two more patients and then got forty-five minutes of sun.  After that I had my hair cut, returned to my room and censored some mail.  By then it was 5:15 so I showered and dressed for dinner.  After chow we enjoyed the cool breezes and the usual pretty sunset and here I am.

          Honey, I know you are busy and if you don't get a letter off right on time don't let it worry you.  I still have the sweetest, truest, most loving wife of any man aboard and I will understand.

          I'm glad you enjoyed the ballet and it's a date for next season--just you and I.                   

          It is swell about Deb and Dave.  Whether it's an accident or intentional I know they'll be happier for it in years to come.  Yes dear it is their show and none of your business anymore than it was theirs when you were infanticipating. 

          Honey your outlook on life bothers me.  You hate to see anyone happy or making money and seem to delight when upsetting things happen to others.  I know they say "misery loves company," but you never were that way.  When I come back I want you to be as I knew you, a lovely gal with a great big heart.  Please understand Dear that what I'm saying is not a reproval but rather that you were so much happier with your previous attitude.  I won't say anymore about it, but please snap out of it.

          Unless he is very careful about the care of his feet, Dick's athlete's foot business will be recurring as long as he's in the Army.  We have it aboard and it's a "bitch" to cure.

          I'm placing the bag and bracelets on my list.  Hope we get to somewhere that I may be able to buy some more novelties.

          The donations to the center fund are very heartwarming.  It is an important project and will do our community more good than any temple ever did or will.  I'm just sorry that some of the diehards won't quit and continue to block any attempt to accomplish anything worthwhile.

          The movie tonight is "The Angels Sing," with McMurray, Dorothy Lamour and Betty Hutton.  It's 4.0.

          I'm all run out for now so I'll sign off.  Goodnight Sweetheart and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil