At Sea--Company

Saturday 12 August 1944, At Sea

Dear Eleanor,
     Just another day at sea. Up as usual at seven, showered, dressed and had breakfast. Worked for a couple of hours, visited on the bridge and looked at ships looming up of the horizon guessing their identity, or trying to, before they got close enough to really tell. We've had company all day, another ship on the same course and evidently due at the same place and time as we are.
     After dinner of spaghetti and meat balls with salad, iced tea, and chocolate cream pie, we had a concert by the ship's band. They really sounded pretty good although they don't have much time to practice.
     Upon conclusion of the concert I returned to my office for more work. When he was in civilian life, one of my patients was a patient of Dr. Frankel. Small world isn't it? After that Dr. Bushyager, the medical officer, Mr. Hansen, the chief engineer, and I retired to the "chief's" quarters and with the accordion indulged in another hour or so of music (?). Then a fried chicken supper and another visit on the bridge. It has been plenty warm today and it is a little cooler up there than in most parts of the ship.
Well for a guy who had nothing much to say I did all right. I'm sure looking forward to our next port and to the letters from you my Sweet and I'll bet I get several from Linda too. By till tomorrow.

Love,
Gil

Dr. Steingart and Dr. Bushyager 

At Sea--Played Accordian

Friday 11 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     Another quiet day. Had a light breakfast and then stalled around until 10:30 for the weekly inspection. Saw a couple of patients then and three more after dinner. We eat dinner at noon and supper at 6 P.M. Dinner was a Salisbury steak with all the trimmings. For supper we had asparagus soup and breaded pork chops with all the trimmings.

     The sea has been like glass and sailing along as we are, one completely loses all track of time and even the war seems very remote.

     Last night a few of us got together and borrowed an accordion from one of the men aboard.  I had a lot of fun playing it.  It's quite a simple instrument to play if you know piano.

     Well, my Sweet, we should be at our destination before many days more.  We've been moving along rather slowly because we're ahead of schedule.

     The last two days we ran into several squalls.  It rains for a few minutes and then we're out again and the sun is shining.   The nights are really black and going from the ward room to my room is like playing "blind man's bluff."  I extend my hands and grope along until I find the door knob.

     So dear it's really hard to find what to write when one writes every day but I do love you and really miss you and the kids.

Goodnight dear 'til tomorrow,

Love

Gil

WWII Accordion from

National Army Exhibit

At Sea--Dummies Alphabetized the Library

Thursday 10 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     This has been a busy day. I had five extractions plus several treatment cases and a couple of fillings. As one of my duties I have charge of the library and it is a mess.  We have several hundred books without any catalogue of them and they are just thrown willy-nilly onto the shelves. So I had a couple of men detailed to alphabetize and list the books and after they got through I had to go back and do it over again myself. The dummies alphabetized the books on each shelf and so we had duplicate copies of books on several shelves. However it'll be squared away by tomorrow and then it will function smoothly.

     Other than that there isn't much to tell.  We are ahead of schedule and so we're barely moving along.  I still am eating three meals a day but no bread, butter, cream, sugar, or potatoes.  Still I am consuming too much.  Guess I'll just have to skip a meal now and then.

     Well it's time to turn in.  I really sleep soundly and if the mess attendant didn't call me every morning I'd probably sleep right on through.

     Darling, when I get back we really are going to make up for lost time.  Until then, take it easy.  Give my girls a big hug and kiss from Daddy.  Goodnight!

Your Sweetheart,

Gil

Lt (j.g.) G. Steingart

USS Ocelot

At Sea--Inspected Hospital Portion of the Ship

Wednesday 9 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     Another quiet day. The weather is balmy and the sea is smooth. I'm thankful for the clouds in the sky else it would be plenty warm.

     Not much activity for me. I worked for a couple of hours this morning. After a light breakfast and after making a routine inspection of the hospital portion of the ship, I found I had the rest of the day to myself. So I walked down passageway, up a ladder and down to another passageway several times around the ship just for the exercise. I visited with the watch officers on the bridge for awhile and then retired to my bunk and read a magazine short story.

     Are you keeping busy? Do my girls ask about their Daddy? Tell them I miss you all so much and that we'll spend all the time I have together when I get back.

     So sweetheart, I'll sign off till tomorrow.

As ever

Your loving husband,

Gil

Lt. (j.g.) G. Steingart

USS Ocelot

14 February 1945

14 February 1945

A Valentine designed by a sailor aboard the U.S.S. Ocelot, flagship of Service Squadron 10, Ulithi Lagoon 

At Sea--Corpsman Painting

Tuesday 8 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest Eleanor,
     What a beautiful day. I wish you could enjoy it with me. It is warm and sunny and the Pacific with its gorgeous blue is as smooth as a great big pond.
     Not much doing in the way of activity. They finally finished messing up my office and now my corpsman is painting it. I hope to be back to work tomorrow. Bought some shirts and trousers and a slipover sweater for nights when it's cool out.
     I'm going to miss a few meals. I'll bet I've already gained 5 pounds and I'll be darned if I'll keep them. Been trying to get someone to work out with the medicine ball but no takers.
     Well, my Sweet, when this is over, you and I will have to take a cruise together. Just think, you and I away on a holiday and it won't be long you'll see.

Bye Sweets,

Gil

At Sea--Peaceful Pacific Misbehaved

Lt. (j.g) Steingart and his wife Eleanor were movie fans.  They gave their daughters nicknames akin to those in the Our Gang films of the era.  Linda "Butch"--nearly bald as a baby and Norma "Stinky"--her diapers. 

7 August 1944, At Sea

Hello My Sweet,
     How are you today? Let's you and "Butch" and "Stinky" and I all get together and go someplace together. Well now let's see, I can't join you but for the next few minutes you can be with me.
     As I wrote you yesterday the peaceful Pacific misbehaved a little and continued misbehaving all night long. We had lots of sick men on board and "lots" went overboard too. As far as I'm concerned my appetite couldn't be improved on unless it gets considerably rougher--then who can tell.
     However this morning "lady" Pacific was much quieter and by now all should be feeling much better and by now all should be feeling much better. I visited with our navigator and watched him chart our course. He told me that last night at one 
     Did you write to Dave about the Plymouth? Don't stall! Get rid of it if he hasn't found a buyer by now.
     My office is a mess. There are some pipe lines running through it and some work was done on them. These ship fitters must have been plumbers before they joined the Navy--what a mess. However all is secure now and tomorrow I'll resume work.
     Ate the usual breakfast. For dinner we had barbecued spareribs and sauerkraut with the usual salad, coffee, and dessert.
     So my darlings, we did have a few moments together. Bye till tomorrow.

Your loving,
Daddy

Lt (j.g.) G. Steingart

USS Ocelot 1944

At Sea--Pitching and Rolling

Sunday 6 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest Eleanor,   

     Another day well on its way.  I awoke this morning with the ship pitching and rolling. Went in for breakfast and all I could get was breakfast cereal, toast, bacon and coffee.  It seems the stove went on the fritz and they were just finishing the repairs.

     Wish I had my camera aboard.  The sea is a beautiful aquamarine blue with white caps crowning the glory of the waves.  It is a little rough and has been since I turned in last night. Aboard there are lots of seasick passengers laying all over the decks. Even some of the crew are not too happy.  

     After breakfast I went down to my office and began work by examining the pharmacist mates aboard and found plenty of work to do.  By that time it was 11:00 o'clock so I retired to my quarters and read a little while.  Thorne Smith's "Glorious Pool" is the book and it is very amusing.  Had dinner at noon.  Salad, fried chicken, and peas.  I passed up the potatoes. For dessert apple pie and cheese and of course coffee. 

     Then I returned to my office and removed an embedded wisdom tooth for my corpsman. It came out so easily that he was surprised and so was I. Working on patients with the deck pitching and rolling underneath you is quite an experience and I'll probably have more before this present tour of duty is over.

     This being Sunday makes no difference when you're at sea--just another day and really it is quite difficult to keep busy.

     Did you hear over the radio where Lloyd's is betting 8-5 that Germany will be out by the end of October?  Just think every day that goes by now means that many days less before we'll all be together again.

     Bye my Sweet and my two little lovelies 'til tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

At Sea--Old Salt

Saturday 5 August 1944, 10:00 PM

Dearest,

     Now I'm an old salt.  Spent a quiet day.  Saw a few dental patients and went through a routine "general quarters" and "abandon ship" drill.

     It has been overcast and cool all day but rather smooth.  Just now we have quite a roll and a pitch, just the thing to rock me to sleep.

     Here is the menu for today. I must really begin to watch my waist line. Breakfast was French toast and coffee.  Lunch started with soup, then stuffed bell pepper and string beans with coffee and cake for dessert.  For dinner we had salad, steak, cobbler and coffee.

     After dinner we adjourned to the ward room and I got talked into a poker game.  You know how much I love cards but anything to be sociable. After three hours I lost the magnificent total of $1.05.  This ocean air is quite conducive to sleep so I decided to turn in early.  I'm really glad I wasn't ahead and could quit when I did.

     How are you and the kids?  Keeping your chin up?  I have the pictures of my girls here on my desk before me and I hope that when we reach our destination I'll find one of my Sweet to add to my collection.

Goodnight my Sweet till tomorrow

Your loving husband

Gil

Lt (j.g.) G. Steingart

Could these be the pictures of the girls?    They were taken in San Diego on July 16, 1944.

Linda in front of the neighbor's house

Norma at the San Diego Zoo

San Diego--Squared Away

Saturday 5 August 1944, 8:20 AM

Dearest Eleanor,

     How is my Sweet this morning?  Just finished breakfast and thought I'd better write you immediately because I'll be busy today.

     Spent a quiet day yesterday.  Got my gear all squared away.  Now that Dr. Sayer has left.  Lots of room.  Went to the movie last night and saw "Christmas Holiday" with Deanna Durbin.  I still don't know whether I liked it or not.

     After the movie we retired to the ward room and drank cokes and chewed the fat.

     I must dash now, so with love to all three of my girls, adios.

Your loving husband,

Gil