Ulithi--Hellish

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Friday 2 February 1945, 7:05 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Just another routine day today. Worked all morning and finished up at 11:15 AM. Had lunch and then collected the monthly mess bill from the wardroom officers.
     It was cloudy and rainy looking but I went up on the poop deck anyway and got a half hour of sun.
     This being Friday, "field day" was the order of the day this afternoon. My corpsman worked, cleaning and polishing, and I caught up on my book work.
     This morning I got a letter from you dated the 24th and two this afternoon of the 23rd. Also got one from your mother.
     Now to your letters. You seem to be teaching regularly. I do hope it isn't too much for you even at $10 a day. Why are you so anxious to lose weight? I love you just the way you are, tummy and all. I haven't been on the scale lately but I don't believe my weight has varied any from what it was when I came aboard, 170 lbs. clothes and all. By the way I slipped the other morning and lost my mustache. Don't believe I'll ever raise another.
     I have a recollection of the party at Ruth's that you mention but a very faint one at that.
     I haven't started "Fountainhead" yet. I finished "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" last night and that book is next. I would enjoy "Immortal Wife" so send it along. I do believe that Xmas mail will soon be caught up and that packages will get out here in about thirty days.
     As long as you keep getting letters from me I don't see how you could expect me to phone you. After all air mail goes so much faster than any ship. Just take it easy dear and hope. I still think that I have a mighty good chance to get back when my year is up and something could happen and bring me back sooner.
     Yes dear I got my fifth assignment finished and on its way. The sixth should be ready to go by the end of this month.
     I'm glad that Linda is behaving so well. I do hope that Norma snaps out of it and gives you more rest at night. Losing an hour or two of sleep just spoils the following day completely.
     I hope you work out something nice at Arrowhead for this summer. If I get back and you're there I'd rather spend our time up there together than anywhere else. After all that was the locale of "our first night," wasn't it?
     Boy I sure could use some of that cold weather. I do hope we move on before long. The summer and late spring out here are just hellish. It's hot enough in the winter. I'd just as soon scram. However I'm just a (j.g.) in the dental corps and don't run the Navy. It's probably a good thing for the Navy.
     The movie tonight "Carolina Blues with Kay Kaiser and Ann Miller and is rated only fair. Guess I'll go anyway.
     Am signing off now darling. Good night with love and kisses to my three girls.

Yours always,
Gil

Gil doesn't mention going to ashore for a few, but here is a chit.

Ulithi--Amplifier Burnt Out

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Thursday 1 February 1945, 9:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello darling, this has been a "bitch" of a day, but all is well that ends well. I began this day with my regular appointments and was busy all morning. After lunch I continued my regular work routine. At 2:00 PM I began to examine some fifteen odd men who hadn't reported in for examinations when they were supposed to.
     After that I went to work on the wardroom statement. First I was $40 short, then I was $65 ahead. At 4:00 PM I gave up in disgust still some $60 ahead. As I came on deck I ran into a few officers on their way ashore for a few drinks, so I grabbed my cap and became one of the party.
     We went ashore and spent the most pleasant couple of hours since we have been at this place and then we returned to the ship.
     The stewards fixed us a late snack and we even had some ice cream for dessert. Someone brought it aboard to eat after the movies and we just got into it.
     By then it was movie time so we went up on deck. But the amplifier had burned out. After waiting an hour it began to rain so we gave the whole thing up.
     Got one letter from you postmarked the 21st. It is the one with Anne C's letter. Sounds like she'll be glad when she gets back to Santa Monica.
     Now to your letter. "Meet Me in St. Louis" sounds OK. I hope we get it soon. Hope you get to the Victory Ball though I'll bet you don't get in, in spite of Dave's uniform.
     Looks like the old feud of Marty versus Ben and Jerry goes merrily on. I bet Marty wins.
     I'll look for "Immortal Wife" but I haven't heard anyone comment on that book.
     Mary and Willie will go right on. Mary knew what the score was long ago. No matter what she says now, she'll just have to make the best of a bad bargain.
     As you probably gathered by now, I'm a little high but really I don't care. I feel much better than I did at 4:00 PM.
     Sweetheart, do you remember when for lack of anything better to do Saturday nights we'd get together with another couple and go to the Band Box for a sandwich and the "naughty" entertainment of Pete and Billy Snyder et al? Do Abbott and Costello still run that joint or did they give that up as a bad venture? Do you ever see the Posners? Just wondering?
     Well darling I really should close and turn in. Good night Honey with loads of love,

Your lonely,

Gil

U.S.S. Ocelot crew

Movie screen in background

Gil front row, on right end

Ulithi--$1,000,000

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Wednesday 31 January 1945, 10:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Have been busy all day. As a matter of fact I just finished working. In spite of all my activity I didn't do a lick of dentistry all day. Spent all morning and part of the afternoon closing the wardroom mess books.   Turned the monthly return over to my corpsman to type up. I just rechecked and found several errors, so it'll have to be redone.
     Completed that jigsaw puzzle before dinner tonight so I'll break out another one. I've spent about a 1-1/2 hours a day for the past three days so you can see that it is quite involved.
     After supper the doctor and I counted the paymasters money and certified the amount he was reporting on hand. Handling more than a million dollars should give one some kind of a thrill but somehow it just seemed like so much paper.
     The movie tonight was "Brazil" with Virginia Bruce and Tito Guizar. Although the movie wasn't rated highly I did enjoy the music and especially the samba routine of Velez and Yolanda. By the way last night's movie "Together Again" was most enjoyable. You should see it if you haven't.
     No mail today. Never did find yesterday's misplaced letter. One of the officers saw the postmark which was Bonner Springs, Kansas. Must have been from that Mrs. Dingey that I wrote you about. Haven't had any mail since last week so I do hope I get some tomorrow.
     Nothing more that is new or exciting. Do you remember when you and I were young and went to the dental school dance at the Elks Club? Those days seem like a dream of long ago, but we did have fun then. When I get back we'll have wonderful times together, you and I and our two girls.
     I'm going to sign off now Sweet, good night, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Bonner Springs, Kansas Postmark

Ulithi--Letter Disappeared

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Tuesday 30 January 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Am I mad. A letter came for me today and it disappeared. I know there was actually a letter because three officers and one of the steward mates saw it in the wardroom but "it ain't there anymore." It wasn't from you is all I know about it. Maybe it'll turn up tomorrow.
     Been keeping quite busy these days doing dentistry. Just got a request from another ship to take care of forty men. Am planning to take them next week, a few every day and clean them up. Anyway those in addition to what I already have lined up should keep me going.
     Worked steadily today until 3:00 PM. I really don't have much time to devote to my wardroom mess treasurer's job or my welfare job. However primarily I'm a dental officer and I'll attend to that job and let the rest ride until I can find time.
     At three I returned to my room and caught up on my book work. Then I relaxed with the jigsaw puzzle I'm working on. It's a dilly 16x20 inches and 500 pieces. Anyway it was 5:15 before I knew it and then I showered and dressed for dinner.
     It has rained on and off this afternoon and is raining now. I do hope it lets up because we have a good movie, Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne in "Together Again." I'll go anyway but I'd rather see it dry than all wet.
     Nothing new out here, just the same sixes and sevens. I owe everyone letters but it'll be some time before I catch up.
Sweetheart, do you remember how much fun we had on our trip east in 1940 and how glad we were to get home again? Well that was nothing compared to how I'll feel when I get home from here.
     No more for now Honey. Good night and pleasant dreams. Till tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Part of the missing letter?

Ulithi--Heat Rash

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Monday 29 January 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello darling, here I am again. Had quite a busy morning and wasn't through with work until after eleven. Then I went to my room and read until lunch time.
     I broke out with heat rash so after lunch I went up of the poop deck, stripped down and got the sun for a half hour. Sunshine seems to be the best remedy for this type of rash.
     Then back to my office for more work. I was all cleared up by 3:00 PM so I had a coke for a little refresher and censored some mail. By then it was four o'clock so I stripped down to my skivvies (shorts to you) and worked on a jigsaw puzzle until it was time to shower and dress for dinner.
     After eating a few of us stood out on the bridge deck enjoying the cool refreshing ocean breeze. And so here I am.
     There was only one letter. It was from Ambie. He is en route to San Francisco and promised to phone you when he gets there. He seems to be feeling very well. No doubt the fact that he is returning to the states has helped him a lot.
     The movie last night, "Belle of the Yukon," had lots of stars and possibilities, but it was only fair. Tonight we have Merle Oberon and Franchot Tone in "Dark Waters" and I do hope it's good. The story was run in the Post magazine recently.
     Nothing that is new, Sweet, so I'm going to sign off. Good night, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

U.S.S. Ocelot

Ulithi--Admiral Halsey

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Sunday 28 January 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     More mail today! I'm just like a kid with a new toy. Got five letters today, three from you, one of the 13th and two of the 20th. Also I got one letter from Ruth and one from Libby.
     I'm glad the package arrived and you like what I sent. That charm bracelet is expensive. It is sterling silver but I don't remember what it cost. Now to you other two letters.
     I hope you aren't overdoing with your teaching. Your health is more important than the money so please be careful.
     Can't understand why Rose wants her son-in-law to go in with someone else. If he has any ability at all and with the present shortage of doctors he should get started on his own now and get established while the getting is good. But then they're nuts anyway.
     Talking about the re-examining censor, one of the officers made some thoughtless remarks in one of his letters and another officer passed it. The re-examiner checked it and now hell is a popping. A copy of the letter has been sent to Admiral Halsey and I guess we haven't heard the last of it yet. Just goes to show how careful one must be in what he says in his letter.
     I didn't know the shells turned over on the neck. If they do I'll be able to fix the necklaces when I get home. However all the necklaces I've seen are made the same way. I'll be able to work out something with the chains you send me though I do wish I had one longer one.
     As far as Arrowhead is concerned, do as you see fit. When I said "To hell with a couple hundred bucks" I meant that if I happened to get home when you were planning to go up there, we wouldn't care if we had to lose the money to be together?
     So you feel rich and "phat," with all the money you made. Well take it easy Honey and have fun spending what you make.
     Scuttlebutt is like that. Now I don't know anything but am still hopeful.
     The movie last night "Hi Beautiful" was worse than I expected. Skip it when it comes around. Tonight we have "Belle of the Yukon" with Gypsy Rose Lee, Dinah Shore and Randolph Scott. It should be good.
     Today being Sunday I had a light work schedule. Did a lot of visiting and guessing what will come next. With our recent successes things look quite bright and I really think that things are going to blow up sudden-like for the Japs. I have very good reasons for saying so.
     Nothing more for now Sweetheart. Goodnight and pleasant dreams of things to come when we are together again.

Love,

Gil

Admiral Halsey

Ulithi--Trench

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco

Saturday 27 January 1945, 7:15 PM

My Darling,
     This being Saturday, we didn't work all morning, standing by for Captain's Inspection.
     After lunch I read for awhile from "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and at 1:30 PM went to my office for a little work. Filled three teeth, qualified a man for sub duty, treated a case of pyorrhea and one of trench mouth. I'm surprised at the small percentage of trench mouth aboard. In San Diego a large percentage of the patients were afflicted. Guess my hammering away at those that had it did a lot of good.
     I was talking to one of the Jewish boys aboard, a Sam Shapiro, and learned that he is a nephew of the "Sakalids" (spelling may be wrong) who live in the Paloma Apartments. You must know the people. As I recall, Mr. Sakalid is a very loud and coarse person. Shapiro is a fine chap and is well liked by the officers and enlisted men. He caught up with us in Pearl; he had been on leave and visited California. In fact he seemed to recall meeting my mother, but wasn't quite sure.
     No mail today but after the load I got the last two days I wasn't looking for any.
     I enjoyed the Bob Hope "Princess and Pirate" movie last night. Tonight we have a stinkeroo (I think) entitled "Hi Beautiful" with Noah Berry. Jr. and Martha O'Driscoll. Guess I'll go anyway.
     Sweet there is nothing more for today. Do you remember those happy days when you and I went rumba dancing at the Miramar on Saturday nights? We'll have to practice up on our steps together when I get back.
    Good night darling. Love and kisses to all my three girls.

Love,

Gil

Paloma Apartments where Gil's mother lived.
This is how it looks today as Phoenix House, a drug rehabilitation facility