Leyte--Picket Boat

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

c/o Fleet Post Office

San Francisco, California

Sunday, 2 September 1945, 10:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Sunday, a day of rest or so it says in the "big book." I spent most of the morning working on next week's menus and getting the stewards squared away on how I wanted things done.

     After lunch I got me a tug and went over to Tolosa for a few beers. There were three of us in the party. We had a new tug today, a seventy-five footer with a crew of ten men. The US Navy got this ship from New Zealand, a reverse land lease deal. It cost $145,000. You've probably wondered why I've been using tugs most of the time. Well they are more comfortable than a VP or a whaleboat and make better time. Of course the picket boat is still my favorite but there are only two available and they are hard to get. Anyway we got back to the Ocelot at 6:30 just in time for a late turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

     After chow I went up on the forecastle and listened to music until movie time. We had another pyrotechnical display tonight to celebrate VJ Day. It didn't come up to the August 10 celebration. Do you realize that though it was September 2nd here when the treaty was signed that it was still September 1st in the United States? Tomorrow will be Labor Day here, but you'll be celebrating VJ Day. Confusing isn't it?

     Tonight's movie was "A Blonde from Brooklyn," a class B picture but not too bad. Also we had a short about Port Hueneme.

     No mail today so this is thirty for tonight. Goodnight Darling until tomorrow.

Loving you as ever,

Gil

Picket boat being launched at Kirkland Marine during WWII.