Won 25 Dollars Last Night and Lost 25 Cents Tonight

Thursday 18 October 1945, 11:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Another day gone and another day closer to when we'll be together again.  Just loafed around all day.  It sure is hard to keep busy when there isn't a darn thing to do.  I did find an Ellery Queen mystery.  I read part of that today, but all in all today was just another one wasted.

          Today I got some more old mail dated the 1st and 4th October.  Wish I could tell you when we are leaving but I can't.  The Navy announced a three point reduction in points with additional reductions in December and January 1st.  It could happen that I'll be a civilian by the time I'm thirty-six.  I couldn't think of a nicer birthday present.

          I think I'll be home in time to help you with your Xmas shopping, but to be home by Thanksgiving and your birthday is cutting it pretty thin.  However, it could happen.  They've started decommissioning the "Mighty O" and they could be finished by the end of the month.

          I think I remember Mary Billings.  Is she a thin, nervous type of girl around thirty-five?  No use asking as I'm not expecting any reply.  By the time any answers get out here I hope to be on my way home.  Why only 200 men aboard?  The flag carried about 500 enlisted men, yeomen, radiomen, storekeepers and signalman.  When they moved, they took them along.  The men we had aboard were just those necessary for running the ship.

          You've been talking long enough now about how you've been feeling.  How about going to a doctor and getting the low down once and for all.

          Talking about weight, since we've been ashore I've been doing lots of walking up and down hills and my appetite is tremendous. Hope I keep my weight down to what it was.  Here the food is better so I eat plenty.

          Your honeymoon schedule is excellent, but I do have one complaint.  Don't you think you should allow more time for loving?

          Saw a real good, though old, movie tonight.  It was "Knute Rockne All American," with Pat O'Brien.  After the movie we played a little poker.  I won $25 last night and lost about 25 cents tonight.  I'm not doing too badly, am I?

          That is all for tonight so I'll sign off and go to bed.  Hope I dream about us I love you so.

Yours forever,

Gil

Dope Holds

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 25 September 1945, 9:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          How is my Sweet tonight?  In good spirits I hope.  I am because the same dope holds for today as did yesterday--we are going home soon.

          Today was just another routine day with appointments all morning and nothing to do all afternoon. Just reading, cribbage and lounging around in our wardroom.

          At 5:00 PM I showered and dressed for dinner.  Then the mail came.  I got letter of the 10th and 13th from you, a real cute card too, and a letter from Deb with a picture of her pride and joy.  What a monkey!  
         Then after chow we sat around for awhile and then to the movies.  The enclosed program is typical of the one put out daily.  This movie was very entertaining.  If you haven't done so yet, see it.  Now here I am.

          Again your mail is old so there is nothing to comment on.  By now you know that we've worked in both the 3rd and 5th fleet.  Here at Okinawa the 7th fleet is in control at present.  Since the flag moved off, none of the fleet action or movement effects us.  Now we are under Service Force Pacific and have no function to perform.  Maybe after we get fixed up on Guam they'll throw in a mess of temporary bunks and let us take several hundred men back to the United States with us.

          No more for now Sweet.  I know the next few weeks, until we actually get underway, will be trying. But we'll put up with it won't we dear?  Goodnight Honey and sweet dreams.

Love,

Gil

High and Dry on Reef

Letter misdated--Correct date 18 September 
Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 19 September 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello darling here is your shipwrecked sailor on his ship sitting high and dry on a reef.  Everything is pretty much under control but we won't know what gives until we are pulled off the reef.

          The flag moved off today and until we get off we'll really live in style.  All to myself, I have an excellent stateroom on the bridge deck with an adjoining toilet and shower.  All these staterooms have a two way intercom system.  All I have to do to speak to any of the other officers is to flash and switch and carry on.

          All afternoon, we had a couple of tugs trying to get us off the reef, but they couldn't budge us even an inch.  Guess they'll put about two more on in the morning.  Four should be able to do the job okay.

          In the meantime, all we can do is sit back and take things easy.  We only have about two hundred men aboard.  Most of them are all fixed up dentally speaking so I have very little to do.

          Again today, there was no mail.  Guess it'll stack up for several days and then I'll hit the jackpot again.

          After yesterday's letter, this one will probably seem very short and uninteresting.  But there is nothing more to talk about.

          Good night Sweet. Love and kisses to all my three gals.

Devotedly,

Gil

Letter Misdated

Built Our Own Ice Cream Machine

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 28 July 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, today is another anniversary for me but I wish it weren't so.  One year ago today I reported aboard the Ocelot.  Was that a day!  We were both so stunned that we didn't realize the meaning of it all until later.  Now the greatest portion of our separation is behind us and soon we'll all be together again.

          This morning the admiral officially took over command of the Flag and a "change of command" ceremony was held aboard at 8:00 AM.  From then on it was a typical Saturday morning with work and preparation for captain's inspection.

          This afternoon I finished "Leave Her to Heaven" and began "Captain in Castile" a historical novel of the time of the Spanish Inquisition.  The setting is in Spain and Cuba.  Very interesting. Because of the rather full depiction of torture methods, I won't recommend it for you.

          At 5:00 PM I showered, censored mail and then dressed for dinner.  After chow we played cribbage as usual.  By the way, we built our own ice cream machine and have the stuff every day.  We make seventy gallons a day.  There is enough for all.

          I got three letters from my Sweet today and one from each of our mothers.  We must enjoy our movies a lot more than people at home do.  The movies that you thought were just fair seemed excellent to me.  Guess we appreciate the little entertainment we get!

          Wish you'd square up with Bessler.  A bird in the hand, you know.  Take $40 and if there is more we'll follow up on it when I get home.

          Guess I was right about Leon.  The Bureau did catch up with him.  Well he can't complain.  He's had a long tour of duty stateside and Okinawa is pretty safe now.

          The money is bone-fide Jap invasion money.  I have more, and the higher denominations show use.  However the smaller bills weren't used because there wasn't anything to buy with them.  Everything was sky high.

          Glad Deb and the baby are doing well.  I must write in the next day or so.  I've been so lazy lately.

          The movie tonight is "Rough, Tough and Ready," with Richard Dix and Victor McLagen.  Probably just as poor as Jack Benny last night but I'll go anyway.

          Now I'll sign off.  Goodnight Sweetheart and pleasant dreams.

Love, 

Gil

Thumb Sightseeing

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 10 July 1945, 6:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, here is that guy again.  This morning was the usual busy routine.  Then I received a typhoid booster shot and a smallpox vaccination.  My arm isn't very sore now but it will be by tomorrow.

          After lunch the captain and I went over to Joe Goldfarb's ship and he ran us up the coast to town.  We went ashore and via the thumb went sightseeing.  We must have covered plenty of miles because we were riding almost steadily from 2:30 to 5:00 PM when we returned to the dock.  We had a boat take us over to Joe's ship which was anchored in the stream.  It is an hour's ride, so we had dinner aboard the LCI.   We got back aboard about fifteen minutes ago.  It was quite and interesting trip and yet nothing outstanding I can write about.

          I received one letter from my sweet today so here goes.  Let me know what you find out about a lot in the Pickering Estate.  They are probably high but then one can never tell.

          There is a change in the flag setup which I can't go into at the time. Temporarily we have an admiral and commodore aboard.  Soon however (we hope) the admiral will leave, but the commodore will remain.  This commodore was a captain aboard before and was just promoted to his present rank.  So much for that.

          I do hope for Deb and Dave's sake that Dave gets into Officers' Training.  There is one catch that they may not be aware of and that is the officers trained at Navy or Marine expense, especially at this late date, will be the last to be released from active duty.  Right now there is a big drive on to get reserves to join the regulars.  So far the response is poor.

          No doubt Dick is ruining his health, but I for one shan't worry about it.  He is old enough to know better and his attitude about the whole deal is very warped.

          There is nothing more to say.  The movie tonight is an oldie "Boom Town" with Gable, Tracy, Colbert and Lamarr.  The trip ashore was very dirty and I'm filthy.  I'll take a shower before going to the movie.

          Goodbye now Sweetheart.  I'll see you in my dreams.

Loving you a always,

Gil