Leyte--Brought the Overhead Down

The date was actually Saturday 25 Aug 1945, 12:15 AM

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 24 Aug 1945, 12:15 AM

Dearest Darling,
     Here is your busy hubby at last. I've been on the go since I woke this morning and I'll sure sleep tonight. To begin with I had a full morning booked and had to move right along to be able to take care of three emergencies that dropped in. After lunch, just as I was getting comfortable in my bunk, I was called to my office again to care for another emergency. However it being Friday and field day I didn't have any work planned for the afternoon so I was through right after the emergency. At three o'clock we (two officers and myself) shoved off to pick up the USO show. It was 5:15 before we were back on the Ocelot. After dinner we got everything squared away and the show went on at 7:30. The name of the show was "Comedy Caravan" and consisted of a male master of ceremonies, a magician, and accordionist. Then there were three women, two young and one about forty. The show was excellent and the men almost brought the overhead (ceiling to a lubber) down over their heads. I was really pleased at the success of the show because the commodore doesn't favor having women aboard. After seeing the morale lifting effect of such entertainment I know he won't object anymore. After the show I brought the entertainers up to the wardroom for coffee and sandwiches. At 10:30 we headed back to the beach. It had been raining but had just cleared up and a nice moon was shining. We really made time. The round trip only took a one and a half hours.
     As for mail I really hit the jackpot today. I got five letters and a Parent Magazine from you plus a letter from your mother. Yes the war is over but VJ Day is still a few days away. Until that day and until we actually occupy Japan we are still in a state of war and all wartime restrictions and precautions exist. So----censorship is still in effect and will be until the Navy Dept says otherwise.
     Don't worry about me and office space. I'll be in the states and in still in the Navy before I'm finally released. I'll have time to look around. I'll also want to take some refresher courses before I start practice and so there is really no hurry. Of course it would be nice to get tied up with some men of Dr. Lewis' reputation but if nothing works out don't worry.
     Deb certainly has had her troubles. I hope that by now she is over her arm infection and stays well for a change. As for Ruth, she always was a selfish person and I hope I won't have to remind you when we are back together again and living our own lives of how she acted towards you. Just to make you feel better dentists are not on the exception list. As soon as the point system is liberalized, which won't be too long, I'll be eligible for release.
     The snaps are a wee bit fuzzy but I enjoyed them just the same. I like your new bathing suit or is it a sun-suit? Anyway it looks OK.
     Glad you finally heard from the Siegers and hope you and the kids have a swell rest and change. Have a good time. Just think next year we'll be together again doing all those things we enjoy.
     I'm not surprised that there were deaths in Los Angeles as a result of the celebration. I wrote you about the celebration out here.   I've learned that several men were killed and many were injured on the roads around her.
     Yes, I'd be interested in a medical building set up. Find out what you can and let me know. However remember that we can't go in too deep.
     My what a long letter. I'm really sleepy. It is ten minutes to one and I'm ready to turn in.
     Goodnight Sweet and do have a nice vacation. Until tomorrow with love and kisses to my three sweethearts.

Yours alone

Gil

P.S. I missed a good move tonight because I had to take the show back to the beach. We had "Rhapsody in Blue" the story of George Gershwin. Darn.

Gil

Bathing Suit or Sun-suit?

Leyte--USO Show

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 23 August 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Another hot day just like yesterday. I had quite a busy morning and early afternoon. I finally got hold of a piano tuner and now our piano is okay. Got a dispatch this morning saying that we could have the USO show tomorrow night. Naturally we accepted. Tomorrow afternoon I'm taking the picket boat to pick up the show. If the advance dope is anything to go on, we've got a swell night's entertainment to look forward to.
     A lot more scuttlebutt about where we are going and when has been going around the ship today. However there is nothing definite to go on. Just the same, I'll be glad when we leave. Any place will be better than here.
     After chow we played cribbage and then went to the movies. We had a double feature "Three's a Crowd," a murder mystery and Laurel and Hardy in "The Bullfighters." Nuff said.
     No mail again today. I suppose mail service will be very poor until the initial occupation of Japan is complete. Anyway the war is over and I feel pretty sure of being a civilian in about six months.
That is thirty for tonight Sweet. Bye for now and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Leyte--Piano Tuner Ordered

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 22 August 1945, 6:50 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Wow what a day. The hottest I've experienced. I spent three hours in the sun on a VP landing boat. You see at noon today I heard of a USO show so I grabbed the only available transportation and headed for the beach. I got a show for September 3rd provided that our piano is tuned. So on the way back I stopped at another ship and found there was a tuner on board, but he couldn't get off. I got back aboard the Ocelot and took the problem up with the higher paid help; they sent a dispatch to that ship ordering the tuner to come over tomorrow. Hope it works.
     Nothing more of interest. I had my usual busy morning. When I got back from my little boat ride I showered and read until it was time to dress for dinner. The skipper is "under the weather" so no cribbage tonight.
     Tonight's movie is "Murder He Says" with Fred McMurray. The reviews aren't too hot. Hope it is at least average.
     No more scuttlebutt. Rumor has it that we will go to Manila, Okinawa or to various parts of Japan. Anyplace would be okay with me as long as it is north.
     No mail again today darling and I suppose from now on, for two weeks or so, your mail will be delayed on account of your vacation, but I'll understand.
     Bye my Sweet. Until tomorrow. I love you and am counting the days till we're together again.

Yours impatiently,

Gil

During World War II, Steinway & Sons produced pianos for the American troops. Called the Victory Vertical or G.I. Steinway.

Leyte--Admiral Jacobs

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 21 August 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, another hot day is drawing to an end. I was swamped under this morning, but this afternoon was easy and I secured at 2:30.
     You've probably heard about the Navy wanting 30,000 reserve officers for the regular Navy. Well, of all the ship's officers, none are interested. By the by the August 13th Time magazine has an interesting article on the same subject.
     We heard over the radio that Admiral Jacobs, Chief of Bureau of Personnel, said that the reason that overseas duty wasn't given consideration was because there are no records showing the time served overseas. Why such a statement was made I'll never know. They have all that dope for pay purposes. I'm interested in seeing the press reaction.
     At 4:00 P.M. I had my hair cut. Then showered and visited with Dr. Law in our stateroom. At 5:30 PM we dressed and went up to chow. I don't know where the skipper went, he wasn't at dinner. Anyway no cribbage game tonight.
     I got a letter from you and one from Uncle Bill. I hope there are no last minute hitches in your vacation plans and that everything goes smoothly while you are at Lake Arrowhead. I hear gas rationing is over so now you won't have to worry about coupons.
     The treatment the men got when they got back from the Kaiser show was plenty of punishment in itself. Imagine drinking up to two quarts of warm salt water to vomit the stuff up. Of course their liberty was cancelled for several weeks. Out here it is pretty hard to discipline men past that point.
     So Norma is following in the steps of her daddy? Well I outgrew it without detrimental effects and I'm sure she will too.
     I read up some more on penicillin given orally. It does work effectively. I hope Deb gets over her indisposition and feels 4.0 by now.
     So you feel like a little loving "tonight?" I feel like it every night. Have we got some tall catching up to do, wow!
     No scuttlebutt, now news, no nothing. So goodnight. Oh yes, our movie tonight is a real stinker called "There Goes Kelly." Nuff said.
     Goodnight Darling until tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Admiral Jacobs


Gas ration coupons

Leyte--Penicillin is Wonderful

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Monday, 20 August 1945, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     A real hot day for a change and on top of that I was swamped under with work. It was past 3:30 when I finally called it a day. Then up to my room, off with my clothes and a cold refreshing shower. After that I censored some mail and read a little from "Try and Stop Me." First thing I knew it was 5:30 PM and time to dress and go to chow. After eating we played cribbage and then to the movies. We had an oldie tonight, "The Cowboy and the Lady" with Merle Oberon and Gary Cooper. It was so old it was new. I couldn't remember a scene.
     The mailman brought me four letters from you and one from Mary Regan. She was home on leave and now is back in Miami.
Three of the letters were of the 8th and 9th and there is lots of repetition. The other is of the 13th and that is the newsy one.
     Sorry to hear Deb is having so much trouble with her breast. Penicillin is a wonderful drug but oral administration is experimental. I guess the doctor knows what he is doing.
     I couldn't write the Bureau until I had a year out and now the letter is on its way. In spite of your unfounded hunch, I feel pretty sure of getting the Long Beach area for my next duty.
     No I haven't seen Sol. I've checked on his ship but couldn't find it listed. I'll look it up again tomorrow morning.
     There isn't any more for now. Goodnight Darling and please be patient. The next few weeks will be difficult and then we'll all know more about what to expect. Goodnight again.

Love,

Gil

Leyte--Ocelot is Old

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday, 19 August 1945, 1:05 AM

(Really Monday morning)

Dearest Eleanor,
     As late as it is, a promise is a promise so here I am again. Today being Sunday, I didn't have any appointments scheduled. However I did have two emergency calls and the rest of the morning was my own. After chow my tug came alongside and five of us embarked on a little trip. First we went to a club some twelve miles away, drank some beer and visited until 4:30. Then back to our tug we went and crossed the bay to another club fifteen miles away. We had a drink and then went to dinner. After chow more drinking and singing. We left for the Ocelot at 11:30 AM on Sunday and returned at 12:30 AM.
     I had a nice cold orange. Then I undressed, showered and here I am.
     The mailman brought me two letters from you and one from each mother. I've received mail through the 11th. These today are of the 8th so there are lots of repeats.
     I'm glad you sent the gold braid. If we do move up to Japan we'll probably wear blues and I'll need it. There is nothing definite as to where we'll go. Manila, Japan or maybe the States. Who knows? The Ocelot is an old ship and now that the war is over there'll be many newer ships that could serve in her place and much more effectively. Let's hope that the brass hats figure the same way as I.
     No more for now Darling. It is past my beddy-bye. "Nite-nite" Sweet. I'll see you in my dreams.

Love and kisses,

Gil

Ocelot--an old,steel clad, wooden ship
Launched in 1919

Leyte--Pyrothecnics

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 18 August 1945, 10:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor
     It was raining last night when I turned in and continued to come down until late this afternoon. As a result it is much cooler today hitting a new low of 82 degrees.
     I had quite a busy morning but the afternoon was mine. I had planned to go ashore but the rain changed my mind. If it's nice tomorrow I'm planning a little trip. I have a tug promised but it all depends on the weather.
     I finished "Earth and High Heaven" this afternoon. I enjoyed reading it. I also censored some mail and at five o'clock showered and dressed for dinner and then cribbage.
     We had a good movie for a change, "Flame of the Barbary Coast" with John Wayne, Ann Dvorak and Joseph Schildkraut.
     I got two letters from you my darling and one from Libby. You sure didn't have to spend $5 on Harry's birthday after the two cheap books they sent me on mine. Jesus gal, money doesn't grow on trees. No wonder it costs you so much to live. Instead of telling me how cheap Ruth acts at times, why don't you give them the "business" instead.
     Glad you've decided against continued diet. Dieting never did your health or disposition any good.
     Cox finally left last week. Glass is also on his way. Another officer Roger Kirk is now awaiting his relief. Of the officers I found when I came aboard only the captain, Dr. Bushyager, Kuhn, and Aspinwall remain. In another month I expect only I and Aspinwall will remain and not for very long, I hope.
     No dear, I haven't lost any weight. This heat makes a guy pepless enough without diet. However, if we do move up to Japan before I go back, the change will do me and my waistline good.
     As I wrote before we did all our celebrating Friday night. As a matter of fact we used up all our pyrotechnics. When peace was officially announced there was little excitement out here.
     Well darling another week is over, another week less of being apart. From the looks of things the rotation plan is continuing and I still hope to be home this fall and that isn't far away.
     So Sweet until tomorrow with love and kisses.

Your lonely husband

Gil

Pyrotechnics used up before official peace announcement.

Leyte--Earth and High Heaven

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday 17 August 1945, 10:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Nice and cool today. It has been overcast all day and this evening it rained a little. The temperature is down to 87 degrees.
     I had quite a busy morning. This afternoon was "field day" so I read all afternoon or should I say most of it. Today, we got a new shipment of library books including "Earth and High Heaven." So now I'll be able to finish the story.
     At five o'clock I showered, dressed for dinner and after chow played cribbage until movie time. The picture was "Weekend at the Waldorf" with a whole host of stars. It was good only in spots. Rather slow all in all.
No new dope today. I feel certain a new point system will be announced soon and when it is I'll be eligible for civilian 1st class.
     There was no mail again today and there isn't a thing I can think worth writing except that I do love you and miss you and am getting really impatient to go home.
     That is all for tonight Sweet so bye and pleasant dreams.

Yours forever,

Gil

The Book. On May 16, 1945 Gil wrote: It was run in the Post or Collier's...entitled "Earth and Sky Above" or something like that. Anyway it's about a Jewish attorney who marries a girl of well-to-do society and the complications that ensue...I'll get hold of it one of these days.

Leyte--Demobilization

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday 16 August 1945, 7:20 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     When I came into the wardroom for breakfast there was a lot of excitement. The Navy had announced its demobilization plan. Actually the present point system will release only 327,000 of a total of 2,500,000 so it is evident that another and I hope more equitable plan will be announced very soon.   Relatives of many men serving overseas will write congressman asking for recognition of overseas duty and additional dependents. As it is, I'm short twelve points. Out of the well over 500 men aboard, I only know of four officers and ten men who are eligible. By the way the medical officers were included for release eligibility but the dental corps was not. I really hope to be a civilian in about six months.
     In spite of all the excitement I did keep busy all morning and even saw three patients this afternoon.
     There is no dope about where we go from here. In a day or so there will be no more censorship and I'll be able to write anything I damn please.
     The mail brought me one letter from my sweet. I was happy to read that you are keeping busy and that your spirits are up a little.
     No, in spite of my sweating, I haven't lost any weight. Who cares as long as I'm healthy?
     With the war over I may be able to tell you in advance when and where I'll arrive when I do head home. We'll be able to have a few days together before the family moves in on us.
     I'm not making any more jewelry. In a few days I'm taking the junk you sent over to a trading post and get whatever I can for it. I'll also buy some stuff if I can't get what I want in trade.
     Tonight's movie is "Hitchhike to Happiness" with Al Pearce. I hope it's better than last night's movie.
     No more for now Darling, so I'll sign off. Goodnight Sweetheart. I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Leyte--Where Do We Go From Here

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 15 August 1945, 7:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Well the war is really over now, the fighting has ceased. All everyone wants to know is when do we go home? There are all kinds of rumors but it'll be a couple of weeks before any plans will be formulated and announced.
     As usual I worked this morning and most of the afternoon. Then I loafed and listened to the radio.
     At 5:00 P.M. I showered and dressed for chow. After eating we played cribbage. Now here I am.
     I got four letters and the book "Lost Island" from Ethyl. Lately I've noticed that your letters are often postmarked two or three days later than the writing date. Three of the letters were postmarked August 6. They were written on the 3rd, 4th and 5th. No wonder I've been missing days!
     Gosh it would be fun to take the kids swimming. Maybe I'll be doing it real soon. I don't know why you had to accept cast off of Loretta's clothing for our kids. I hope you won't take anymore.
     Our bank balance is way down. Have you paid anything on my life insurance policies or didn't you get any notices? Looks like I'll have to get out and hustle soon or there won't be any surplus left.
     I looked up the Time write up about Ulithi. July Fortune also has as article of interest with a picture of the anchorage showing the Ocelot very clearly.
     How about Leon? Does he report and ship out or have his orders been changed? If he does go, it will indicate that there won't be any change in tour of duty and I can expect to get back as planned.
     You are peeved at a lot of people about how they've treated you. Yet when I get back, I bet you'll forgive and forget and I don't know that that isn't the way I want you to be. However we'll never feel the same way about a lot of our supposed friends.
     Tonight's movie is "Where Do We Go from Here" with Fred McMurray. I hope it's good. That is thirty for tonight so goodnight my Sweet and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

P.S. Did you take care of the braid for my blue? We might move up to Japan. I'll need the braid there.

Gil