Leyte--Pray VJ Day Is Here

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday August 12, 1945, 11:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Darling here is your tourist hubby again. Today being Sunday I loafed around all morning. At 11:15 I went to my room to read. I had just sat down when in walked "Bud" Schurr, Sara's brother. Now last night's mystery is solved.
     I had arranged to go ashore with a commander. He was to pick me up after lunch so we took Bud along. We covered as many miles as I had on Friday and even had time to stop at one of the clubs for a few drinks. Bud had flown in from Manila and is on his was to New Guinea. If the war ends, he'll probably fly back to Manila instead of going to New Guinea.
     We did a lot of talking and reminiscing. The terrain around here is never changing. Thick swamps and jungles are alongside the dirty, rough roads. In every clearing there are native shacks with natives of course.
     We got back to town at 6:15, dropped Bud off, got our boat and returned to the Ocelot. It has been more than ten years since I last saw Bud. If I hadn't had the message from him yesterday I wouldn't have recognized him. He is much older looking and has put on weight (as have others you know). However he does look well in spite of his three years out here.
     I got aboard at 7:30. The stewart fixed me a turkey plate with ice cream for dessert. Then to the movies. We had "Affairs of Susan" with Joan Fontaine. It was a most enjoyable comedy.
     By the way, the book "Generation of Vipers" has several good chapters in it. Although it's non-fiction you'd enjoy parts of it.
     The mail brought a lone letter from your mother, so I have nothing more to say tonight.

Goodnight, my love, until tomorrow.

Yours forever,

Gil

P.S. Now that we have submitted a counter proposal to Japan, the war should be over tomorrow. I pray VJ Day is really here so that I may be home soon with you, my sweet.



Scenes from Leyte

Sailors


Natives


Animal Life