Jungle Woman

Thursday, 31 August 1944, 10:30 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning, Sweet, dreamed about you again last night. I was a civilian and working hard in my office. You came up but wouldn't kiss me because you had a cold. However I put stop to that nonsense. Guess if I had slept on I would have had a cold too.
     Kept pretty busy yesterday. Got your package off this morning and I hope you like what I sent. Will send along Linda's and Norma's as soon as possible.
     Received your letter of the 26th, one from Libby with Jim's address and the bulletin. Send the bulletin regular mail. Any news in there will keep a week or two longer. That was yesterday. This morning I received two more from you, one from Libby and one from my mother.
     It certainly would be wonderful if I could be back in time for your birthday (no I haven't forgotten) but I don't believe anyone knows now where we'll be then. All one can do is hope. Even if I can't be with you in person you are always with me in my heart.
     After dinner last night we got out on deck and played a game of dart throwing for awhile. Then we had a movie "Jungle Woman" which was a remake of one we'd seen. About a female ape that is changed by some doctor into a human and how she saves the life of an animal trainer when he is attacked by a lion in a cage. Interesting but some of the sequences were very illogical.
     Dear, I'm enclosing a poem I picked up which I think is apropos to us. Time to go to work my darling so good bye till tomorrow.

Your loving husband,

Gil

Censored

Wednesday 30 August 1944, 8:00 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning dear. How about a nice big kiss? Thank you Sweet, that was nice. Went on liberty yesterday. Stopped downtown and did some shopping. I am sending you a house dress, sun suit, and blouse. For Norma and Linda I am sending grass skirts. Here is an interesting item about the grass skirts that are sold to be sent out of the island. The grass skirt that is straw colored is made of material purchased in the States. The skirts that are made up of different colors are made of the bark of a tree obtained in the Society Islands in the French East Indies. I'm sending the kids the East Indian variety. Your sun suit is called a "malo" and has a sarong and skirt all in one piece and a bra. The salesgirl put the ties through the loops and tied them so you shouldn't have too much trouble getting into it.
     After my shopping, Graves (one of the officers aboard) and I went to the beach. As I told you

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     What a difference! By then we were hungry so we hunted until we found a good Chinese restaurant. I still like shrimp, et. al. Did we eat!
     Well darling after dinner we walked around and at 8:15 caught a bus back to the base. Hope I get some mail this morning. Got a letter from Deb on Monday but none from you and none yesterday either. But then, that's just the way the mail is nowadays.
     My yesterday's letter was slightly cut up because I suggested the

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we would

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     Sorry!
     No more for the present Sweetheart. Time to go to work. Till tomorrow then

Love,
Gil

Was the sunsuit/malo actually a "maillot." Here is a sketch from a Simplicity sewing pattern. Linda remembers it had beige background and a red floral print.

Allergic to Love

Tuesday 29 August 1944, Morning 

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning my Sweet. I dreamt about you last night. Wow, what a dream! It was all mixed up but did we have fun!
     Yesterday was just another day. The usual routine of eating, working and loafing. Saw a very amusing movie last night I'm sure you'd enjoy it. "Allergic to Love" with Martha O'Driscoll and Noah Berry, Jr. It's all about this couple that gets married and every time they kiss the wife gets an attack of hay fever--some fun.

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     If it is I won't be going ashore until Friday.
     Don't worry about money. I cashed a $20 check with Dr. Gilman before we left and since then got paid. I still have over $70 and there will be another pay day Thursday. I'm sure I can more than get along on what I get here                    censored
     Got a letter from Deb yesterday, but nothing else. Bet I get several today.
     Glad to hear Linda is doing so well. I'd love to hear some of Norma's chatter, but then I'd love to be with all three of my girls. Sweetheart your last letters sounded like you were so unhappy. Please don't let this get you down. This mess will be over soon. We're young and we'll have lots of good times together.
     Remember, we always enjoyed life and made the most of everything and when we are together again we'll have first, a swell second honeymoon, and then resume where we left off.
     It's time for me to go to work darling. So bye until tomorrow.

Loving you always,

Gil

Jewish Chaplain

Sunday 27 August 1944, 10:45 AM

Good Morning Sweetheart,
     Boy, wouldn't I love to be home this morning with you in bed alongside and Linda and Norma climbing all over us. Guess we'll have to put it off for awhile.
     Got my liberties all fouled up. Thought I was off today but instead I was off yesterday. So I don't go ashore again until Tuesday. Saw "Sensations of 1945" again last night and enjoyed it. There is so much good music in it. You remember I saw it at the Repair Base when I was there.
     It's always warm here but there is a cool breeze coming down from the hills that makes it quite comfortable. You can lean over the rail and watch the rain come in off of the hills and in the past few days it has rained frequently. However, no one pays any attention to it because it rains but a few minutes and you are completely dry in another few moments. In the past few days I've seen several rainbows and thought back to those happy days at Niagara Falls.
     This morning we had three chaplains come aboard. Two conducted services and the third, a Jewish chaplain just visited around. He comes from the same town as the executive officer who has known him for years. He also knows Rabbi Lifschitz.
     Dear, I am enclosing some papers which I want you to file away for future reference. Nothing else to say since my last note except I love you and miss all my three girls.

Love,

Gil

Wagon Wheels

Sunday 20 August 1944

Hello Sweetheart,
     How are you today? Gosh I wish we had been together today. I had liberty and went ashore with three of the officers aboard. We had lunch at a place called "Wagon Wheels" and enjoyed a very good meal. I went ashore without expecting to have much fun. But Mr. Cox, one of the officers, knew some people and we visited with them. They were very gracious to us and we had a very pleasant afternoon. We killed about a fifth and a half of scotch and a pint of rum and when we said good bye we were feeling pretty good.
     We then returned to the ship and I found four letters for me, three from you my Sweet and one from Libby. She didn't say much and didn't send Jimmy's address and after missing a letter from you two days straight I read and reread all you said about what you and the kids are doing.
     Gee darling don't set your heart on my returning real soon. Maybe we will, but the way it looks now it won't be right away. Fact of the matter is we'll probably be here for several weeks and it may be a couple o months--who can tell what will be doing then.
     My Sweet, I do love you and miss you and what wouldn't I give for big goodnight hugs and kisses from our little ones, but I'll have to wait.
     Goodnight darling. I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,
Gil

Lt. (j.g.) G. Steingart

Wagon Wheels Restaurant
Waikiki circa 1945

Dummies Alphabetized the Library

Thursday 10 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     This has been a busy day. I had five extractions plus several treatment cases and a couple of fillings. As one of my duties I have charge of the library and it is a mess.  We have several hundred books without any catalogue of them and they are just thrown willy-nilly onto the shelves. So I had a couple of men detailed to alphabetize and list the books and after they got through I had to go back and do it over again myself. The dummies alphabetized the books on each shelf and so we had duplicate copies of books on several shelves. However it'll be squared away by tomorrow and then it will function smoothly.

     Other than that there isn't much to tell.  We are ahead of schedule and so we're barely moving along.  I still am eating three meals a day but no bread, butter, cream, sugar, or potatoes.  Still I am consuming too much.  Guess I'll just have to skip a meal now and then.

     Well it's time to turn in.  I really sleep soundly and if the mess attendant didn't call me every morning I'd probably sleep right on through.

     Darling, when I get back we really are going to make up for lost time.  Until then, take it easy.  Give my girls a big hug and kiss from Daddy.  Goodnight!

Your Sweetheart,

Gil

Lt (j.g.) G. Steingart

USS Ocelot

Corpsman Painting

Tuesday 8 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest Eleanor,
     What a beautiful day. I wish you could enjoy it with me. It is warm and sunny and the Pacific with its gorgeous blue is as smooth as a great big pond.
     Not much doing in the way of activity. They finally finished messing up my office and now my corpsman is painting it. I hope to be back to work tomorrow. Bought some shirts and trousers and a slipover sweater for nights when it's cool out.
     I'm going to miss a few meals. I'll bet I've already gained 5 pounds and I'll be darned if I'll keep them. Been trying to get someone to work out with the medicine ball but no takers.
     Well, my Sweet, when this is over, you and I will have to take a cruise together. Just think, you and I away on a holiday and it won't be long you'll see.

Bye Sweets,

Gil

Medicine Ball

Old Salt

Saturday 5 August 1944, 10:00 PM

Dearest,

     Now I'm an old salt.  Spent a quiet day.  Saw a few dental patients and went through a routine "general quarters" and "abandon ship" drill.

     It has been overcast and cool all day but rather smooth.  Just now we have quite a roll and a pitch, just the thing to rock me to sleep.

     Here is the menu for today. I must really begin to watch my waist line. Breakfast was French toast and coffee.  Lunch started with soup, then stuffed bell pepper and string beans with coffee and cake for dessert.  For dinner we had salad, steak, cobbler and coffee.

     After dinner we adjourned to the ward room and I got talked into a poker game.  You know how much I love cards but anything to be sociable. After three hours I lost the magnificent total of $1.05.  This ocean air is quite conducive to sleep so I decided to turn in early.  I'm really glad I wasn't ahead and could quit when I did.

     How are you and the kids?  Keeping your chin up?  I have the pictures of my girls here on my desk before me and I hope that when we reach our destination I'll find one of my Sweet to add to my collection.

Goodnight my Sweet till tomorrow

Your loving husband

Gil

Lt (j.g.) G. Steingart

Could these be the pictures of the girls?    They were taken in San Diego on July 16, 1944. 

Linda in front of  the neighbors's house 

Norma at the San Diego Zoo

Gear Squared Away

Saturday 5 August 1944, 8:20 AM

Dearest Eleanor,

     How is my Sweet this morning?  Just finished breakfast and thought I'd better write you immediately because I'll be busy today.

     Spent a quiet day yesterday.  Got my gear all squared away.  Now that Dr. Sayer has left.  Lots of room.  Went to the movie last night and saw "Christmas Holiday" with Deanna Durbin.  I still don't know whether I liked it or not.

     After the movie we retired to the ward room and drank cokes and chewed the fat.

     I must dash now, so with love to all three of my girls, adios.

Your loving husband,

Gil

Stuffed to the Gills

Friday afternoon, 4 August 1944

Dearest Eleanor,

    Just had lunch and I'm stuffed to the gills.  The menu consisted of stuffed celery, green and black olives, hard boiled eggs, tuna salad, sliced tomatoes, cream pie and coffee with a fruit punch on the side.  I did make a pig of myself and now I wish I had passed up the hot biscuits.

    Dr. Sayer moved out yesterday and I cleaned up the place a bit and now have oodles of room.  Several of the officers just received promotions and I spent a few minutes examining their mouths to qualify them for this advancement.

    That broken part on the dental chair will be repaired this afternoon.  Then I'll really go to work.

    By the time you get this you should be feeling in the pink so please take good care of yourself and my two little girls.  Daddy misses all three of you and is looking forward to an early reunion.

    Give my best to our mothers (yours and mine), Ruth, Harry, Babs and Dick and give Linda and Norma a big kiss from Daddy.  Always thinking of you.

Love,

Gil

Insignia from Gil's Navy Hat

Learning About the Ship

Monday 31 July 1944

Dearest Eleanor,

     Another busy day doing nothing.  Saw one patient this morning and spent the rest of the day learning about the ship and some of my duties.

     The chow is excellent.  Ate three meals today and that is one too many.  I'll have to really watch myself or I'll put on plenty of weight (and you Dr., who is censoring this letter, will have to take steps to reduce me).

     Saw a movie tonight--"The Canterville Ghost," a most fantastic picture.  I spent most of the afternoon and evening showing some of the doctors, whom I worked with ashore, around the ship. Methinks that practically all would trade with me. 

     I expect to see you tomorrow night and am looking forward to a very pleasant and thrilling evening.  I am hoping, but I can't be sure.  Anyway it won't be long before I see Leon's old haunts and the---? Who knows?

     In a couple of days I intend to begin a survey of the dental health of the crew and that will keep me busy for awhile.

     I still miss you and my two girls and feel that it won't be too long before I will see you all again.

Your loving husband

Gil

Jabbering Hens

Sunday 30 July 1944

Dearest Eleanor
     It is less than 10 hours since I kissed you goodbye and I'm already beginning to miss you.
     The train ride back was very quiet except for the jabbering of a couple of old hens behind me. However in spite of them, I dozed off for a little more than an hour and felt quite refreshed. I came aboard at noon after visiting with the watch officers at the clinic for a few minutes.
     Not a thing to do all afternoon but walk around the ship and visit with some of the officers in the ward room. I did have lunch aboard. A little more salad than the base mess. Steak with French fries, string beans and apple pie a la mode for dessert made up the balance of the meal. It is now almost six and time to eat again but I am not a bit hungry.
     Sweet, I'm afraid that we will be shoving off the same day that you are planning to return to San Diego, so our next meeting will be in the form of a real reunion.
     Kiss my girls Linda and Norma for their Daddy because he is going to miss them and you so much.

Love,

Gil

The ship--USS Ocelot--1944

Report to the USS Ocelot

Friday 28 July 1944

Lt. (jg) Gilbert Steingart is ordered for duty on the USS Ocelot (IX-110)as relief to Lieutenant (jg) Baldwin Sayer.  He reported to the commanding officer, Captain Samuels.

Dog Tags

June 1944

In June 1944,  Lt. (j.g.)Gilbert Steingart had a tetanus shot. The information on his dog tags:

name--Gilbert Steingart

service number--327933

T for tetanus and date--Inoculated in June 1944

blood type--B

branch of service--United States Navy Reserve

Dog Tags

No Gossip to Spill

Wednesday 5 April 1944, 1730

Dear Eleanor,
     Another day is over--another day closer to Saturday night, then Sunday, and then we'll all be together again.
     Went downtown with Gilman last night. Had a couple of drinks and turned in at 10:30 P.M. At noon today I bought a couple of emblems and a box of Nestlé's chocolate. After posting this letter I'm going to play volleyball till it gets dark and then over to B.O.Q. for a little bull session and so to bed.
     Glad to hear that you've got everything straightened out. I'm going to have to get a plumber over Friday afternoon to connect the gas range.
     Nothing new happening here, so no gossip to spill. I said I was going to play ball, but I was wrong. I must go and place my call to you. God alone knows when I'll get through.

Love and kisses to all my girls.

Your daily lover to be,

Gil

P.S.  Got a card from Ruth today.
Identification bracelets in sterling silver are $10.40. Priced same downtown last night at $18.50. Do you think Deb really wanted to go that high for a gift for Dave?

Shipping to San Diego

Wednesday 5 April 1944, 1145 o'clock

My Dearest,

    Here I am back at the old grind and I mean grind. I'll sure be glad when those 5 or 6 new officers arrive.  Although they may send out one or two that are already here, this addition will lighten the load considerably.

    As I told you over the phone, the Naval Supply Depot at San Pedro will call you relative to shipping our effects.  Arrange to have the stuff delivered Friday afternoon after 2:00 or 3:00 P.M.

    Last night I went to the U.S.O. they really put on a real show.  One girl in particular imitated Gracie Fields, Shirley Temple (as a child) and "frozen faced" Margaret O'Brien to a "T."

    Guess I'll take a rain check on tonight's show, "Stage Door Canteen."  Have no plans for this evening.  Tomorrow noon I'll run down and look the apartment over and then phone you in the evening.

    Gilman is coming alright so get four tickets for Saturday night.  After the show he's on his own.

    Hope Norma's leaky nose is better by now.  I wish I could get the kids something for Easter.  Maybe I'll find time Friday afternoon to do some shopping.

    It's 12:00 and time for a game of volleyball. Adios, My Sweet.

Love,

Gil

Gas and Light

Tuesday 4 April 1944, 1800 o'clock

Hello My Sweet,

     One day closer to our new life in San Diego.  This business has got me to the point of becoming absent minded.  I almost forgot to write.

     Went down at noon today and arranged for the gas and light.  I'll have to leave the keys with one of the neighbors because there is no way of telling what time of the day the utility man will be down.

     Saw "Cover Girl" with Rita Hayworth last night and really enjoyed it.  Lots of good singing and dancing routines.  No plans for tonight though we are thinking tentatively of having dinner out.

     How about the house rental?  Anything happen?  I hope you don't have to turn it over to an agent.  It's too much money to give away.  Guess we'll have to do the best we can.

     My corpsman gave me a one way ticket from San Diego to San Francisco.  I'll use it to come home on if no ride turns up.  Nothing has.  You'd better not expect me on Saturday 'til rather late.

Love,

Gil

The Flat

Thursday 30 March 1944, 1900 o'clock

Dearest,

    Here I am. Been waiting almost an hour for the call to you to come through.  I'm sure I won't have to wait much longer now.

    At noon today I went down and saw the flat and was pleasantly surprised.  It really will look nice with a few decent sticks stuck around.  The living room is quite large about 12x18.  The kitchen is small but there is room for a refrigerator and stove such as we have at home.  However, I do think we ought to buy one of those four burners just half the size of the one we have now.  I saw one in Sears for $69.50. All the rooms have ceiling lights except the living room so you needn't worry about the light problem. Tomorrow I'll go back to the Supply Depot and find out about storage.

    I really wasn't very excited about this change but now that I've seen the place and its possibility and the prospect of having you and kiddies here with me all together again, I can hardly wait.

    I'm writing in B.O.Q. and Gilman is here to annoy me.

    Forgot to find out what's at the movie, guess I'll walk down and take in the second show if I haven't already seen it.

    I won't seal this letter until after I've talked to you which should be any minute. Until tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Linda recalls that the flat had a stove something like this