Football

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

 U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
1 October 1944, 10:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello darling, here I am again. This has been just another day aboard. Saw four patients this AM and spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon making up some routine reports due the first of the month. Showered about 4:30 and then went topside to relax. Played a game called "football." It was quite interesting. A board is marked off like a field and a 52 card deck is used for determining the plays. After you decide whether you wish to pass, run, or kick you turn up the next card in the deck and then look on a chart which gives you the result of the play. For example: I chose to pass and turned up the 3 of diamonds. Under pass, the 3 diamonds shows a gain of 6 yards. Catch on? Really is quite amusing.
     I've ordered additional recreational material for the crew and will pick it up in the morning. By the way we had a very good movie aboard today, "She Loved a Soldier" with Paulette Goddard. It is quite cool and comfortable sitting on the fo'castle, and I must say I am enjoying our movies much more since they are being shown topside.
     How are you getting along with Tante and Dolores? It doesn't sound to be working out as well as you had hoped. Really, as long as they don't promise to be permanent, I'd keep looking. You recall, when Edna came to us the situation was no better than it is now. You never can tell who will turn up. Anyway it still is your home, not theirs and such things as parties for Dolores seem to be expecting a little too much. However, you're the boss and you'll have to make the final decision.
     How are Linda's feet these days? Is she back at dancing school? What about Norma? What does she do to pass the time away? Besides yours, I wrote five letters last night. Soon I'll be all caught up. Nothing more for now. I'll finish in the morning after mail call. Good night Sweet, pleasant dreams. I love you.

Monday 2 October 1944, 9:30 AM

     Good morning, darling, hope you slept well. Read until after midnight last night and slept soundly until I was awakened for breakfast this AM. Nothing new to tell about this morning. The mail didn't bring anything but a New Year greeting from Temple Beth Shalom on a Uniongram form signed by Nan Goldman. Am I surprised! Guess I'll have to acknowledge it.
     Sweet, do you remember the night we spent up at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood? After this war we'll go to other winter resorts and enjoy the snow. Boy, wouldn't I like some now. Have work to do now dear, so till tonight so long.

Love

Gil

Slots

Lt (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart
USS Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Saturday 30 September 1944, 9:30 PM

Dearest Sweetheart,
     What a busy day! Saw a couple of patients in the morning and then chased down to the Welfare and Recreation Office on the base. When I came back I found a couple of letters from you and one from Libby. I no sooner got started reading and Jim arrived and so I postponed that pleasure and showed him around the ship. He really was surprised at the size and facilities of the Ocelot.
     Jim had lunch aboard with me and we had an amusing incident. The Mess Caterer is an elective job that no one wants particularly. The Captain announced ahead of time that I was to be the next caterer. However all the officers got together and voted for another officer who wasn't expecting any such duty and boom he is now Mess Caterer. The Captain was a little provoked but couldn't do much about it. However he did dig up something else for me to do, Mess treasurer. That is that.
     Jim came over in a jeep. So after lunch, Hansen joined us and we all drove over to a

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and I ran into Alvin Klein. We had a little chat and plan to get together later. We then returned to the base and Ambie who used to be a 

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main took us through a large

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You can't possibly imagine how compactly built a

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is. Every inch of space is taken care of and really was an interesting experience. Then we returned to the ship and Jim had to shove off. We still had an hour before dinner so we walked over to the Officers Club and had a drink or two. They have scads of slot machines and having three quarters in my pockets I took a shot at it. Got $4 out, put $1.50 back so I'm $2.50 ahead. Then we returned to the ship for dinner. I found another letter and the money order waiting for me.
     After dinner we sat on deck and listened to a recorded radio program until movie time. Tonight we had "Crime at Night" and it was enjoyment, a murder mystery with a lot of humor. And so here I am.
     Now for the "Eversharp program." Keep my driver's license. I won't need one until I get back. I can't tell how soon I'll be back, anything can happen. Dinner out runs from $1.50 to $3.00. Most places just serve a la carte! Haven't eaten any tropical fish, but have tasted papaya. I didn't like it in the states and still think it's too sweet. When I go on liberty I usually don't get back until past 7:45 when the movie goes on. That's why I miss the movie rather frequently on liberty days. I've got you a locket, bracelet and earrings to match but they aren't of the charm variety. Keep you panties on till they get there. You have the San Diego deposit book. Look in my records file. Whew! Do I get the $64?
     I still think you should go to meetings and to h... with what people say. I'm not worried about it so why should you care. I'll write Ethel and Doc and the Vaneteks as soon as I close here. Good night, darling, my Sweet. I love you. I do!

Sunday 1 October 1944, 10:00 AM

     Good morning, darling. Sleep well? Sunday is just another day in the Navy. Just injected my third patient and while I'm waiting for the shot to take effect I'll finish off here. Nothing new since last night. Have several first of the month reports to make and also a survey of the oral condition of the whole crew and expect to be through by tonight. Sounds like I'm optimistic but I think I can do it!
     Do you remember when we would go out for breakfast on Sunday morning just for a change? Well sweetheart, after the war we'll always have breakfast together and wherever you wish.
     Now for our daily quiz program. Your

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After the war wherever we go our girls go and that includes Chicago. Frequently a couple of days will go by with no mail and then bingo! The jack-pot! Five or six all at one time. Sweet I don't care whether you write or type. Just hearing from you and knowing all is well is all I ask for. Bye darling. I'm getting to be just like Jim except he has been away 18 months instead of the 9 weeks. I'm a man with

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Figure it out for yourself.

Love,

Gil

Jeep Ride

Gil and Jim Frug

Another of Gil and Jim

Gil and Ambie (Hansen)