Ulithi--Sunday Services

Lt. (j.g.) Steingart, ship's dentist, was Jewish. There was no chaplain aboard, so he acted as welfare officer and arranged for Protestant and Catholic religious services.  

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 26 November 1944, 9:30 PM

Dearest Sweetheart,
     So this is Sunday! Well I can think back to when Sunday was a day with my Sweet and our two little darlings. But this is war and I'm out here doing my duty.
     I started out this morning as usual. By 2:00 PM I had put in thirteen fillings, polished five fillings, extracted one tooth, X-rayed five teeth and treated two cases of trench mouth. Whew, I'm all tired out just recounting my day's work.
     From 2:00 to 2:45 P.M. I had to arrange for the Catholic and Protestant services aboard. Just a few travails, such as bringing a piano out through one of the hatches and rigging up a mike for the chaplain to speak through. Then at 2:45 PM I left the ship in a motor whale boat and picked up one chaplain at one ship and the other at another ship and was back on the Ocelot by 3:15 PM. Took both chaplains up to meet the "skipper" and then showed each one where he was to conduct services. When it was all over I received several sincere thank yous from officers and enlisted men alike and though I did not attend service they tell me the arrangements were perfectly planned and everything went off smoothly. Anyway from now on services will be held aboard every Sunday.
     After the chaplains left I showered and changed. Then it was time for dinner. After eating I played my daily game of checkers and I'm really getting good. Roberts, the officer I play with, was beating me constantly and tonight I beat him six times and tied him once much to his chagrin.
     The mail situation hasn't changed at all. No airmail has been received since November 17 and very little of anything else. However every time the mail orderly leaves I get hopeful again. Maybe tomorrow will be my day. I do hope so. Aside from being with you, your letter is the next best thing.
     The movie this evening was really good. "Meet the People." Remember when we saw it on the stage? Well when they made a movie of it we passed it up and it's nothing like the stage show. If you get a chance, see it. There are plenty of laughs in it.
     Well darling, so ends another week. Do you remember how on Sunday night, maid's night out, I'd lay down on the couch listening to the radio and fall asleep?
     After the war I've got other plans for maid's night out. Can you guess what they are? If you can't now you'll find out later and I know you won't be disappointed.
     Good night honey, I still love you and think about you all the time.

Devotedly

Gil

Ulithi--105°

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 24 November 1944, 9:20 PM

My Dearest,
     Here it is Friday, a whole week has passed and still no mail. However I know that it isn't because you haven't written. You see no one else has received any either. All I can say of the mail service out here is that it is lousy.
     The movie last night was "Star Spangled Rhythm" with Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton and the best of Paramount Stars. We saw it years ago together and now I've seen it alone. Tonight we had another oldie "Road to Morocco" with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.
     Today was just another day. The thermometer registered from 97-105 degrees in the shade. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read the temperature myself. This morning I turned out nine fillings, two extractions and a gum treatment. After lunch I took a boat over to another ship and arranged with the chaplain aboard to conduct services on the Ocelot Sunday. He is Catholic and promised to bring along a Protestant chaplain as well. I do hope it works out.
     Outside of that there is nothing new or exciting.--just the same everyday routine. Gee, next week is your birthday and here we are thousands of miles apart. Well, this will be the as well as the first that we'll be apart.
     How are my girls doing? Do they still talk about their daddy? By the time I get back I'll be a total stranger to Norma and almost that to Linda. Yet she remembered Leon when she was much younger and that is a happy thought.
     Talking about Leon, he never did answer my letter and so help me. I'm really going to tell him off when that opportunity presents.
     Have you been doing any more teaching? Are you still going out for an evening? There are so many things I want to know and I'm sure when that stack of mail does arrive all my questions will be answered.
     Darling, do you remember those happy sessions on the studio couch in the Admiral Apartments? Well, after the war, I've got some new ideas we'll have to try out. You see I have plenty of time now to think about all the wonderful times we had together and also to plan all the things we'll do in the future.
     Good night my Sweet. I'm going to close with loving thoughts of days gone by. I love you so!

Your devoted husband,

Gil

Ulithi--Thanksgiving

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 23 November 1944, 1:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     This is Thanksgiving, the first one we've been apart for more than fifteen years and the last one I am sure.
     Yesterday was a bitch. It was hot and I was swamped all morning and part of the afternoon. I had seven extractions, nine fillings, and several treatments and examinations to make. Then, when I was through, a few of the officers decided to go ashore for a couple of hours. We hadn't gotten more than a hundred yards from the ship when the engine began to smoke and the boat had to be towed back to the ship. Thus ended the shortest liberty of my career as there were no other boats available at that time.
     So I played a few games of checkers and before I knew it, it was time for supper. After chow we sat around in a cool spot (comparatively only) and chewed the fat. Then it was 7:45 PM and time for movies. Another "oldie" but a good one, "Hollywood Cavalcade" with Alice Fay and Don Ameche. Then I turned into my sack and read for a while but didn't get far because of officers dropping in for a visit. My room seems to be one of the coolest on the ship, hence the popularity.
     Awoke this morning at 7:30 AM, showed, dressed and had a very light breakfast. The enclosed menu will explain the reason why. I had only one helping of everything and I'm stuffed like the turkey was before it was served.
     I had a light routine this morning so I spent an hour helping my corpsman get the library in order. It is quite a job, but the end is now in view.
     Well Sweet tomorrow is Friday and a whole week since I got any mail. Service out here is rotten so I hope you won't worry or be upset if you don't receive any regularly. I bet though when it does get here there'll be a stack of it.
     Darling, remember how I hated to write? Well except for our visits, I still hate it and after the war you'll be appointed my chief and only letter writer so help me!
     That is all now honey. I'm going to say "adios" for today. I wish I could wax poetic and express my deep love for you as I'd like but I can't so I'll wind up with my usual "loving you as always."

Your devoted

Gil

Ulithi-Booming in Sick Bay

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 21 November 1944, 9:20 AM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Hello honey, how is my sweetheart today? The mail service out here is lousy. I haven't had any mail now since last Friday. Here is hoping I get some this afternoon.

     Things were sure booming in sick bay yesterday. We never did find out what it was but about thirty of our officers and crew turned in with nausea and diarrhea. However after vomiting several times they got rid of whatever was causing their discomfort and this morning all is quiet and peaceful.
     We had a very good movie last night, "Summer Storm" with George Saunders and Linda Darnell. See it if you can.
     I took out two impactions this morning. One was rather simple but the other was a bear. It was buried deep in the jaw bone and I had to split it into two pieces (the tooth not the jaw) to remove it. I had expected several patients from another ship this morning but they didn't show up. Hence I have time to write in the middle of the morning.
     Our library is in a hell of a mess once more. It is open for only one hour a day and by the time the men get through browsing you couldn't tell where "a" ends and "z" begins.

12:45 PM

     Excuse the interruption; I've been busy with patients from 9:30 until 11:30 and then chow. Now we'll continue our visit. About the library--I spent a couple of hours there last night getting everything straightened out. And then I noticed my watch had stopped. I don't know what's wrong so I'll take it over to another ship where there is a watchmaker and try to get it fixed. In the meantime I have my Bulova to fall back on.
     Mail came aboard this morning so I'm hoping there'll be something for me. Am I perspiring! I have a towel right handy and use it after almost each sentence.
     Darling do you remember how tight I got at your graduation party? That seems so long ago. Actually it is only twelve years. Guess a lot has happened since then. Well dear, after the war we'll be together again and forever.
     So long honey with "lotions of love" (a la Winchell) I am your loving correspondent.

Gil

USS Ocelot

Ulithi--Beer 10¢

In this letter Lt. (jg) Steingart mentions being routed out of his sack.  The probable reason was that a Kaiten, had attacked and sunk the USS Mississinewa in Ulithi. 63 men were lost.  

Kaiten, a Japanese torpedo/kamikaze/mini-submarine.

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday 20 November 1944, 11:00 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning Sweet. How is my darling today? Swell, I'm glad to hear that.
     Yesterday morning, I did a little work in the office and cleared out so my corpsman could finish painting. Now that it's finished and looking 4.0, someone got the bright idea to run some electric cable through the office. It never fails. As soon as you get something fixed up someone will come along and mess it up again.
     After lunch yesterday I hit the beach on a little liberty. About a half dozen of ship's officers went and we got fairly tanked up. Still in all, the day cost the magnificent total of $1.20. Beer cost 10 cents a can and V.O. whiskey 30 cents a shot. Any bar in the United States could make two drinks with the amount of whiskey used in each drink.
     By the time we got back it was 6:30 PM and there was no more dinner left. So we fixed some toast and made cold meat sandwiches. And with a little left over potato salad I sated my hunger in a hurry. Then I went to the movie and saw "Hail the Conquering Hero" with Eddie Bracken. What a laugh! By the end of the picture I was plenty sleepy so I hit the sack early.
     This morning I was routed out of my sack at six o'clock and though I didn't do any work I had to stand by until ten o'clock. Then I showered, shaved and feeling much refreshed sat down for our little visit together.
     Honey, do you remember our weekend reunions while you summered at Catalina? Can you imagine out next reunion? I can't. Right now it seems so long since I've held you in my arms that it is difficult to imagine such pleasure and happiness.
     I'll sign off with the hope that I get some mail today. I haven't had any since Friday. Loving you as always

Devotedly

Gil

Half dozen of the Ship's Officers

Gil is the Short One