Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert
Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O.
San Francisco
Wednesday 23 May 1945,
9:45 PM
Dearest Eleanor,
Hello Sweet,
here I am once again. Today has been a
most uninteresting day. I worked all
morning at a nice easy pace. Censored
some mail after chow and then back to work.
I knocked off at 2:30 and paid a visit to the barber. Then I took a book, went up on the fantail
and took a sun bath. Before I knew what
had happened the afternoon was gone and it was time for dinner. After eating we
stood out on deck, talked, and watched a most unusual sunset. In addition to an array of vivid colors a
perfect "V" was formed in the skies.
If I were superstitious I'd say it foretold a new great victory for
us. However unusual skies are usual here
so I won't say a word.
We had an amusing movie tonight. It was "The Town Went Wild" with
Jimmy Lydon, Fred Bartholomew and Ed E.Horton.
We also saw a couple of shorts.
We usually have them along with the feature but I skip writing about
them.
There was no
mail so there is little more to tell. I am
reading "Pastoral" by Neville Shute.
Though I've only read a few pages I know I'm going to like it.
I'm enclosing
a list of Navy terms, many of which I use in my letters, probably to your
mystification. The Flag had a bunch of
new officers report aboard. For a joke, one of the old timers passed this list
out to them. The terms are really part
of our everyday vocabulary. A wall is
always a bulkhead and floor a deck. In
fact bed, ceiling, stairs, floor and other common words are actually becoming
foreign to me.
No more for
now Honey. If you don't hear from me for a few days don't worry. I'll see you in my dreams.
Love,
Gil
