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

Types

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday, 11 April 1945, 7:15 PM

My Dearest,

          How are you today Sweet?  I'm just the same.  Fat, sassy, and working all the time.  Had my usual busy morning but was through by 11:15.  Then I received nine letters, seven from you, one from Marty and one from your mother.  It was lunch time before I was through reading them.

          Gee the maps are swell.  When you send me some more art corners I'll be able to place them in my album.

          This afternoon was spent on my paper work and it was 4:30 before I was through.  I still have several afternoons of book work before my records and reports will be all up to date.

          Now back to my mail.  So many questions.  Alexander types my courses for me.  He is my corpsman.  No don't send the snaps back.  I don't have the negatives so I wouldn't want to lose them.  Besides I'll always be able to fill in the names for you at a later date.

          It's funny but you and I are both thinking the same about my office down to the shells, fish and furnishings.  I have quite an assortment of shells and I'm adding to my collection all the time.

          Thanks for telling me all about Easter.  I enjoyed every word of it though it did make me feel a little homesick to think of what I'm missing.  Sounds like a lot of changes in Santa Monica.  Suppose they're all making money too fast to spend it.

          Leon wrote and told me about the move to Treasure Isle.  I must answer in a day or two.

          Sounds like you're going through a pile of dough.  Take it easy gal.  The fur coat can wait until fall now that winter is over.  $700 worth of fixing on the house sounds like a hell of a lot of dough.  However as usual I'll close by saying use your own judgment.

          Didn't we see the Dunham Dancers once? They sure sound familiar.

          No, the Dental Corps is not separate from the Medical Corps.  It's just that we do our own administrative work rather than have the Medical Corps handle it.  Just a lot of extra work with no more independence than before.

          I didn't get any clipping about the new dental clinic.  Dr. Webster applied to the Navy when I did, but didn't pass physically.  He is a pretty nice guy and used to be a school dentist.

          The car is certainly costing now, but then again you haven't had to spend much on it since I shipped out.

          Sorry the Arrowhead deal fell through.  Maybe you'll have a much pleasanter holiday in the late summer or early fall.  Keep your fingers crossed.

          There is no use my talking to the doctor here.  See Lewis if you're not feeling well.  However you did consult a doctor at the hospital in Diego didn't you? However if anything is bothering you you'd be better off getting some professional advice.  Go ahead and see him.  You don't need my permission.

          This morning I began to shave and my shaver broke.  Well I got some screw drivers, took the damn thing apart, soldered a broken spring and it's as good as new.  I could use a new head for my Schick.  Get one from Marty and send it on.

          The movie tonight is Rosalind Russell in "Roughly Speaking" and is rated very good.

          I must dash now as it's almost that time.  Good night Honey, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love and kisses,

Gil

Lots of snaps ("maps")--Eleanor,Eleanor and Deb,and Dave 

Tanked to the Gills

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 23 December 1944, 10:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, her I am and tanked to the gills just like I threatened last night.

          Today began like every other day--work.  I knocked off at 11:00 AM and visited with the skipper.  Then I had lunch.  After lunch five of the officers including the  

went ashore.  We got back at 6:15 P.M. I had dinner with the rest.  Somehow I made my rack and climbed in.  Came to at 8:15 PM and went to the movie.  Don't ask me what it was about? And don't bother seeing it, lousy!!

          You'll probably think, my is he tight, but really it's not as bad as it sounds.  I am reading an interesting book called "The Pacific World." It describes of the islands of the Pacific, the animal life, vegetation, sea life and additional interesting information.  I have the book in my room and in my next letter I'll give you more details about it.  I know you'll enjoy reading it.

          When I got back this evening I found a package containing the electric shaver so you can see how long mail takes out his way.  That was all today so there is nothing for me to comment on.

          Darling, do you remember past years before Xmas when I came home "blotto" and how provoked you were?  Please excuse this performance.  I really felt like I had a good excuse.  Next year we'll do it together.

          Good night love, I'll sign off before I pass out.  I love you and miss you and wow could I do with a little loving tonight.

Devotedly,
Gil

Beer, beer, more beer with engineering officer

Whew is he stinkin!

The camera man must have been higher than us

        

Philippines Have Been Invaded

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
          Wednesday 18 October 1944, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          After a busy morning, I had lunch and went on liberty.  Began with a couple of beers at the Officers' Club and then took a bus down to the beach.  Didn't do much.  Browsed around in a couple of book stores and window shopped but really couldn't find a thing I wanted to buy.  So after a couple of hours of looking, I returned to the ship and just in time for dinner.

          After dinner, Ambie, my new roommate Cox and I went over to visit a civilian couple living

               censored 

They live in

               censored

similar to what we saw all over Southern California near all war production plants.  The only difference is that the interior is finished much more attractively.  This particular place was a studio duplex, the living and dining room and kitchen downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs.  They have two boys and have lived here

               censored. 

We visited and hoisted a few and returned to the ship just a few moments ago with an invitation to come to a party Saturday night which I'm hoping

               censored.

          No mail yet, but I'll bet I get a stack in the morning.  So darling, until then, adios my Sweet and pleasant dreams.

Love

Gil

Thursday 8:30 AM

Good Morning Sweetheart,

          Got three letters from you and one from your mother so now I've got something to work on.  Was glad to read that you had gotten out and had a pleasant evening for a change.  Why do you worry so much about money?  Even if we run a little over our present income we can still hold out for a while.  After the war I'll make up the difference, just wait and see.

          I'm not too surprised about Norma and her dancing lessons.  After all she is still an infant and though I didn't want to say so, the $10.00 a month would have been just wasted.  A year from now she'll still be plenty young to resume dancing.

          What happened to Dave's commission? I thought it was all set and now you tell me about he's getting ready to go overseas.  Was that just another of his pipe dreams or what?

          I'm sure electric shaver will be satisfactory just hope it reaches us in a reasonable period of time.  I will write to Edith this morning and see what can be done about a watch for you.

          The Pacific War is moving right along.  I notice that now the Philippines have been invaded.  I just caught the headline of a newspaper so I don't know any more about it as yet.  However as soon as I'm through I'll read all about it.

          Honey, every day and every military action brings me close to home.  Time does drag but still it is almost three months since I reported aboard.  Before you know it, my time out here will be up and I'll be on my way back.

          I must sign off now darling.  Remember that I still love you always have and always will.  Give my two girls a big kiss from their daddy.

Love

Gil

Can't Obtain Electric Shavers

Tuesday 10 October 1944,10:00 AM

Good Morning Sweet,

          Just got through reading the morning's mail.  I sure did hit the jackpot.  Three from you and notes from Taylor, Nina, Freda A., your mother, B'nai B'rith Bulletin and a note from the American Dental Association plus some Navy Department literature.

          I will answer the inquiry about Elaine immediately.  Of course Mary is all wet, and I wasn't scolding or being angry honey.  I was just trying to illustrate my point.  However enough said on the subject.

          How is the new girl panning out?   Twenty dollars a month for dancing school does seem quite high but once we leave here I won't spend half the amount I'm spending now and that will more than take care of it.  Anyway please don't worry about money.  I made some once and I'll do it again.

          Do you remember Linda's first Xmas?  How I wish I could just view the movies of that day now.  After the war I'm going to take more and more pictures.  As a matter of fact I wish I had brought my camera with me.  But then the expense would have been high.

          Honey I have an important errand for you.  Call Marty immediately and see if he can give you or get for you an electric shaver.  Any make will do, either new or used.  The Captain's burned out and there are none obtainable here.  If you get one, air mail it out immediately.  Also write as to what luck you've had finding one.

          Got to dash now so I'll sign off. Bye, Sweetheart.  I do love you and miss you and my girls a lot.

Lovingly

Gil