Work on Ship Moving Right Along

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

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Saturday 6 October 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Well I did a little work today but instead of having a few week's work I'll have only a couple of days.  I guess I worked too hard at it before.  Now there is nothing to do.

          Dr. Bushyager's relief came aboard today, so Bushy should be leaving in a couple of days.   He got air transportation authorized in his orders, so he'll be back in the United States inside of ten days.

          Although we haven't received anything official, we heard over the radio that officers only need 45 points now.  Just as I figured I'll have enough points by March 1 or sooner if there are any more reductions.  However don't plan on my being out when I get back.  I'll be lacking a few points.  Being a dentist I can work for a month or more in the United States without having to learn a new job as line officers would.

          Work on the ship is moving right along.  If the weather stays nice, repairs should be complete long before the 22nd and then we'll be on our way.

          Today, the mail brought me two letters from you and a card from Ethyl.  Your letters were marked the 24th. Those letters were slow in coming.  I've received letters through the 29th.  Catalina sounds good to me.  I know we'll enjoy our vacation there next year.  It's a date.

          Tonight's movie was "Those Endearing Young Charms" with Robert Young and Lorraine Day.  It was amusing, in fact good for a few laughs. We also had a community sing film.  We all sang lustily.

          Five of us are planning to go ashore tomorrow.  Every time we plan to go something happens.  Hope tomorrow will be different.

          Goodnight darling.  I love you.

Your faraway husband,

Gil

Medical officers

Gil (left) and Bushy (right)

New Year's Dinner Menu Enclosed

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 6 January 1945, 9:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Got another stack of mail today.  Six from you, one from my mother thanking me for her Xmas gift and one from Libby thanking me for their gifts.  Also I got that comic book and the box of plastic for molding,  Now I'll see what I can do.  Your mail was marked the 23rd, 26th, 27th, and 28th.  Guess I'm just about caught up on all your back letters.

          Guess you're curious about Helen Dingey and D.G.  If you remember, about four years ago I had a patient who was pregnant when her husband died.  Well every year she has remembered me at Xmas.  I guess this is the first time I've missed.  Will have to drop her a note.

          About film, don't send any if you haven't already.  The way parcel post takes its time getting out,  who knows when it'd reach me.  Beside I have an idea we'll be on the move again soon.

          I'm glad you saw "Casanova Brown."  Now you know why I wanted you to see it.

          I did enjoy the pictures of the kids and I'll add them to my pin ups.  Got the chains also and got the bum one fixed up.  Should have both necklaces ready in a few days and I'll send them on.  How about another chain so I can make one for you also.  I've got enough matched shells after my last trip ashore.  And , by the way, these necklaces sold from $12 to $20 in Pearl Harbor and here at the officers' club they sell for as high as $30 so don't let the kids wear them when they're out playing.

          Yes dear I do enjoy the clippings and so do several of my shipmates.  Keep them coming.  How about the date on the pages from U.S. News so we can tell better about the news forecasts.

          Our glee club is dead for the time being.  Too many other things interfere with rehearsals.  However as soon as our routine permits we'll resume for our own amusement.

          Don't worry about when you get a hold of me.  Wait until I get a hold of you.  I hope you can take it! And don't worry about you or me changing.  We'll always be as before, a boy and a girl in love even with gray hair and what have you.

          About Sol, I thought you said he was a storekeeper.  Storekeepers are rated first, second and third class petty officers.  There is no such thing as a seamen third class.  As a Navy wife you ought to brush up on the grades of enlisted men and ranks of officers.

          "Since You Went Away" upset a lot of us too.  As I said before, even though it was a good movie it is not a moral builder and shouldn't be shown overseas.

          So you never saw a girl with a red tochas, well neither have I but what could I do without a full selection of colors.  I'm sending you a menu of our New Year's Dinner.  Add it to our collection.

          That last poem "This is My Beloved" by Benton was quite torrid and I liked it.  Send more please.

          Well you finally found out what you wanted to know.  My darling wife will always find out what she wants to know, won't she?

          The Officers' Wives' Club sounds alright but you know the Santa Monica "Elite" and remember the Women's Club.  However use your judgment and it might not hurt to phone Mrs. Gail anyway.

          So much for your letters of today.  Now aboard the Ocelot everything is serene.  We were to have another personnel and ship's inspection but it poured all morning and it was called off.  In the meantime I had called off all appointments in anticipation of the inspection so I had nothing to do all morning but read mail.

          This afternoon everybody, but me, went fishing--no fish.  Guess I'll have to show them how it's done.

           Tonight's movie was "Hey Rookie" with Anne Miller and the original soldier cast.  In addition there were a few skits stolen from "Meet the People."  All in all it didn't come up to the stage show.  Do you remember, dear when we saw it? It was at either the Belasco or Morgan and the war seemed so far away.  Bet if you were sitting next to me tonight, I'd have enjoyed the show a lot more.

          I have some more letters to write so I'll sign off now Sweet.  Goodnight.

Love,

Gil

 

New Year's Menu

 

One of the Pictures of the Kids

 

 

Who Is B'nai B'rith War Service Chairman?

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 2 Janaury 1945, 10:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello darling, here I am again.  I forgot to mention in yesterday's letter that when I went ashore I ran into a Dr. Arnerich, who graduated a year before I did.  He is on a tender and has been out here for five months.  It's twelve years since I last saw him.  Yet we recognized each other immediately.  Guess we haven't changed much at that.  Oh yes, I shaved off my beard but I still have a moustache.  If and when I get some film I'll take a picture and send it on.

          Today was the usual routine.  Worked all morning in my office.  After lunch I worked on the welfare and wardroom books.  Then I read a little.  The book is "Get Thee Behind Me" by Hartzell Spence, and very good indeed.  I do believe you'd enjoy it.  I censored some mail, showered, and changed for dinner.

          After dinner we stood around on deck and enjoyed a most beautiful tropical sunset.  Such colors and cloud formations I have never seen.  Then I went below deck and tried my hand at some chess.  I think I'll read up on it and see what I can do.

          The movie we had last night was "When Strangers Marry."  I think I misquoted the title but it was just average.  However we had a good" March of Time" ("What to do with Post War Germany"), a community sing and a colored cartoon.  Tonight we had musical short, "The Show Boat," a fight picture, and the feature ("The Pearl of Death") with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce--a Sherlock Holmes story.  Good entertainment but nothing to rave about.

          Still no mail.  I'm getting to the point where I don't expect any and just about that time I'll hit the jackpot.  I do hope so.  I'm anxious to hear from you and to know if you found out what you were looking for.

          Darling, who is War Service Chairman for the B'nai B'rith?  Please let me know, as I have a request to make of the lodge through him

          Do you remember when I was chairman myself and the money we raised every meeting for men overseas?  Well after the war we'll see what time will bring.  Frankly, I doubt if I'll be too hot on organization work though we may have to indulge in it for a while.

          Good night my Sweet, I'm going to hit the rack now and dream of you.

Love,

Gil

Boxing Tournament

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 26 December 1944, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          And now that another day is ended I may again visit with my sweet. I awoke this morning at 7:00 AM and dressed, showered and finished breakfast by 7:45 AM. At 8:30 AM I took my first dental appointment and worked until 10:30 AM.  Then I had a visit with the skipper regarding welfare activities for our crew.  We are going to promote a boxing tournament and maybe develop a team to represent us in an inter-ship contest.  I returned to my room and censored some mail before luncheon.

          After lunch I spent some time bringing my welfare books up to date and just chatted with the captain some more over a cup of java.  Before I knew it the afternoon had fled, so I showered and changed for dinner.  After eating I got the "mike" hooked up and ready for a sing fest.  We sang from 6:45 to 7:45 at which time the movie went on.  We had "Mrs. Parkington" and I enjoyed it very much indeed.  As you've noticed lately we've been very fortunate in our selection of pictures.  I do hope it keeps up.

          There was no mail for me today so there is little more for me to say.  Darling, do you remember the night in Crescent City when we settled down to the serious business of Linda?  After the war we'll continue the rehearsals but actually there will never again be a "first night" (or will there?)

          Sweet the movie has me in a loving mood and my only love so far away!  Darling, how I love you!  Would that I were a poet so that I could record for all time my love for you.  But instead the only words that I can write to tell you how I feel are but three very small ones, "I love you."  Good night dear, I'll dream of you tonight.

Love,

Gil

No Wonder Some Prefer Duty On A Man-O-War

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 22 December 1944, 9:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          And so another day.  This damn monotony is sure bad for me.  Come hell or high water, a bunch of us are going ashore tomorrow and get plastered.  It's no wonder that some of the officers prefer duty on a man-o-war where something is popping all the time.  Don't begin to worry dear; this is just a temporary thing with me.  I've had a few days of loafing but soon I'll be swamped under again and the days will pass by much more quickly.

          What did I do today?  Well after breakfast I went down to my office and worked from 8:30 to 11:00.  Read from "Strange Fruit" until noon and chow.  Then loafed some more till two, the time the Glee Club rehearsal was scheduled.  The turnout was so poor that I got mad and called it off.  Aren't I in a swell mood?   Returned to my room and read some more.  Visited on deck with the OD and then showered and changed for dinner.  After chow until movie time, I visited with the doctor and some corpsmen in sick bay.  Tonight we had Lana Turner in "Marriage Is A Private Affair" and it was very good.  See it if you haven't already.

          The mail today brought me nothing but a dental magazine so I have nothing to cheer about there either.

          Darling do you remember how I'd come home from the office mad about something or another and how sweet you'd be to snap me out of it?  Gosh a little of you sweetness in my arms could sure be a swell tonic.  Oh well that can't be yet, but still five months have already gone. Who know what the future may bring? Orders can come through unexpectedly and all we can do is pray.

          I'm going to close now Sweet, there isn't a thing more to say except three little words, "I love you."

Yours as ever

Gil

Card sent to Linda and Norma

Greeting From Al Klein

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 21 December 1944, 10:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          This has been a busy day.  I began by working in my office all morning.  Then twenty-four sacks of mail, all packages, were brought aboard and the normal routine was completely disrupted.  My haul amounted to the Xmas cards, the package of assorted candy and gum from our daughters, two books ("Strange Fruit" and "The Apostle") from Ruth and a box of luscious glazed fruits and nuts from Deb and Dave.  Then I got some more song books from you. Don't send any more.  I have plenty now.  A copy of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook was forwarded from San Diego along with couple of dental magazines.  In the afternoon I got the enclosed Xmas greeting from Alvin Klein.

          In the afternoon we had a session with the Glee Club and by the time I showered and changed it was time for dinner.

          I went to the early show tonight.  We had Wallace Beery and Binnie Barnes in "Barbary Coast Gent." It was quite amusing.  Last night's movie was Bob Crosby in "Singing Sheriff" also an amusing picture.

          After tonight's movie (about 8:15 PM) I returned to my office and have been addressing cards ever since.  No wonder my writing is so poor.  I bet I've got corns on my fingers.  Anyway I got all but twenty-five addressed and ready to go.

          Darling, do you remember how in past years you always checked my Xmas mailing list and supervised the whole job?  After tonight's session you are rehired. Just try and quit.

          I'm dizzy so I'm going to cut this note short.  Good night my Sweet, gosh how I could do with a little loving tonight.  Will see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

 

Wind and Rainstorm Raging

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 16 December 1944, 9:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Here I am again and none the worse after yesterday's "flier." Awoke this morning to find quite a wind and rainstorm raging.  It was so rough that all the small boats were secured. 

          However, the show must go on so I went to my office and worked steadily all morning until eleven o'clock at which time I wrote a few more letters.  Now I'm almost all caught up.

          The mail didn't bring me a thing today except a letter from the Naval Supply Depot in Oakland informing me of a shipment of 32 more books for our library.

          After lunch I read for a while and then called a rehearsal of our Glee Club for 2:00 PM.  We worked for an hour and some of the numbers really sound good.

          After the rehearsal I censored some mail, showered and read some more.  Before I knew it was time for dinner.  After that I played some checkers with Mr. Roberts, my worthy opponent.

          The movie tonight was good.  It was Maria Montez and Jon Hall in "Gypsy Wildcat" and in Technicolor.  We only had one showing because we are taking on stores tonight. So there is lots of work to be done.

          Now that our library is catalogued I am having our records indexed.  We have quite a number but no one really knows what we have, but we will.

          Well Honey, time is moving right along and soon it will be Xmas.  I can hardly picture it without you and our girls being with me.  Darling, do you remember how excited the kids were with the tree last year?  I do hope you got another nice one for them this year and decorate it "pretty-like."  I believe last year at this time it was already purchased and in the house.  Next year we all have a date to buy and decorate our tree.

          There is really nothing more to write about.  I've gotten used to the heat, no heat rash to complain of.  My cold has completely cleared up and my room is still the coolest on the ship (and I'm keeping it a secret).  Ambie was up for a while today. We had a lot of kidding when he came topside.

          Good night darling, my love. You are still the only girl I dream about when I'm awake and when I'm asleep.

Love

Gil


 Taking on Stores

Cooled Down to 80 Degrees

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 13 December 1944, 7:10 P.M.

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello dear.  While Alexander (my corpsman) was cleaning my teeth I got twelve pieces of mail.  I could hardly wait for him to finish.  I got a letter from your mother a letter and a card from my mother , a Xmas card from Sam Green (surprised?), a letter from Ethel, one from Deb, the B'nai B'rith Magazine you sent and five letters from you ranging from November 29 to December 5.  Am I behind now!  I'll have to take a day off to catch up.

          Gee, I'm sorry you didn't get the corsage I ordered for your birthday.  I checked with the ship service officer and he thought that possible it got mixed up with the Xmas orders and that you'd probably get it for Xmas.  However if delivery is not made, a check for the full amount will be forwarded to you.  The same holds good for the dolls so we'll just have to wait and see.

          Nothing much doing today.  I had my teeth cleaned in the morning and rehearsed our Glee Club in the afternoon.  It has been raining more or less constantly all day long and it's cooled down to 80 degrees.  Isn't that wonderful.  Going to the second movie rain or not.  The picture is "The Conspirators" with Hedy Lamarr, Peter Lore, Sidney Greenstreet and Paul Henroid (spelling?) and it has a 3.9 rating.

          Now to you letters.  It seems like the kids are conspiring to make things tough.  Cold and more colds!  Don't let it get you down.  Talking about the kids and illness, Dr. Sieger never did answer my letter.  Wonder if he even got it.  I'll drop him a Xmas greeting if and when they arrive.

          That bond show sounds swell, wish I could have sat there with you and held your hand.  And be careful you drunkee you never had two drinks with me around.  My how times have changed.  Seriously though I'm glad you're getting out and taking a more active interest in B'nai B'rith work.  Time will pass so much faster.  A couple of your letters around Thanksgiving sounded so depressing but now you seem to have snapped out of it (thank God).

          No got Nescafe.  And I'm not in the South Pacific even though many men on board make the same mistake.  However the rest of the description of the island is 4.0 or should I say islands.  I bet they don't even show on your maps although the atlas I have does show them as several fly specks which is more than some of the large wall maps we have around.  As a matter of fact very little was known about these islands even as recently as the time I came aboard this ship.

          I wish I knew how long we'll stay here.  It all depends on the progress of the war.  We most certainly won't be here for two more months.  We could be ordered on most any time (and it can't be too soon for me).

          As I wrote you some time ago, Captain Hartfield is our exec.  Our Xmas Menu is going to be very interesting and I'll send you a copy.  I am working on some details for it now.

          I can't tell you much of the geography of these islands without disclosing our whereabouts.

          Darling my plans for the future keep changing all the time.  As a matter of fact all I really think about and want is to be back with you and kiddies.  The rest won't matter.  Courses of study will be available in many places and I'll choose only after very careful consideration. Honey, do you remember how we were always making plans?  Well I'm still planning for the future, how to make up to you for all the unhappiness and lonesomeness that this war has brought to us.

          Good night my darling.  Love and kisses to you and my, or I should say our, darlings

Devotedly

Gil

Captain Invited Me to Dinner Again

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 12 December 1944

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Sweet, how is my love today?  This morning I awoke with my cough practically gone and feeling quite chipper.  Took care of my appointments in short order and then selected a few choice library books for my new bookshelf.  After I read what I've chosen, I'll exchange them for others.  Any way my room looks very homey now with my family, lots of books and pin up girls besides.

          This afternoon we had the first meeting of our Glee Club and it looks like we'll have a nice organization.  It was called for 2:00 P.M. but I had to go around and round up enough men to get started.  But once we began, other began to drift in and when I said, "Let's quit" at 3:30 PM they said "OK" but sang several additional numbers before finally breaking up.  After tomorrow's rehearsal I'm going to spring a song fest on the boys before movies and use our glee club as a lead off group.  Will tell you more about it tomorrow night.

          The captain invited me up to dinner again tonight.  He also had another ship's officer and the Protestant chaplain as guests.  I enjoyed the best steak dinner since I put on a uniform.  The steak was delicious and tender and done just right. I can just see you drooling.

          After dinner I went to the move "Heavenly Body" with Hedy Lamarr and William Powell.  I saw it before. I believe with you.  It was amusing.  

          Well honey, no mail today so I've not much more to write.  Do you remember when all I had to do was dial the phone to talk to you?  And now---darn!  Oh well after the war telephones will be handy as ever.

          Good night darling. I do love you more than I could possibly say on paper so,

Love,

Gil

 

Hot Appendectomy

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

             U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco
              Saturday 9 December 1944, 10:10

My Dearest

          Got three letters today--two from you and one from Libby acknowledging my letter.  However I didn't like the tone of your letters.  Sounded like you were getting down in the dumps again.  Buck up honey, you've got to.  Besides who knows what might happen out here and send me back to you.  I heard some talk today that may change things around here but I can't discuss it now.

          This morning I saw three patients and then made an inspection of the ship.  Then I found out that Ambie had turned in with an acute appendix and they were getting the surgery ready to operate so--I joined in with the festivities.  It was a tough one and lasted 1 hour and 20 min. and was it hot!  It was so hot that two of the corpsmen almost passed out with the heat and had to leave the surgery.  When it was over the doctor and all the rest of us were washed up.  However, a little air and some cold fruit juice (plus two hours in the sack) and we were in top shape again.

          Am organizing a choral group for Sunday services and Xmas.  Also planning a party for the men but so far my plans are wild ideas.  I'll talk to the skipper tomorrow and see what's what.

          Read a little more of "Prodigal Women."  It's a long book and I don't seem to be able to find much time to read.  I'll finish it someday and then I'll read "Strange Fruit."

          Am having a book shelf put in my room.  Little by little it's getting quite comfy.  Yes, I do have one room mate, Cox whom I've mentioned before.

          As far as Ruth and Harry are concerned, I really think it is all Ruth.  After all she is your sister and when Deb was alone it was the same story.  Harry never left his sister Goldie out in the cold and it should be Ruth's place to see that you are not alone either.  Ah, well, we've gone over that so many times that it is disgusting.  What I should do is write and tell them off in no uncertain words and leave it at that.  Well, we'll see.

          So you're moving to Long Beach?  Well!  If I get stationed there you'll stay in Santa Monica and I'll commute.  Haven't you learned yet?

          Yes dear air mail takes 7 to 10 days but regular mail takes better than three weeks.  I hope the cards get here soon so I can get them off.

          Honey, I'm completely run down now.  Oh yes, the movie tonight was Abbott and Costello in "It Ain't Hay." They always give me a laugh even the second viewing.        Sweet, do you remember the open house we had when I remodeled my office?  My wasn't I proud of my office and my first lady.  Well wait until you see my new office.  After this war Dr. Steingart will really show them how.

          One of the magazines I got recently was the Southern California State Journal.  It seems that both UCLA and USC are planning post-grad courses for service dentists. I could take them and practice at the same time.  The $75 a month should come in handy and I ought to be able to make expenses out of my work in my office. 

          Such plans, guess we'll just have to wait and see what develops.

          Good night, Sweetheart, till we meet tomorrow.  I love you so-o-o-o much

Impatiently,

Gil

Sending a Souvenir From the Ship That Burned

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
             Monday 27 November 1944, 9:15 PM

My Dearest,

          Zowie, I hit the jackpot at last.  Eighteen letters today.  One from Libby, one from Ruth, fifteen from you, my Sweet, and a card that was on the ship that burned.  I am sending it back to you.  Keep it as a souvenir.

          Didn't do a lick of dentistry today.  Instead saw the completion of the cross-indexing of the library. Then did some experimenting endeavoring to find a way to make some projector slides.  We are going to have group singing before movies. Because we must not show too much light topside we are going to project the words on the screen.  Well I tried to x-ray film and glass a million different ways and then I discovered that plain strips of paper with words written or typed worked best of all.  We live and learn.

          This evening the movie was "Swingtime Johnny" with Harriet Hilliard and the Andrews Sisters.  This picture is the poorest excuse for entertainment that we've gotten in a long time.

          Now to your letters. OK dear I'll promise not to skip any more days in writing.  The reason I didn't hint about our departure was because censorship at that time was very rigid and even a suggestion would have been cut.  Al had promised to write but we expected to see each other before I shoved off and maybe that is why he delayed in writing.

          No dear I haven't done any fishing.  While we were underway we are moving too fast for trolling and because of something that happened here recently fishing won't be good for a while.

          That gadget I was making hasn't worked out so well but I got a new brainstorm so I'm going to try again.

          You do expect me to tell you a lot more than censorship permits.  I can't even hint at arrivals and departures nor locate our whereabouts even by suggestion.  Please be reasonable and don't keep asking for such information.  Now that I've chided you for the n-the time I'll continue.

          I wish I could take some pictures but where we are now there are no such things as civilians.  In fact even the natives have been removed.  All we see all day and all night is Navy and more Navy.

          So Marty is up to his old tricks again.  One of these days he's going to meet his match and there'll sure be hell a popping.  I just want to be around to enjoy the fireworks.

          Sorry about the wrist watch.  By now you have Edith's letter and you know the whole story.  No dear, I haven't received any gifts as yet. So far very little in the way of packages has been brought aboard.  The most recent letter I received took twelve days in coming and some of the mail dated back to the ninth so you see what mail is like out here.

          We'll be out for quite some time but there have been five transfers amongst officers since we arrived.  I have a hunch that before long all of us that came out will return to the good old U.S.  I've got my fingers crossed.

          I wish I could tell you about our discussions aboard but most is censorable and the rest is sex with a capital "S."

          Between your teaching and classes you seem to be filling out your time and getting a little pleasure out of it and I'm glad.  Get it all out of your system.  When I return you're going to have a new routine and it won't include classes and teaching.

          I'll send some more gum as soon as they break out some more Wrigley's.  Some of the other brands are lousy.

          Letters are taken off of passing ships but only from fighting vessels that are on patrol and do not make any port for months at a time.  These ships take on fuel, food, supplies and mail at sea.  Thank God I'm in a better spot than that and in more ways than one.

          Dear, I did enjoy all those clippings and your poetry.  Keep them coming.  There is one thing you can send that I can't buy out here.  Black rayon or silk socks (short).  All they have aboard are cotton or wool and mine are beginning to run.

          From the sound of things, Linda and Norma are developing so rapidly that I'll not know them when I return.  Well we'll get reacquainted and pick up from there.

          You seem to be having plenty of rain.  We have rain here daily, but it never lasts long though it does pour.  Still we ignore it and keep right on doing what we were doing.

          Hope you have fun at the race track and don't win too much money.  I'm not going to say any more about lodge activity.  You'll have to be your own judge there. As yet I haven't gotten my course or the letter you mention.  Guess it is lost.

          Well honey, here it is 10:00 o'clock, time for lights out and I'm not half through your letters.  I'm going to close this letter now and carry on with the rest of your mail in tomorrow's letter.

          Do you remember dear how I selected all your clothes? Now I can't do it.  Well after the war that is one change we'll institute.  Back to our old way of buying your clothes.  Is it a deal? Swell

          Good night dear, I'm going to sleep much better tonight.

Love,

Gil