The Gold Braid Have The Final Say

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

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Monday 1 October 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          A new week and a new month.  Hope that as this month gets older I find myself closer and closer to you.  Everyone on the Ocelot is anxious to get going.  But the gold braid have the final say and take their sweet time about things.  Stall as they will however, we hope to be back early in December. If they do go to work on us real quick like it may even be November.

          Today being the beginning of a new month, there were a number of reports to make out and I'm just barely started on them.  However they should all be out in a few days.  No dentistry again today just my new routine of loafing and finding that awfully hard to do.

          I'm reading "Mr. Winkle Goes to War" and find it both amusing and interesting.  I think you'd enjoy reading it.

          The mail came just as we were finishing dinner and I read your letter for dessert. There was also a letter from your mother who is visiting in Philly.  I'm glad you didn't let my letter about the storm worry you.  I was afraid to tell you about it but everyone else was writing home about it, so I changed my mind.

          My heavy duties as caterer are no more.  With just 15 officers to feed the job is very easy.  We are living in flag quarters and eating in what was the admiral's wardroom.

          I don't know what'll happen to my account of the storm when the Evening Outlook gets it and frankly I don't care.

          Guess you haven't gotten all my letters yet.  I never did have piles but I did have a fistula which Dr. Law cauterized--now you know what was wrong with my "tochas."

           As soon as I'm through I'll shower and read until I get sleepy.  So goodnight Sweet.  Love and kisses to all my three girls.

Devotedly,

Gil

Every Minute Drags

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 26 September 1945, 11:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day gone.  Another day less of being apart.  Now that it looks like we will be on our way home soon every day, every hour, yes every minute seems to drag.

          Today was mostly a day of loafing.  With about 250 men aboard there is little to keep me busy.  I saw two patients this morning and one after lunch. That is all.

          I took a shirt and pair of trousers down to the tailor for some mending and had the gold braid put on my blue coat.  I tried the coat on and it fits just right.  So I guess I've held my own as far as weight is concerned.

          I got five more letters today.  Two were of the 19th and three of the 14th.  Your plans for Mexico sound swell but I was just waiting to hear what you would do about our girls.  We'll change our minds more than once and we'll have time to talk it over when I get back.  You see, it'll take from one to two weeks to decommission before I can go on leave.

          About leave--leave after overseas duty is limited to thirty days.  However leave is cumulative, thirty days for each year of duty.  By the time I get home I'll have almost sixty days leave due me, but the most I could take then would be thirty days.  I would get the balance plus any additional time (2-1/2 days for each month of service) as separation leave.  Anyway, as I explained above we'll have time to talk things over when I get back and decide what to do depending on the conditions at the time.

          About the Buick.  I don't know what it'll cost to fix her up but I'd think twice about a new car.  If our car sells for a high price so will the new cars.  As our car depreciates, the prices on new cars will go down.  Please dear, don't do anything foolish or hasty.  I know of many other places where we can spend money to better advantage than on a new car.  Don't do anything till I get home.

          We had another excellent movie tonight.  It was "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan.  This is another movie I recommend for you to see.

          Today's mail also brought some additional snaps and they're well.  I can't wait to see my family in the flesh.

          No more for now Sweet, so goodnight and sleep tight.

Love,

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

Rumors

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

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Wednesday 29 August 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Today was supposed to be a busy one but I had some last minute cancellations so I really had an easy day.  This afternoon I loafed around and read until 4:00 PM when I had an emergency extraction.  Then back to my room for a shower and change of clothes before dinner.

          A group of us officers were going over to the beach tonight but our boat broke down and the tug we are getting isn't here yet.  Hope she gets here soon because it'll take an hour to go over.

          There was no mail today, but I didn't expect any after yesterday's five letters.  I haven't received the gold braid yet.  I guess those letters were delayed.  I've already gotten mail from Lake Arrowhead so the others should have been here by now.

          There isn't anything more I can tell you. All kinds of rumors are floating around--some that the ship will head stateside in a month or so and others that we'll be out here for months yet.  Of course, I'm hoping that the ship goes back soon.  Even if it doesn't my orders should be here in a month or so (I hope).

          That is all for tonight.  Good night Sweet.  Kiss our two darlings specially for me.

Lovingly,

Gil

Lt. Gilbert Steingart

Gold Braid

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 6 July 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweetheart, here I am again after another day.  I had a very busy morning and then after lunch I had six more patients to take care of.  Then I repaired to my bunk, censored mail and finished "Strange Women."  If you haven't read it do so.  I think you'll enjoy it.

          After a refreshing shower I dressed for dinner and then played cribbage.  Now here I am.

          The mail brought me six letters, five from you and one from Sam Kahn.  Naturally I always enjoy your letters but today's made me doubly happy simply because I read that you got over you nervousness and are generally in better spirits.

          The color scheme of our house sounds quite nice.  I'm sure that you are quite able to choose colors without my expert (?) help.

          I'm expecting Simmie over tomorrow.  He was supposed to drop me a line confirming our date.  Maybe the letter was delayed, so I'll meet the boat he is supposed to come over on.

          Yes Dear I really get more mail than anyone I know of.  In a letter to the Fleet Dental Officer, I've already indicated where I'd like my next duty to be. He asked for that and other information.

          So Norma was indisposed again.  It doesn't sound like much and I hope there is no more trouble.  You've had enough.

          It does sound like the Siegers just had a change of heart or mind about having you along for a month at Lake Arrowhead.  However, I hope something does work out and if not maybe I'll be home soon enough to make it up to you.

          Enewetok was our stop over between Pearl Harbor and Ulithi.  Regulations now permit saying where you were thirty days after you leave the place.  This is a new rule. I just overlooked telling you, but now you know.  Did you find it on a map?  It's in the Marshall Group.

          It certainly is a surprise about Mike and I'm glad it isn't Berger's Disease.  That is incurable while arteriosclerosis can be counteracted by diet and no overexertion or excitement.

          I like the photos you sent although the minicolors certainly aren't worth $1.00 each.

          We have a good movie tonight, "Tonight and Every Night" with Rita Hayworth and Janet Blair.

          In one of you recent letters you asked about changing the braid in my blues.  Okay, go ahead and do it.  Have two full strips put on the uniform I left with you and send the full stripe that is on the suit now to me. No gold braid is available out here.   I'll have it put on the blues I have with me.  That way the braid will match better on both suits.

          So my love, another day comes to an end.  Another day less for our separation.  Won't they be happy days when we are all together again?

          Goodnight Darling, I'll dream of you and us tonight.

Loving you always,

Gil