Leyte--Hottest

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 19 July 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     It was a good thing I wrote to you when I did yesterday. After dinner last night at 6:30, we left the ship and went ashore on a tug. It's been eight months since I'd been ashore at night for a few drinks and relaxation. The change was most enjoyable. I'll have to do it more often. It was past twelve when we got back. I was a wee bit high and turned in immediately.

     The club we went to is very close to the hospital that Simmie is at. The club has dancing every Wednesday night. There were about fifty nurses, all escorted, and about four hundred officers. Every other dance was a tag dance. I danced twice and gave up. I couldn't get half way around the floor before someone else cut it. I'm not that hard up for a woman in my arms yet. At least not any woman. Now if a girl named Eleanor were there it would have been different. However, as I said before, being off the ship in the evening was nice for a change. We are planning to go over more often.

     Today has been the hottest I've experienced since we left the States. I was busy all morning with patients. This afternoon I got hold of a picket boat and ran into town to book another USO show for our ship. The round trip took one and a half hours and I was ashore for about an hour. By the time I got back my face was all tanned from the sun. Where my cap covered my forehead I have a white patch.

     Before I dressed for dinner, I went to my room, showered, censored mail, and read. After dinner, we played cribbage and here I am.

     There were no letters for me today but I did receive the package you sent with earrings, coffee drops and B'nai B'rith Bulletins. I also received the May "Temple Tattler."

     We have been barren of any scuttlebutt lately although a change is still pending. I'll probably have my orders before that transpires.

     The movie tonight is a western, entitled "Utah," with Roy Rogers. We also have two shorts.

     And that is thirty for tonight. Goodnight my Sweet, I'll see you in my dreams. That'll have to do me until we're together again. In the meantime, with love and kisses for all my three girls, I am still

Your loving husband,

Gil

Crew and Nurses in the Philippines