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

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

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

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

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

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

Killed the Evening

Wednesday, 14 November 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Just another day with nothing new to go on. They've really gone to work stripping the ship, so maybe it'll be ready for decommissioning before long.
     The mail brought me two letters from dated the 7th and letters from your mother and Leon. That is one week service and that's pretty good. I have Leon's address. If I hit Frisco when I go back, I may call him. Having a car would help me get squared away and on my way home in one day.
     Tonight's movie consisted of three shorts and Chester Morris in "Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion." Just average but it did kill the evening.
     It has gotten pretty cool tonight. It looks like I'll need three blankets to keep warm.
     That is the dope for tonight. Goodnight Sweet and keep smiling, it is practically all over but the shouting.

Love,

Gil

Shipping List

Picture Album from Shipping List