Okinawa--Watch

 

14 October 1945, 10:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Just got back from the show. We had a USO show and the movie, "The Princess and the Bellboy." We did see the picture more or less recently, but it did help the time pass. The USO show was just fair, but all the men out here liked it. Why? Just women!
     Today was very uneventful. I loafed around and then took a ride in a jeep. Before we leave it looks like we'll still have to decommission the "Mighty O" and salvage whatever equipment that can be saved. Hope we can finish the job in a couple of weeks, but if not it won't take much longer. Then it should be homeward bound for all of us.
     All the officers that are with the men in this camp are taking turns standing watch. Tonight, I have the midnight to 4:00 AM watch. We only have one four hour watch in each forty-eight hour period. My next one will run from 8:00 PM to midnight, so I'm sure I won't overwork.
     Tomorrow morning I'm going over to a neighboring CB camp and visit the two dentists there. Maybe I can make arrangements for me to take care of some of our men there. Anyway that is my idea.
     Don't know how my mail is getting out, but I do hope it won't be held up much. News reports have gotten out about the damage from the typhoon. I hope that you got my letters in time so you didn't have to worry.
     I'm going to close now and catch an hour's shuteye before I go on watch. Goodnight Dear, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Newspaper articles referencing the Ocelot

Okinawa--List

AMERICAN RED CROSS

Saturday, 13 October 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Here I am again for the second time today. Everyone is making up a list of items lost preparatory to filing claims with our Uncle. I'll get busy myself in a few minutes.
     Went to the movie tonight and saw "Swing Out Sister." We had it on the ship a little while ago, but I got a few laughs out of it anyway.
     I wrote Libby a letter which I'm enclosing because I don't recall her address. Please forward it.
     Good night darling. Hope we get out of here soon.

Love, 

Gil

Okinawa---Wind Hit 130 Knots

AMERICAN RED CROSS

13 October 1945

Dear Libby,
     I suppose that by now you know I've been shipwrecked again. The only difference is that this time we had to abandon ship and I've lost all my gear. We got ashore Tuesday at the height of a typhoon. The wind velocity hit 130 knots when the wind gauge went out. Just a light breeze. After wading around in mud up to my knees and in wet clothes for a day, we found temporary quarters for our officers and men. Yesterday we moved to more permanent quarters and here we'll remain until we return to the United States.
     We were all issued field green uniforms, field shoes and fur lined jackets. That is what I'll wear until I get home. For four days we ate nothing but C and K rations, but today we finally got some hot food. We are camped up in the hills overlooking a bay. The scenery reminds me very much of Lake Arrowhead. How long we'll be here is hard to tell. We could leave in a few days or weeks. It all depends.
     I'll drop you a line once in awhile but there is no use writing me unless I give you a new mailing address.
     That is all for now so I'll sign off. Give my best to Nat and Loretta.

Love,

Gil

Undated newspaper article confirming wind velocity

Okinawa--Blow By Blow

AMERICAN RED CROSS

Saturday, 13 October 1945, 11:00 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
    Now I'm all squared away and comfy with nothing to do. Well what could be better than a visit with you? So here goes.
    Now that all is calm and secure I'll try to give you a blow by blow description of the storm. Since the typhoon on September 16, we had several warnings about typhoons heading for Okinawa. Each the storms veered south and missed us completely. This last one was supposed to pass way south of us, but instead it veered north and we were right in the middle of it again. I've lost track of time but I believe it was 4:00 AM Monday morning when our special sea detail alarm went off. Our buoy chain had broken and all that was holding us was a 1-1/2 inch wire cable. All we could do was wait and pray for the cable to hold. The sea was too rough to try to secure a new chain or wire to the buoy. At about 10:00 AM the wire snapped. We were adrift at the mercy of the sea and winds which reached somewhere around 125 knots velocity. Although our propeller was broken, we got our engine started and tried to maneuver the ship so we wouldn't hit anything. We didn't. However the ship was getting out of control so the skipper decided to beach her. He did a beautiful job of bringing her in. We beached at about 11:00 AM. Suddenly the wind caught the stern of the ship and swung her around so that the sea and wind were hitting us broadside and rolling the ship from side to side with the jagged reef giving the hull a terrific beating. The holds began to flood so we decided to abandon ship. Dr. Bushyager and I got our medical records together and prepared to go over. Life rafts were lowered. Then we went over the side down a manila line into the rafts. The sea was washing over the rafts and we had to hang on or be washed adrift. Anyway we finally got ashore. Each officer took a group of men with him and went to find shelter. We found a large Quonset hut that was a mess hall and got some hot food and coffee. Just as we were sitting down the roof began to fly off. We had to get out fast. There was lots of corrugated steel flying around, so we headed for the hills to find shelter. We found a place in front of a native burial tomb and though it was wet we were protected from the wind so we stayed there. It was beginning to get dark and the storm was abating, so I left the men and went back to the mess hall to see if it would be safe to return there for shelter. It was. There we spent the night, cold and wet but protected from the elements.
     The next morning we headed back down the road to the ship and ran into other groups of men. We were directed to the temporary quarters assigned to us. After I had left the ship, several other vessels had been blown against us. A depth charge from a PCS (Patrol Craft Sweeper) had gone off and blew our stern off. One officer had his leg badly mangled and it had to be amputated. Another had a badly fractured leg which he'll probably lose. In addition we had a skull fracture case and many minor injuries and bruises. We were plenty lucky not to have suffered any loss of life. Many lives were lost in the storm.
     Shore facilities were demolished. I saw a fifty foot long Quonset hut picked up by the wind and carried along as if superman was supporting it in the palm of his hand. Then it was set down on its end and collapsed like an accordion. Complete camps were blown away. At the present time, the food and clothing situation on the island is very critical.
     The camp where we are billeted at is up in the hills. Tree growth and shrubs are abundant. Here the mud and dust are at a minimum. The locale reminds me of Lake Arrowhead. Clean, dry clothes and shoes have been issued to all of us. Now all we have to do is wait for orders to a ship and then home.
     The local camp's laundry was wrecked in the storm. Because we have few clothes, arrangements have been made with the natives to do our laundry daily in exchange for food and clothing they need. All in all I am happy and feel very fortunate that we all came out so well and I hope it won't be long before we are on our way home.
     Goodbye for now and please don't worry about me.

Love,

Gil

P.S. The Red Cross is really on the ball. Just as we got settled last night, they came over with shaving gear, cigarettes, writing paper, tooth brushes and paste, etc.

Newspaper article

Burial tomb similar to one where Gil took shelter

Okinawa--Camp

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 12 October 1945

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, here I am finally settled in a beautiful camp overlooking the sea up in the wooded hills of Okinawa. The officers here turned their club over to our officers and the officers from two other ships. Our men are also being well taken care of. Now our only worry is how soon will we leave this place?
     The storm did a terrific amount of damage and many ships were lost. To try to describe our abandoning ship would sound weird to you. Someday I'll tell you about it.
     I went back to the ship today. The stern was completely broken off and submerged. Sick bay, including my office, can only be gotten into at low tide. At high tide it is completely flooded so all the equipment and supplies are a total loss. All my uniforms are a mess. All I took off was some underwear and a few souvenirs that somehow others overlooked. It seems that as soon as the storm abated, sailors from other ships came aboard. Before the six officers and fifteen men still aboard could drive them off, they went through everything. Anyway, who cares? I'm safe and sound and the Navy will repay me for my losses. Because I have such a little time left to serve, I'll not replace most of the stuff I lost and try to get by with one suit of blues and a few odds and ends.
     I wrote letters to you, Libby and my mother the night before the storm, but I doubt that they ever reached the post office. It they did they were probably lost there because the PO ain't no mo! I did write my mother a short note the day before yesterday (when I wrote you) and I'll write her again tonight.
     So Darling, all is well that ends well. Goodnight and please don't worry about me. No use writing me either because I won't ever get the mail. I'll keep writing just the same. Love to you and my girls.

Devotedly,

Gil

Remains of Post Office

Photograph Album That Survived


First page of photograph album

Officers' Mess--Gil at right

Okinawa--Shipwrecked

AMERICAN RED CROSS

11 October 1945

Dearest Eleanor,
     Now your husband is a real shipwrecked sailor. Another typhoon hit this area two days ago (I think). I've lost all track of time. Because we were not fixed up for sea we ran into trouble again. This time we hit a reef and had to abandon ship. I left the ship, down a line and onto a raft and hit the beach. Outside of a couple of scratches on my legs I'm okay, so don't worry about me. Most installations on Okinawa were wrecked so we are all living in makeshift quarters. The first night I slept on the floor of a galley, but last night I did manage a camp cot.
     All the clothes and gear I have is what I had on and some greens that I got ashore. We've made arrangements to take a few of us back aboard to salvage a few essentials. Everything else is gone either through pilferage or due to the storm. We had three serious casualties that were flown to Guam. A few had minor injuries. All are out of sick bay now. The food consists of C or K rations and I can't say I care for it. If I have to subsist on this food long I'm sure to lose weight.
     No one knows how long it'll be before we are evacuated. I think I'll be home before I would have otherwise.
     Here are a few things you should know. Don't worry if my mail isn't regular. I'll write as often as possible. Don't write me any more unless you get a new address from me. All my mail will be held up. Even the post office here is gone.
     I've got to close now because I want this letter to get off as CB (Seabee) mail. Don't worry darling. I'll try to write again tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Ocelot survivors the "morning after"



Newspaper article

Okinawa--Nothing Written

            

         Wednesday 10 October 1945

Again, Lt. Gilbert Steingart broke his promise and did not write to his wife Eleanor.

WWII Pacific Typhoon Season 1945

Click on the link to read more about the fate of the USS Ocelot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_October_1945

Okinawa--Typhoon Louise

 Tuesday 9 October 1945

Lt. Gilbert Steingart did not write to his wife Eleanor.

Typhoon Louise

Category 3 typhoon (SSHWS)

Peak intensity 185 km/h (115 mph) (1-min) 969 mbar (hPA)

 

For more about Typhoon Louise.  See the Naval History and Heritage command by clicking on the link below

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/pacific-typhoon-october-1945.html

Okinawa--Letters Lost

Monday 8 October 1945

Gil wrote to Eleanor, his sister Libby and his mother. All the letters were lost.

On the day before, 7 October, Gil commented that he had "seen Okinawa. It must have been a pretty place before the war. ...Where a town or village stood, there is just a mass of rubble. .. I've seen enough and don't care to go ashore again."

Path of Typhoon Louise

Okinawa--I've Seen Okinawa

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

c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
Sunday 7 October 1945, 11:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Finally got ashore today. Now I've seen Okinawa. It must have been a pretty place before the war. There are still many spots resplendent with wild beauty. However wherever a town or village stood, there is just a mass of rubble. Naha has very few structures still standing and those that are minus a wall, roof or both. The enclosed snap taken by another officer last week is typical of the appearance of most buildings. I visited numerous towns and villages. In fact the majority are in even worse shape than the one pictured. Only piles of ruble and rock. On the other hand the land is quite fertile. Outside the vicinities of villages and towns, trees, bushes, sugar cane other vegetation and flowers (especially hibiscus) make for beautiful scenery.
     The island is quite hilly. In the hillsides, thousands of caves can be seen. There are numerous burial tombs in the hills. The hollowed out interiors have altars and a space for burying the dead. Undoubtedly the Japs holed up in these tombs and had to be blasted out. Many of them are sealed up now, though most are still open. However I wasn't curious enough to look into any of them. I'll believe what others said as to what is on the inside.
     There are many Jap prisoners and they are working willingly without being under guard. They got about six cents a day as Jap soldiers. Now as prisoners of war they get forty cents or more a day. Why shouldn't they like the change? The natives are dirty. Though not antagonistic, they still are not friendly. They live in reservations. Up till September 15 they couldn't leave those areas. Now however they have the run of the island.
We got ashore about 9:30 and rode around steadily until three o'clock so we saw plenty. In fact I've seen enough and don't care to go ashore again. I may make a run in just to buy some military currency as souvenirs. Enclosed is a ten sen note worth about six cents. I plan on buying 200 one sen notes and mail them to patients with greetings from Okinawa. Two hundred will cost sixty-six cents and I think that'll be good advertising. Don't you?
     I got four letters today, two from you, one from Libby and one from my mother. All of the 27th. You seem to be getting quite a bit of teaching. That should keep you busy and that is also good for you. Linda's school problem: as soon as peacetime adjustments are made and a normal routine resumes, it will correct itself. In the meantime, we and she will have to make the best of it.
     Tonight's movie was a stinker but the shorts were interesting. The program is enclosed. I'll sign off. It is past midnight and I'm tired and sleepy. Goodnight darling, how about paying me a visit in my dreams tonight?

Love,

Gil

Photos of Naha










Ten Sen




Movie

Okinawa--Dr. Bushyager's Relief

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" Bushyager (right)