Okinawa--Last Sunday on Okinawa I Hope

 

Sunday, 25 November 1945, 9:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     My last Sunday on Okinawa (I hope). Anyway by next Sunday I should know when I'm leaving and where I'll be going. In the meantime we'll both need to be patient.
     I spent a nice, quiet, peaceful day. Leslie and I had quite a talk this afternoon as to the effect this life we've been leading will have on us. We've been laying around for so long that we've lost all ambition. We talked about our prospects as civilians. Of course, I know where I'm going. It's amazing to see the number of men that have absolutely nothing to go back to. So many of them came fresh from school and literally don't know what they'll do when they get back. Just the same they all want out.
     Tonight's movie was another repeat. "Blonde Ransom," just a fair movie. That's thirty for tonight. Goodnight Darling, it won't be long before I'll kiss you goodnight instead of writing it.

Love,

Gil

Okinawa--Jittery as Hell

 Saturday, 24 November 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Now that I have only a few more days to go, I'm getting jittery as hell. So many things have happened to me that it's hard to believe that next week I'm to pick up my orders to return to the United States for release. I can't think what could happen to change things, but I'll feel better when I have my orders in hand.
     Nothing much that is new today. The decommissioning of the ship looks like it is weeks away. It was to be December 1. Dr. Law got orders to Guam for reassignment. That's about all.
     My kimono is finished except for a belt tie which will be made on Monday. The embroidery isn't too hot, but it'll do. All I've done today is read, play cribbage and loaf around.
     Tonight I hit the jackpot. I got six letters, three from you and one each from our mother and Libby. When I hit the states, I'll have orders to proceed to the demobilization center in Los Angeles. We can plan on going away after that is done. The policy seems to be to send one back for release on a ship that makes port close to the mobilization center. That'll be either Diego or Long Beach. Anyway, we can't plan until I actually get my ship.
     You've taken me to task for not answering your questions and not writing more fully. Well Navy procedure is peculiar to civilians. It would take reams to explain a simple thing to you. Besides you haven't been reading my letters too carefully either. Command Service Division (CSC 101) left the ship in Leyte. The Service Division I've mentioned is 104. But what's the difference now? It's just so much water under the bridge.
     About finances, your bank balance is low. As of November 15, I have $721 on the books. That should be $800 by the time I hit the United States. There'll be close to two months pay for separation leave plus $300, so that'll be another $950 approximately. I do hope you've gotten the $410 claim check. If that has gotten lost, it'll take months to collect on it. Anyway, the money totals up to about $2,000 and that ain't hay. Take it easy now, Sweet, you don't have to spend it all in one place.
     I've answered all the letters I've received. I've written Deb and Dave since I've been ashore. As for Ruth, she can wait. I haven't heard from her in weeks. She always did take her time in writing so that's that.
     About an office set up. Just for the fun of it call the local dental society and find out if any dentists are willing to have another dentist use their offices or work with them. As I've written before S.S. White was the house I dealt with. I did business with the American Dental Supply Company, but not much in the year or so before I went into the Navy.
     Hope Norma got over her indisposition and you've seen a doctor about yourself. When I get back we're going to have fun and not be bothered with illness. Are we? I hope not.
     As for your birthday, as I wrote yesterday the claim check is yours for a fur coat and what you will. Wish I could be home to wish you a happy birthday in person. But we'll celebrate Xmas together and that'll be something.
     Saw "San Francisco" for the nth time tonight. Goodnight Sweet and happy dreams.

Love,

Gil

Okinawa--Girls Wash and Sew

Friday, 23 November 1945, 3:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Another day closer to coming home. Another week and I'll pick up my orders at NOB. In a day or two after that, I should be on my way. Some ships make the trip in fifteen days. Others take as much as twenty. In any case this Xmas will be a real merry one for us.
     These Okinowans are an interesting people. Some native girls are sewing for three of us. They are making kimonos for us. Mine is all ready except for some Jap characters that will be embroidered on it tomorrow. We gave the girls a few cans of rations and now we have four of them hanging around ready to do any chores we may have such as washing, ironing, sewing, etc. Before they left at 4:00 PM they picked some flowers that look like daisies and arranged them in a coke bottle. They don't speak English nor I Japanese, yet we are really getting to understand each other by sign language and facial expressions.
     You are probably curious about these natives. Well, here is the arrangement. They live in villages under the jurisdiction of the military government. They are clothed, fed and housed without any money changing hands. However they are supposed to work for the men stationed on this island. They wash, clean and sew. Their villages are "off limits" to all military personnel. Trucks pick them up every morning and deliver them to the different camps by 8:00 AM. They work here until 4:00 PM with an hour off for chow. Then back to their villages.
     In the northern end of the island, there is considerable fraternization. We have a twenty-five man working party up there. A few days ago several of the men were relieved. Two of the "gook" girls broke down and cried when their "bed companions" left. As for myself, I haven't been tempted to "go native" yet.
     Tonight's movie was "The Cheaters" with Joseph Schildkraut. Now here I am.
     Goodnight Darling, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Natives Doing Laundry

Sewing


Off Limits Village

Okinawa--Thanksgiving

 Misdated--Thanksgiving was on Thursday 22, November 1945

Thursday, 21 November 1945, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Today is Thanksgiving and though we are apart I feel we have plenty to be thankful for. I took a run down to the ship. Every time I go down there and see the wreckage and rubble, I marvel at the few casualties we suffered. Anyway, in another nine or ten days I should have my orders and be on my way.
     Of all the officers on the ship, only two were regular Navy men. Though we all wrote the bureau for orders, those two are the only ones who have received orders so far. Maybe it's a coincidence but it looks to me like another case of favoritism. For me it doesn't matter, but as for the others, it is a little hard to take.
     Tonight we had a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. For dessert pie and ice cream. Before chow the captain of this camp invited us all to the bar for drinks on him. Candy, chocolate and cigarettes were passed around after dinner. It was an excellent meal and reminded me of happier days on the Ocelot and at home.
     After chow we hopped into a jeep and drove down to the movies. The picture was "The Great John L" a story about John L Sullivan, the pugilist. Now we are back in our tent and getting ready to turn in.
     Next week is your birthday. This time I really got caught short. I remember how on different occasions I'd put off getting you something until the last minute and how provoked you'd get at me. Well Sweet, I do hope that his time you'll forgive me if you don't receive anything from me on your birthday. It just couldn't be helped. Tell you what though: you know that coat you've been hoping for. Well, when you get my claim check you can claim it as all yours. The check should be a fair start for the coat you want.
     No more for now Darling, so I'll say goodnight. Pleasant dreams my love.

Yours forever,

Gil

Wreckage and rubble

Okinawa--Girls

Misdated--written either Tuesday 20 November or Wednesday 21 November

Wednesday, 20 November 1945, 10:20 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Hello Sweet, here I am again. Today has been very uneventful except that I hit the jackpot in the mail. I received five letters from you and one from my mother.
     I'm glad you got a nice watch for your birthday. I do hope that the watch or the defective part can be replaced. I can tell that you really like it and know you would be disappointed if it couldn't be duplicated.
     If Sol is returning to Okinawa and due back in the states on December 21, his ship may be in when I'm due to leave. It would be quite a coincidence if I got to return home on his ship. Wouldn't it? I'll see what I can find out.
     This time everyone is wrong about getting back for release. I've presented my request and my orders will be ready on the first. The policy on this island is to send men back sixteen days prior to discharge, so I'm sure to be on my way in about ten days.
     I hope the check I sent you didn't get lost. It was for $410 and could be replaced, but it would be a nuisance.
     Tonight's movie was a feature and three shorts. The feature, "Mystery in the Caribbean," was fairly interesting.
     We got hold of a couple of "gook" (native) girls. They are making white felt kimonos for Leslie and me. Of course it is all very good handwork. However who am I to judge?
     I sent home a package with some souvenirs and the picture album. Hope it gets home by the time I get back.
     That is all for now Darling. Goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Native Girls

Okinawa--Eleven More Days

Misdated--written on Monday 19 November or Tuesday 20th November

Tuesday, 19 November 1945, 8:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     This morning a jeep was available so Leslie and I ran down to the ship. Nothing in particular to do, but we did kill the morning. Covered with dust, we got back at noon. However after a good hot shower and change of clothes I felt fresh and clean again.
     I spent this afternoon just reading magazines and lounging around. Had a few beers before dinner and after chow, we went to the movies. "Dangerous Partners" and a Nazi spy story. Not too good. Now here I am.
     In eleven more days I'll pick up my orders and get underway for home. Once I get my orders, I hope there won't be any delay getting off Okinawa. Most everyone gets transportation within a day or two.
     That is the dope for now. Nothing more to write about. Goodnight Darling and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

The ship--USS Ocelot


Leslie

Okinawa--Twelve More Days

 Sunday, 18 November 1945, 10:40 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Twelve more days to go. That is twelve more unless I get orders in the meantime. This morning three of us got into a jeep and headed north. We left at 8:30 and got back at 2:30. We had to get special passes to make this trip as the place we went into is off limits to military personnel. The country is very scenic and the natives are very friendly. We even ran into a few that talked a kind of "pigeon" English. We crossed to the west side of the island. In one of the many bays we got a good look at the China Sea with several sunken Jap ships. At noon we stopped and ate the "C" and "K" rations we brought along.
     When we got back I was hot, tired, and dirty from the dusty road, so I took a shower and read until chow time. I'm reading Jessel's "To Help Me" and find it quite interesting and amusing.
     After chow we went to the movies and saw "Bring on the Girls." When I saw it on the ship, I said it was the best musical I've seen out here. I still think so.
     When I got back to my tent I found your two letters dated the 9th and 10th. I hope you know what you're doing about an office. Kalichman's space is okay, but because of the necessary alterations the building won't rent without a lease. Then again I don't have any equipment. You asked about supply houses. I dealt mostly with S.S. White, but also there are some independent houses that I did business with. I intend to follow through with the independents before I finally decide on equipment.
     Vice-Admiral Denfield (head of the Bureau of Personnel and in charge of demobilization) will probably receive numerous letters about members of the Ocelot crew. Even if it doesn't help me, the others deserve a break. Anyway a little investigation as to how things are run out here wouldn't hurt him.
     That is thirty for tonight. Goodnight Darling, can you wait another month more for me?

Love,

Gil

Scenes from trip north

Okinawa--Home for Xmas

 Saturday, 17 November 1945, 8:30 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning Sweet, how is my Darling this morning? Yesterday morning Leslie and I hitch-hiked down to the ship. I talked to the captain and convinced him that he ought to recommend that I be sent home now. We wrote a letter to CNOB explaining that my points would be up next month, that my dental equipment was destroyed and that I have been living ashore since October 9. They won't give me orders right away, but I will have them on December 1. That means I should be home for Xmas. In the mean time, bureau orders may come in and if they do I'll leave sooner. Because of past experiences, I hate to tell you not to write anymore, but once CNOB accepts the request for passage back to the United States for release, it is a certainty that I'll leave. The reason I wanted my blues was that I don't plan on spending any time in San Francisco. I could check in and out of the naval district in on day. If CNOB sends me back, chances are that I'll dock in Southern California and report to the Los Angeles Demobilization Center.
     Anyway I did lots of running around yesterday and when it is all via the thumb or legs you get pretty hot and tired. We got back to the camp hungry and dirty. After a hot shower and a few beers we ate chow.
     After chow we went to the movies. In addition to the picture "Three Strangers" with Sidney Greenstreet, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Peter Lore, we had a SSO (Special Security Office) stage show which lasted over one hour. The cast of army men must have been top-notch entertainers in civilian life. The movie was very unusual and I enjoyed it a lot.
     It was after eleven when we got back from the show. Everyone was tired and sleepy so I didn't bother to write until this morning. You certainly got all your facts mixed up but maybe it's better that way.
     I got two letters from you telling me about what you did and said to Patterson. Also I got a letter from your mother and the November Esquire.
     That is thirty for now Sweet, these next two weeks will really drag, but then I'll be on my way home. Bye for now.

Love,

Gil

Captain and Exec
USS Ocelot stern severed by the Nestor

Okinawa--Chaplain

 Thursday, 15 November 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Well here I am again or should I say still. Nothing new, nothing different, nothing definite. Tomorrow I'm going down to the ship to see if I can sell the captain and some other gold braid into sending me home since I'm not doing a damn thing anyway.
     Today has been another long, inactive day. I lay around all morning. Just before noon the chaplain from Service Division 104 came over to see me and inquire how we were getting along. Of course we've only been on the beach for five weeks, but suddenly he found time to look us up. When he left he had concluded that we were doing fine. Besides everybody wants to go home so why should we be different.
     No mail today so that concludes my report for now. Oh yes I did go to the movies. The picture should not have been released. It was "Penthouse" something or other. Who cares?

Goodnight Sweetheart,

Gil

Typhoon Survivors from the Ocelot