Fillings, Extractions, Gingivitis and Examinations

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Friday 27 April 1945, 7:20 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, here I am again.  The morning was another one of those days.  Between 8:30 and 11:30 I filled twelve teeth, extracted four, treated two gingivitis cases and examined two men.  I was really glad that today was Friday, "field day," and no appointments for the afternoon.

          After lunch seven of us officers went ashore for a few beers and relaxation.  At 5:00 PM our boat picked us up and we returned to the ship.  We had just enough time to shower and change before dinner.  After eating we stood up on deck and watched the sun set in a glorious blaze of red fire and a great big yellow, tropical, moon rise in the heavens.

          I really hit the jackpot today.  I got six letters from you and one each from "I" Bergman, Herman Stein and Ethyl and the Arrowhead card from you.  So-o-o- here goes.

          Don't do a thing about income taxes until I get home.  It'll be perfectly OK. There is no reason to worry.  
          The old set of golf clubs contains several of my original clubs. They are worth $3 or $4 each so don't give them away.  However the old irons with the wooden shafts can be passed on to Dick if you like.

          Sounds like you have lots of flowers around the house.  Wish I were there to cut and arranged them you around the house.

          Don't worry. When I get back, wherever I go we'll be together, all four of us.  That is a promise.

          The snaps of Linda and my mother are swell but where are my other two girls?  Yes, I know you looked terrible (or so you say) so you didn't send them on.  You'd look good to me anyway and don't you forget it.

          I see you got a couple more days of teaching.  Swell--that makes two days less to have to fill up some way."Winged Victory" was good but I didn't enjoy the Durbin movie, "I Want to Sing" or something like that.  Did you like it?

          Don't worry about "babies."  I'll take care of everything when I get back and that's a promise.

          Ruth is no different than she always was.  It's Ruth first, last, and always.  No there wasn't anything in the letter I wrote her.

          Where is Sol's address--is it a military secret?  Get it and sent it along.

          Darling, I'm worried about you again.  You accept any and all invites.  Don't worry about how cordial they are.  The chances are they do want you but you are just too sensitive about the whole deal.  Ethyl wrote me, evidently right after you called her, but she never mentioned your crying.  Guess she didn't want to worry me but still you do.  Snap out of it gal and maybe soon this will all seem like a bad dream.

          Well, there is no more for now.  Good night Sweet and pleasant dreams.

Love

Gil

P.S.    Can you tell by my handwriting--am I tight or not?

G.

Snaps of Gil's mother (Lena Steingart) and Linda

New Suit and Coat

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 11 March 1945, 7:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello darling, how are you today?  I didn't feel so hot last night but after taking some pills and a good night's sleep I woke up feeling swell.

          Today being Sunday I didn't work so hard but still managed to kill the whole morning working.

          After lunch I let them coax me into going ashore to have a few beers and I'm glad I went.  The afternoon was very pleasant, as a matter of fact most enjoyable.  We got back at 5:00 PM just in time to shower and change for dinner.  After eating I enjoyed a most gorgeous sunset.  I won't attempt to describe it but the striated and rippled sky changed colors from a pale yellow to a gold, to a salmon pink, red and purple with patches of deep blue as a background for the colorful clouds.

          Now here I am.  I got two letters today marked 2 March so here goes.  Don't worry about the income tax.  If you've overpaid we'll get a refund sooner or later.  I'm glad you are buying some more series"G" bonds.

          I hope to have more snaps to send on soon.  Be patient Sweet until they get through.  Your new suit and coat sound swell elegant.  Hope I'm home to see you in it before they are worn out.

          I got a letter from Leon and will write as soon as I can.  As far as the kids are concerned, my writing him won't make any difference.

          I still think the news about Deb and Dave is great, accident or not.  I'm hoping to be there when the grand opening takes place.

          Those clippings were interesting.  It seems like some time since I received the last Outlook Service Edition but I suppose it'll get here in due time.

          Last night's movie "Tomorrow the World" was very good and thought provoking.  Tonight we have a repeat "Standing Room Only" with Fred McMurray and Paulette Goddard.  Of course you know I'm going.

          Well honey, I've rattled along and said nothing so here goes.  I love you my Sweet and more every day. Gosh I can hardly wait till we're together again.

          Goodnight dear, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Philippines Ransacked

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Monday 26 February 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Back to the old "grind" again.  Worked all morning and afternoon until 3:00 PM.  Then I censored some mail, read a little, showered and dressed for dinner.

          The mail brought two letters of the 19th in the morning and eight letters from 5th to 13th in the afternoon. All from you.  I should be about all caught up now on your back letters though there are still a few on their way.

          Sorry you missed Abe Weinberg.  However I doubt that there was much he could have told you that you'd like to know.  As for Hansen, if he gets anywhere near Santa Monica I am sure that he will contact you.

          Looks like Ruth is still the same and there is nothing that you can do about it.  Don't spend much on a gift for Libby.  Those bags I sent were expensive and with the dough Nat is making, a couple of cheap hankies was very little from her.

          Mary and Willie probably had similar trouble before we knew them and will continue the same way forever more.  I don't place much stock in her saying she's through or even his leaving her.  You wait and see.

          "The Apostle" is on my book shelf.  I've never read it nor can I find anyone else who wants to.  Yes I know Ruth.

          If I ever get to the Philippines I'd like to pick up some nice things but from what I hear the Japs have probably ransacked it clean and the men who are already there will do a good job cleaning out what is left.

          The "heat rash" isn't serious nor does it bother me except just when I turn in.  It stings a little but some sunshine usually clears it up.

          I'm not surprised about Nina's not liking the WACs.  She has to compete with many much younger and in many cases prettier girls and has to take orders from many who are much less qualified than she is.  All of this tends to make her wish she were civilian again.  I thought she and Jack were all washed up, or is it strictly platonic now?

          After censoring many letters and from my own personal experiences I've come to the conclusion that much of the mail is to raise the morale of the civilians at home rather than the men away from home.  I still think you are oversensitive and wait for others to make the first move, which they won't.  Of course you and I expect more from Ruth and some of our friends because we always went out of our way for everyone but that won't work.  If you want entertainment or recreation, or even companionship you've got to go and get is so--go get it!

          The Center doesn't sound like it's going over or am I wrong?  If you ask me, Santa Monica has too many individual projects and as a result some are going to suffer.  Some people don't realize that this making of money won't last forever and that the projects will need support as much later as now.

          I'm glad you're back on the Bulletin.  You always like that kind of work and it will kill a couple of evening now and then.

          You're mentioning of taxes again.  I'm enclosing some information that should come in handy.  You should get a refund on 1944 when the final reckoning is made but leave it alone until I get back.

          Sorry you didn't enjoy the party for Leon.  When I get back no one else will get a chance to dance with you or sit and talk either.  I'll take care of that.

          Always excitement.  Norma sure gave you a scare.  Oh well, all's well that ends well.  Hope from now on both kids stay well.

          No, I still won't write Leon until he answers my last letter--bet he'd wonder why I was writing if I did.  Anyway I won't do it so forget it.

          Well that winds me up for tonight.  I'll have to dash or I'll be late for the movie.   We have "Lake Placid Serenade."

          Bye Honey, I'll be with you tomorrow.

Love

Gil

Field Day

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 23 February 1945, 7:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just another day like all the rest.  Worked all morning and it was 11:30 before I was through.  Then I went to my quarters, washed and went up for chow.

          After lunch I showed several visitors around.  "Field day" this afternoon so no work.

          Got three letters today.  Two from you marked the 7th and 16th of February and one from Libby.  Besides you Libby is my most faithful correspondent.

          Can't understand why Al should get the $25 check for the interest on those bonds.  Hope you've changed it so that you'll get the money directly.  Now that you see some return on our investment I guess you'll agree and buy the other bonds as I suggested.

          You want to know what "field day" is.  It compares to housecleaning day especially when you are expecting company (captain's inspection).  The walls and decks are scrubbed and swabbed. Metal work is polished and everything is made ship-shape.  Understand now?

          See "Woman in the Window," It isn't spooky but is full of suspense and has a most unusual ending?  The movie tonight is "Experiment Perilous" and is supposed to be very good.  We could stand a good picture for a change.

          See if you can get the December 1944 or January 1945 Oral Hygiene for me.  There is something in one of those issues I'd like to read.  As a matter of fact if you can find the publisher's address, write and ask them to put me on their mailing list again.  It is gratis and I haven't received any issues since I reported for duty.

          Looks like our 1943 tax situation is all "screwed up."  I still think that the payment you made is a duplicate of one I made while we were in Dago.

          Time for the movie now and besides there is nothing more to tell, bye darling until "manana" (spelling?)

Yours alone,

Gil

File a Form to Delay Income Tax Payment

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

          U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
                  Wednesday 20 September 1944

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just got back from liberty and found two letters from you.  Got one from you this morning and also one from Linda.  About gifts.  I've purchased three books for Linda, a woven bag and coin purse for you and a charm bracelet.  There are several reasons for my not buying a lot of gifts.  First, they are mostly made in the U.S. and terribly overpriced even at ship service.  Second the amount of money I draw won't go very far and I can't cash a check because I'm on a ship.  I don't know what a fruit salad pin is but I'll find out.  Jimmy is too far away to get together with and his liberty days and mine never seem to fall on the same day.  Send me a $100 money order and I'll go to town.  I'll select items and send them in one package and you can distribute same to members of family as you see fit.  I bought some hankies.  They as well as several items can't be sent by me until we leave here.  I'll see what I can arrange.  I still haven't heard from you about a watch for your birthday.

          Regarding the bank statement I can make two suggestions.  Either a phone call or a letter sent by the local branch of the Bank of America under Mr. Lamb's signature might speed things up.  The present balance is approximately $2750.00.  It may be that the August statement has been forwarded to me since I wasn't in San Diego to receive it.  It should catch up to me soon if that is the case.

          I got a New Year greeting from Manny and Etta and dropped them a note.  I haven't heard from Deb and Dave in some time and answered Dave's last letter.  You'd better check with Dave about filing a form to delay paying any income tax until I get back to the states.  Go ahead and get your coat fixed.  Of course I don't mind.  I just wish I could say go ahead and buy a new one.  We have the money but we'll be able to spend it and get more pleasure and satisfaction later when we are together.  Go on a shopping spree, dear, and have as much fun as you can.  Watch out for those hats though; you know me.

          Sweetheart as much as I don't like to say it Xmas will be a very lonesome day for me.  I'm depending on you, though, to see the kids don't miss out.

          Nothing much to tell about my liberty today and we returned to the ship in time for supper.  The movie tonight was "Falcon in Mexico."  Not too good but still not at all bad as far as entertainment goes.

          Darling do you remember the picnics we went on in Ojai Valley.  After the war you and I and our girls, too, are going there to enjoy a quiet day together.  I wish I knew what to send for Norma.  Can you make a suggestion?

          Good night my Sweet.  I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

 

P.S.   Saw the proofs of my photos today and was greatly disappointed.  So I only ordered three.  Am going to try one of the quickie joints.  I might be lucky and get a good one.

Gil