Pearl Harbor--WWII Hawaii Currency

Thursday, 17 August 1944

Hello Sweetheart,
     How is my darling today? I did not get any mail on Tuesday when the first batch was brought aboard. I had liberty yesterday from noon until 10:00 PM but did not go until after dinner because of some unexpected chores that came up. I'm glad I didn't leave because I finally got a letter. The underlining of the "a" means just one from you. In addition I got the Pendleton newspaper with Dick's picture in it and the dental bulletin. I guess you didn't think I'd get to my destination so fast and wrote a lot of letters via regular mail. If so I'll probably get a whole batch all at once.
     I wish I could tell you where we are going next. In fact I wish I knew or as a matter of fact I wish the navy knew. Now everything is up in the air and we all have our fingers crossed. We had several officers with "scrambled eggs" looking us over contemplating some changes but who can tell.
     Went on liberty last night and because we started so late we didn't get much chance to see the city. Maybe we'll have better luck on Friday. We saw the hotel I've named our "beer drinking club" and the beach. It was beautiful. Mr. Hansen was with me and we enjoyed just looking around. We stopped in for a drink, a thick chocolate shake, and a couple of civilians insisted on paying the check. After six o'clock hard liquor and beer are rarities here. They tell me that before six you stand in line for it. Not me.
     Well dear I'm glad all is smooth at home and that the kiddies are well.
     If you haven't done so yet get Al Klein's address and send it to me "post haste." We may be here for some time and I'd like to look him up.
     I hate writing letters and except for our daily visit I'm going to do very little except in response to any I receive. Tell Linda I enjoyed her note to me and that she and Norma and I are going to really have a whopper of a time when I get back. As for you, dear, keep everything on ice and we'll really have unfinished business galore to take care of when I do get back.

Bye my Sweet

Yours as ever

Gil

P.S. Just as I was addressing the envelope I got two letters, one from Ruth and one from you, my Sweet.

Gil

Special WWII Hawaii Currency

"Scrambled Eggs" Officer's Hat
Worn by Top Brass Navy Officers

Pearl Harbor--Reminds Me of Catalina

Tuesday August 15, 5:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     I was hoping to go on liberty tonight and see the sights. It's five o'clock but no word about any liberty tonight. They tell me the bars here close at 6:00 PM and there is a 10:00 PM curfew. It may be scuttlebutt, but I'll know by tomorrow.     This place really reminds me of Catalina. After my first liberty I'll be able to tell you more about it. The color of the sea certainly is interesting here. It goes from a deep blue to green to light green to a white which in the distance looks like beach sand.
     The day is warm but there is a cool breeze that has been blowing constantly.
     Yesterday I had to rewrite several letters because of some insignificant items and I hardly know what to say that would be of interest and would pass the censor. However they can't stop me from loving you and missing you or even writing about it.
     Some mail was brought aboard but so far none has been distributed. Guess they are sorting it.
     Well Sweets guess I'll sign off with love to you, Linda, Norma, and the rest of the gang.

Gil

USS Ocelot

At Sea--No Movies

 Tuesday 14 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     As I sit down to write I find that all I can say is a repetition of what I have said in my earlier letters.  Work, eat, and sleep, with a little recreation in the way checkers, gin rummy, acey ducey, and walking around the deck is a good summary of my daily routine.

     I was a little busier in my office today and saw eight patients.  I also spent about an hour finishing up the cataloging the books in the ship's library.

     Finished a murder mystery last night and am beginning another today.  Movies are not shown at sea as a matter of security.  In case of an emergency it is felt that all the men aboard should not be congregated in one portion of the ship--so no movies.

     It is now almost time for supper so I'm going to shower and change shirts as I've done lots of sweating today.

          I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Cards

At Sea--Zigzag Course

Sunday 13 August,1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     Sunday is just another day at sea which means the same routine as always.  Eat and work and eat and sleep.  Plenty to eat, very little work and lots of time to sleep.

     Ate the usual breakfast, had steak for lunch and cold cuts for dinner.  Except for a few patients this was an exceptionally quiet day.  We happen to be ahead of schedule so that instead of a straight course we have been zigzagging all day stalling for time.

     Not much more to say my Sweet except I love you and miss you and my two girls a lot. Goodnight.

Gil

USS Ocelot 

At Sea--Company

Saturday 12 August 1944, At Sea

Dear Eleanor,
     Just another day at sea. Up as usual at seven, showered, dressed and had breakfast. Worked for a couple of hours, visited on the bridge and looked at ships looming up of the horizon guessing their identity, or trying to, before they got close enough to really tell. We've had company all day, another ship on the same course and evidently due at the same place and time as we are.
     After dinner of spaghetti and meat balls with salad, iced tea, and chocolate cream pie, we had a concert by the ship's band. They really sounded pretty good although they don't have much time to practice.
     Upon conclusion of the concert I returned to my office for more work. When he was in civilian life, one of my patients was a patient of Dr. Frankel. Small world isn't it? After that Dr. Bushyager, the medical officer, Mr. Hansen, the chief engineer, and I retired to the "chief's" quarters and with the accordion indulged in another hour or so of music (?). Then a fried chicken supper and another visit on the bridge. It has been plenty warm today and it is a little cooler up there than in most parts of the ship.
Well for a guy who had nothing much to say I did all right. I'm sure looking forward to our next port and to the letters from you my Sweet and I'll bet I get several from Linda too. By till tomorrow.

Love,
Gil

Dr. Steingart and Dr. Bushyager 

At Sea--Played Accordian

Friday 11 August 1944, At Sea

Dearest,

     Another quiet day. Had a light breakfast and then stalled around until 10:30 for the weekly inspection. Saw a couple of patients then and three more after dinner. We eat dinner at noon and supper at 6 P.M. Dinner was a Salisbury steak with all the trimmings. For supper we had asparagus soup and breaded pork chops with all the trimmings.

     The sea has been like glass and sailing along as we are, one completely loses all track of time and even the war seems very remote.

     Last night a few of us got together and borrowed an accordion from one of the men aboard.  I had a lot of fun playing it.  It's quite a simple instrument to play if you know piano.

     Well, my Sweet, we should be at our destination before many days more.  We've been moving along rather slowly because we're ahead of schedule.

     The last two days we ran into several squalls.  It rains for a few minutes and then we're out again and the sun is shining.   The nights are really black and going from the ward room to my room is like playing "blind man's bluff."  I extend my hands and grope along until I find the door knob.

     So dear it's really hard to find what to write when one writes every day but I do love you and really miss you and the kids.

Goodnight dear 'til tomorrow,

Love

Gil

WWII Accordion from

National Army Exhibit

At Sea--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