Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert
Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O.
San Francisco
Friday 9 March 1945,
7:10 PM
My Dearest,
Hello Sweet,
how are you tonight? Today has been an
easy one for a change. Saw a few
patients in the morning and had some broken appointments, so I wrote letters to
Bob and Uncle Mike. Tomorrow I'll write Willie
and several others that I owe letters to.
By Sunday I should be all caught up.
After lunch I
got the sun for forty-five minutes and had just gotten comfortable in my room
to censor some mail when I was called down to my office. I had three emergency patients from another
ship and had to take care of them.
When I was
through I sat in on some more of the court marshal and because of its
interesting matter I stayed on until the final verdict was given. Then I returned to my room finished my
censoring, showered and read the Post until 5:30 when I dressed and went up for
chow.
After eating
we stood up on deck and enjoyed the gentle ocean breeze and pretty sunset and
here I am.
The movie tonight
is "Winged Victory" and is rated as very good, guess I'll go.
The mail
brought two letters from you and a card from my mother. We haven't had much rain lately but I see you
have. Enjoyed the publicity clipping you
sent. I thought you said your picture
was to be run with it or is that something else?
I'm glad you
are getting the suit you wanted. You
sounded so disappointed in your last letter.
In Pearl
Harbor, I began "Earth and High Heaven" in the Collier's
magazine. It was run serially and I never
did get past the first installment although I did try to get the following
issues. No luck! Maybe I'll get hold of the book because I did
want to read it.
You and Nina
are carrying on a regular correspondence.
Well she was nice to us and I think you enjoy writing to her so go to
it.
All the
appendectomies have been successful though some of them weren't very
simple. Outside of minor stuff that is
all the surgery that is attempted. Other types are usually not emergent and are
referred back to a base hospital or hospital ship.
The heat rash
is all gone so forget about it. I knew I
shouldn't have mentioned it but I was just making conversation.
Who am I to
disagree with U.S. News? Yet I don't believe the Japs will fight to the bitter
end like the Germans are. The Nazis have
nothing to lose. The Japs, on the other
hand, could give up all the conquered land and still have their home industries
and cities intact. Surrendering their
fleet would be giving up something they haven't much of anymore. Peace terms keeping them down to a fourth rate
power wouldn't have to be so harsh as with the Germans. Anyway that's my opinion and I'm stuck with
it until we see what really happens.
I'm very
happy to hear all is quiet and serene on the home front. Keep the home fires burning honey and don't
let things get you down.
Loving you always,
Gil
