Dearest Linda and Norma

6 March 1945

Dearest Linda and Norma,

          Hello kids, here is your Daddy again.  Linda dear, I got a very sweet card from you today and I did enjoy receiving it.

          Linda. The little fairy told me that you don't suck a "pitty" anymore and that you have been a very good girl and I'm glad to hear it.

          Norma.  Mommy tells me you are talking very well now.  Well, when I get home we'll have a real talk.  Just you and I.

          I want you both to continue being good kiddies and help mother keep things nice and straight around the house.  Are you still picking everything up when you are through playing or do you forget and leave your toys lying around?    Just continue picking stuff up and when you birthdays come I'll have real surprises for both of you.

          I'll say goodbye for now and will write again real soon.

Love,

Daddy

Fourteen Fillings and Three Extractions

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 6 March 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          I really worked this morning.  I only saw five patients but the count for the morning was fourteen fillings and three extractions.  Besides that there were a couple examinations and a denture adjustments thrown in.

          I hit the jackpot this morning.  I got nine letters and a card from you, a card from Linda, and a letter from Ruth.  I also got a snapshot album from the Goodfriends and a can of almond butter crunch from Deb and Dave.  The album is very nice and covered with tan leather.  The candy is delicious and is practically gone.  Everyone enjoyed it.

          This afternoon I attended to my Mother's Day shopping.  Saw two more patients and then got forty-five minutes of sun.  After that I had my hair cut, returned to my room and censored some mail.  By then it was 5:15 so I showered and dressed for dinner.  After chow we enjoyed the cool breezes and the usual pretty sunset and here I am.

          Honey, I know you are busy and if you don't get a letter off right on time don't let it worry you.  I still have the sweetest, truest, most loving wife of any man aboard and I will understand.

          I'm glad you enjoyed the ballet and it's a date for next season--just you and I.                   

          It is swell about Deb and Dave.  Whether it's an accident or intentional I know they'll be happier for it in years to come.  Yes dear it is their show and none of your business anymore than it was theirs when you were infanticipating. 

          Honey your outlook on life bothers me.  You hate to see anyone happy or making money and seem to delight when upsetting things happen to others.  I know they say "misery loves company," but you never were that way.  When I come back I want you to be as I knew you, a lovely gal with a great big heart.  Please understand Dear that what I'm saying is not a reproval but rather that you were so much happier with your previous attitude.  I won't say anymore about it, but please snap out of it.

          Unless he is very careful about the care of his feet, Dick's athlete's foot business will be recurring as long as he's in the Army.  We have it aboard and it's a "bitch" to cure.

          I'm placing the bag and bracelets on my list.  Hope we get to somewhere that I may be able to buy some more novelties.

          The donations to the center fund are very heartwarming.  It is an important project and will do our community more good than any temple ever did or will.  I'm just sorry that some of the diehards won't quit and continue to block any attempt to accomplish anything worthwhile.

          The movie tonight is "The Angels Sing," with McMurray, Dorothy Lamour and Betty Hutton.  It's 4.0.

          I'm all run out for now so I'll sign off.  Goodnight Sweetheart and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Muster Showed One Man Missing

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 14 March 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Today began like any other day.  I had my morning appointments and it was past 11:00 AM before I was finished.  Then I went up to my room hoping to find some mail but no such luck.  So instead I read from a magazine until time for lunch.

          After lunch I was informed that I was to take charge of today's liberty party, consisting of some seventy odd men.  I got them and the beer in the boat and away we went.  When we got ashore we found a shady spot and I divided up the beer so that each man got six cans.  Knowing that they wouldn't go away (as long as the beer lasted) I went over to the club and had a couple myself.  Meandered back to make sure that everything was under control and then returned to the club and joined three of the ship's officers for a few more beers.

          The afternoon went by rapidly and before I knew it was time to round up the men and return to the ship.  The muster showed one man missing and though we looked for him we couldn't find him.  It is perfectly safe there so we left him.  He's probably sleeping it off and the shore patrol will bring him in when they police the area at 6:00 PM.

          I showered and dressed for dinner.  After eating, enjoyed the cool breeze but no sunset tonight--too many clouds.  Now here I am.

          The movie tonight is "Claudia" Do you remember when we went to see it on the stage and how much we laughed and enjoyed it?  I'll be thinking of you every moment that the movie is on and wishing you were beside me.

          There was no mail for me this afternoon either so no more gossip.  Goodnight darling, I'll see you in my dreams.  Love and kisses to you and our two sweet girls.

Yours alone,

Gil

Liberty Party

Technicolor Movie

 Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 4 March 1945, 7:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Just a nice quiet Sunday for a change.  Saw a couple of patients this morning and was through for the day.  No emergency calls so nothing to do.

          I've been trying to figure out how I got the box of fruits and nuts so quickly and have decided that it was because you insured it.  It came in perfect condition and so quick, too.

          Did lots of reading today but really nothing but trash.  I'll settle down to some serious reading one of these days but the way I've been reading in five to fifteen minute snatches there just isn't any use at present.

          I really can't figure where the time went today because I didn't do much.  I read in the afternoon, censored a stack of mail, showered and dressed for dinner.  We had turkey with all the trimmings tonight. Delicious.

          After dinner we enjoyed a most beautiful awe inspiring sunset.  We had an array of colors ranging from a yellow on down the spectrum to a reddish-purple and then grey.  Well, there will come a day when we'll enjoy such beauties of nature together and I know my pleasure and enjoyment of such spectacles will be trebled.

          Tonight's movie is in Technicolor, "Virginia" with Madeline Carroll and Fred McMurray and is rated as very good.

          There was no mail today so no more of my interesting (?) remarks.  I've really been fortunate about mail even if there are some packages missing.  They may still show up.  People at home can't realize what letters mean to our boys.  If only they could read their letters as censors do--then many would write more often.

          Well Sweetheart, that is thirty for tonight.  Bye and pleasant dreams

Loving you always,

Gil

Recreation Island

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 3 March 1945, 7:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Hello Darling, here I am again.  Awoke this morning at 7:45 feeling swell.  Had my usual juice and coffee for breakfast and so to work.      

          I had a busy morning and it was 11:40 AM before I was through with work.  Lunch is at 11:45.  After eating I took it easy for awhile on the poop deck and got some more sun.  I'm sure getting tanned.  Soon I'll look like some of those natives you've seen in the movies.

          At 1:00 PM I returned to my room and just read until 1:30 when I had another appointment.  When I cleaned up my work I returned to my room and censored some mail.

          Today's mail brought a letter from your mother, a card from you written at Rene and Jean, a 5th District Dental Bulletin. The box of fruit you sent came in perfect shape.  I know I'm going to enjoy it.

          It was 3:30 PM when one of the officers said he had a boat alongside which was going to the recreation island.  How about joining the party? It took me two minutes to change shoes and cap and away we went.  I had a few beers, picked up some more shells and got back to the ship at 6:00 PM, just in time to eat dinner.

          After chow I showered.  After getting cleaned up, I dressed and went topside to enjoy a very pretty sunset.  Then I went below for a cup of coffee and watch a crap game but they couldn't quite "seduce" me because it was time for our daily visit and here I am.

          Last night's move, Carol Lombard and Robert Montgomery in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" was old but I couldn't remember having seen it and I enjoyed every moment of it.  Tonight's movie is "Nevada" (with a bunch of unknowns) and several short subjects.  Guess I'll go anyway.

          Time to go now Sweetheart, so good night and pleasant dreams.  Love and kisses with a few hugs thrown in.

Devotedly,

Gil

My Back Is Better

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, FPO San Francisco

Friday 2 March 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          Awoke this morning with my back feeling much better.  All discomfort has practically disappeared so that's that.

          Worked all morning until 11:00 AM and then sat down to read four letters that had arrived.

          After lunch, I enjoyed the sun for 45 minutes, rechecked a copy of the mess statement and took care of an emergency extraction from another ship.  When I returned to my room I found three more letters making a total bag of seven and all from you.

          I spent the afternoon reading as it was "field day." Then I censored some mail, showered and dressed for dinner.

          I intended watching what promised to be a pretty sunset but I got another emergency call and extracted another tooth.  Since I was down in my office I couldn't think of anything I'd like better so--we are having our daily visit.

          So Leon is storing his car.  Well I'll bet he loses more by keeping it than selling now.  By the time he comes back, new cars will probably be on the market and his $4,000 will only be worth $500.  I guess he can afford to lose it.

          Leon certainly expects a great deal when he says that he'll go to Pearl Harbor, Philippines and then China or Japan.  That is probably all a good guess but if his unit is just forming I doubt whether anyone knows where they are going.  Out in the forward area one can't tell from one month to the next leave alone a whole tour of duty.

          I'll drop a note to Dr. Ivie first chance I get.  Mrs. Ivie is nice, why don't you try and get together with her some time.

          I figured the "Apostle" was a hand me down.  Ruth knows I don't care for that type of fiction and I knew she did.  Sorry about "Esquire," I'll say thank you properly next time I write.

          That note you sent to the banquet in my behalf is OK.  However before we do any contributing I'm going to wait to see results not plans.

          There must be some letter missing because you refer to Mr. Hansen's phone call but say nothing as to where he is or how he is feeling.  Guess it'll come in a day or so.

          Your plan for our new home is 4.0 with me, even the location.  As for my new office, it'll be a "killer-diller."  When we get our heads together we'll give them something to talk about.

          The party I mentioned was for officers on the Ocelot and two or three other ships as well.  Can't tell you any more about it.

          The movie last night was "House of Frankenstein." and when it was over they had revived and killed again, Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolfman.  Not so good.  Tonight we have a real oldie, Carol Lombard in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and it's just about time to go. So-----

          Goodnight darling, love and kisses to all my girls.

Your daddy,

Gil

Three Massages

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 1 March 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

          How is my Sweet today?  Did you dream about me?  I did about you and it was just like it is going to be when I come home.  Even Linda and Norma were there to climb into bed with up and keep us awake early in the morning.  What a dream!

          Today was a nice easy day.  Saw a few patients but spent most of the day messing with the wardroom statement.  It is all straight now and will be typed up for approval in the morning.

          I met a doctor a couple of weeks ago. This afternoon he was aboard and visited with me.  Then I enjoyed forty-five minutes of sun and retired to my room.  Undressed, censored some mail and perused through a copy of the New Yorker.  Then it was 5:15 PM so I showered and dressed for dinner.

          I pulled a muscle in my back, when or where I do not know.  It's been sore but a massage three times a day gives me enough relief that I can go about my business without much discomfort.  The doctor says a couple of days more and I'll be OK.

          Only one letter today.  It was from Libby.  Not much in it to talk about.  Just hello, how are you and regards from all.

          There isn't much to talk about at this end either.  Just lots of sunshine, rain in copious quantities but usually of short duration and then more sun.  There is always a nice breeze blowing topside so if one gets too warm it is easy to cool off.

          I'm sending something to both mothers for Mothers' Day so don't splurge at your end.  Some toilet sets of powder and salts available through the Army Exchange look like good values.

          So Darling another day is gone.  Do you remember how in past years about this time we'd begin planning a drive into the hills to see the wildflowers?  Those splashes of color on the hillsides and in the fields would sure look good now.  Oh well, they'll even look better next year.

          Good night honey and I hope my dreams repeat tonight.

Love,

Gil