Both Forearms and Both Legs in Casts

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 15 June 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just another day far away from the one I love.  Worked as usual all morning.  After lunch three of us took a boat over to the hospital to see Jim Lyons.  Poor fellow he is in bed with both forearms and both legs in casts and will remain so for 90 to 120 days.  In spite of it all he is quite cheerful and making the best of a very unpleasant situation.  We visited with him for an hour and then returned to the ship.         

          There was no work for me to do because it was field day.  So I stripped down to my skivvies and censored a stack of mail.  Then I read from "Saratoga Trunk," showered and dressed.

          I sent off an air mail package with a little something I made for each of my girls.  I do think the chain on Norma's gift is too heavy so if you like you can have a finer one put on.  Both of the kiddies' gifts are made from coconut shell.  Yours, you'll be able to tell more about when you see it.  I've still got some other ideas about the coconut shell and will see what comes of it.

          The mail service has been very poor lately.  Guess the mail planes have been grounded because of adverse weather conditions.  I did get one letter today dated June 5.  I received the 4th three days ago.

          I see you are still teaching.  Well, vacation will be here soon and you'll get a long rest.  Maybe by the time school opens again I'll be home.  One never can tell.

          I'm sure Norma's party will be or should I say was a great success.  I'm sure missing plenty but we'll re-celebrate all these occasions as we've planned.

          We had an old but excellent movie tonight, "Fired Wife" with Louise Allbritton and Diana Barrymore.  We saw it together long ago.

          Well Sweet, I'm all done for tonight so bye and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Impacted Molars

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 22 April 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Today was Sunday; my day of rest.  So I didn't go to work until 9:00 AM but from then on I worked.  In addition to a full morning I had three emergency patients. Two of them were impacted molars. I really earned my pay today.

          After lunch I took a liberty party ashore.  We returned to the ship at 4:30 and wow when I came into my room there were seven letters from you, the package with the canned fish and some literature from the Bureau of Medicine.

          So I showered and relaxed in my bunk with my mail.  The letters were postmarked 11, 12, and 13 and so here goes.

          Be sure anything you send is well wrapped.  The package I got today was pretty well beat up.  Both of my watches are fixed now. The little Westclox is in my room.  No it doesn't tick at all loudly.

          I saw both "Practically Yours" and the "Jade Mark." Don't worry about me being short.  If the May ALNAV doesn't catch me the June one will. I'll have over $400 on the books May 1.

          I'm experimenting on the shell of a coconut.  I think I'll have something pretty to send home one of these days.

          The war news does continue to sound good.  Maybe this whole mess will be over soon.

          You have Ambie's address correct.  I'm sure he'll answer you.

          Did you enjoy "Atlantic City?"  I didn't.

          You plan the new home.  I have a hunch we'll have one a lot sooner than either of us dreams.

          It was April 13 when we got the news of Roosevelt's passing.  Don't worry dear, he was a great man but I'm sure that his untimely death will not slow the coming victory.  We must have faith that there are other men who can and will lead us capably.

          I've written to my mother twice in the past month.  She'll probably get the letters soon, if she hasn't already.

          The movie tonight is "I Love a Mystery" with a bunch of unknowns and is rated only fair.  I'll take a look-see anyway.

          No more for now darling so adios my Sweet until tomorrow.

Loving you always,

Gil

Coconut Paperweight

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 19 April 1945, 7:25 PM

Dearest Sweetheart,

          Hello Darling, how are you today, busy?  This being our big girl's birthday, I bet you've been rushing around all day.

          I too have been busy.  I worked in my office all morning and part of the afternoon.  I spent the remainder of the afternoon working on that coconut paperweight I've talked about making.  It is all finished except for a coat of clear varnish that I'll put on tomorrow.  It'll really look nice.

          After I left my office I went up on the poop deck with a book and got the sun for an hour.  I'm reading a historical novel entitled "Look Away, Look Away" but I'll have to refer back to the book for the name of the author.  It is about a migration of southern aristocrats to Brazil immediately after the Civil War and is based on fact.  I believe you'd find it interesting; try to get hold of it.

          Today, I got one letter, dated the 10th, from my favorite girl friend. So you are back at John Adams Junior High.  You seem to like it there and your present assignment is a cinch.

          What about Linda's eyes?  I never did get a letter telling me what the doctor said.  Now you mention going back.  Repeat the "dope" in a couple of letters so I'll be sure to hear even if one gets lost in the shuffle.

          We have another repeat movie tonight, "Janie." I hope we get some new ones soon.  All we've been seeing lately are repeat showings.

          No more for now, so I'll sign off with love and kisses to all my loved ones.

Yours always,

Gil

Ran a Higgins Landing Craft Aground

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 1 January 1945, 7:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          And so begins a new year. First, I want to tell you a little more of the celebration aboard.  After I finished my letter I intended to turn in, but no chance.  The men had gotten hold of pots, pans, garbage can tops and the band's drums and were parading all over the ship making a most ungodly racket.  Most of the officers were fairly well oiled.  We all went up to the Captain's quarters to serenade him and wish him a happy new year.  We probably awoke him so I doubt if he appreciated it.  Then we returned to the wardroom for a snack and finally I turned in.

          Worked all morning on the mess statement.  It cost me $25 last month to eat and that was really cheap. 

          After lunch today a few of us went ashore.  Two bottles of beer was all I drank.  I just didn't feel like it.  Instead I hunted for more shells.  I have quite a collection now.

          The boat we were using was a Higgins Landing Craft.  She ran aground over some coral and we had a hell of a time trying to get someone to pull us off.  We finally got someone to do it and returned safely.  Of course there was no danger because we were close to the shore and there were many boats around.  Besides it wasn't deep or we wouldn't have run aground in the first place.

          The movie tonight is "Should Strangers Marry" and the cast are all unknown to me.  I'll tell you more about it tomorrow.

          I also brought a coconut back.  I'm going to polish it up and make a souvenir paper weight out of it.

          Nothing new today except more confirmation on the previous scuttlebutt.  We may be moving out of here even sooner than the three months I figured on at first.  Here's hoping.

          No mail again today.  I'll probably get a whole sack full when I do get some.

          Darling, do you remember New Years Day of previous years?  Just lounging around because we were too sleepy and tired to go anyplace.  I'd listen to the football game and maybe doze off before it was all over.  Well, Sweet next year we'll stay home together and rest and listen to the ball game in-between (?)

          Good night Sweetheart, the movie is about due to begin.

Love,

Gil

 

We Said Goodbye Four Months Ago. It Seems Like Four Years.

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

           U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O San Francisco
           Thursday 16 November 1944, 9:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          After writing last night I went to the movie and saw a very unusual picture, "Someone to Remember."  You must see it if you haven't already.  After the movie I turned in and read until ten and then lights out.

          Worked this morning as usual.  After lunch I went on liberty for the first time in about a week.  What did I do?  I drank a few beers and just wandered along the shore looking for unusual colored shells and pieces of coral.  I brought back a pocket full.  Maybe I'll have a collection by the time I return.  There are many coconut trees here and the nuts are lying just everywhere.  So I picked up one and cracked the shell and drank some of the milk and ate some of the nut meat.  Some of the coconuts have been lying around so long that they have sprouted roots and green shoots are growing out of the nut itself.  Wish I could tell you more about this place, but so much for now.

          Got back tired, hot, and sticky so I took a shower and read for half an hour before dinner.  After eating I got into a small blackjack game and after a whole hour I won about fifty cents.  There must be an easier way to make money.

          Tonight we had another good movie, "His Butler's Sister."  I believe we both missed it and it really is worth seeing.

          And that's the way it is.  Somehow the days go by.  It is almost four months since we said goodbye but it seems like four years.  How I would love to spend an evening with my Sweet and our two little darlings.  Oh well, maybe it won't be so very long when we'll have more than an evening together.

          Well Honey, there is no more for now.  Do you remember how I used to write you when you spent the month at Catalina?  And in between letters how I wanted to telephone but you didn't have a phone.  Now you do have a phone but still I can't call.  Just wait until I get one I can use!  After this war I'll keep the wires hot every time we get separated for even a few hours.

          Good night dear and pleasant dreams.

Lovingly

Gil