Ulithi--Pray!

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Wednesday, 28 March 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, here I am again and in much better shape than last night. I hope my letter wasn't too mixed up.
     Today was just an ordinary day. I had my appointments for the morning and was through by 11:30. This afternoon I saw two patients and then made a complete inventory of supplies on hand. We usually carry enough for six months so I had plenty to inventory.
     At 4:00 PM I went to work on another shell necklace. I think these will be much nicer. I should finish it tomorrow and then I'll make a charm bracelet of assorted shells and send them on.
     The mail today was practically barren. Just a Dental Society Bulletin and the B'nai B'rith War Service News.
     The movie tonight is not a very good one but I guess I'll go anyway. It is "Main Street After Dark" with Edward Arnold plus five reels of shorts.
     Scuttlebutt is flying around again and maybe I'll have some good news for you one of these days. Cross your fingers, eyes, legs and everything and pray!
     Gosh Honey there isn't a thing else to say but I don't believe I've told you in the last few days that "I love you and miss you." Well I do dear and just as much as you miss me and love me too, of course.
     Well, guess I'll sign off until tomorrow. Goodnight Honey I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,
Gil

Eleanor

Ulithi--Drunken Brawl

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Tuesday 27 March 1945, 11:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, here I am again. Did I have a busy morning. Besides a completely appointed morning I had six emergency patients to care for and it was twelve o'clock before I was through.
     After lunch a group of officers went ashore for a little party where some nurses were to be present, but I begged off. At 3:00 PM (I had patients until then), the captain and two other officers came down and insisted I join them and go ashore for the party. We took some steaks, sixty of them to be exact, a gallon of olives, a gallon of pickles, a pound of butter and away we went. Well it was a drunken brawl but I was a good boy and here I am. We just got back and we all had coffee before retiring.
     There was no mail today except a return on my correspondence course and a letter from Mary Regan. Do you remember her? She worked for the Board of Equalization in the Bay Cities Building and was sweet on Leon. Besides that she was a patient of mine, referred to me by Abe Cohen. Anyway she is now in the Coast Guard, stationed in Washington and is momentarily awaiting her orders to Pearl Harbor. She just received my Xmas Card and hence her writing me.
     Outside of that there is nothing new to write about. So considering the time and my present slightly (?) inebriated condition, I'll sign off.
     Good night Sweetheart, I'll be with you again tomorrow. I love you so!

Forever yours,

Gil

The Battle of Iwo Jima ended on Mar 25, 1945. Was the purpose of the party to celebrate?

Dave (Gil's brother-in-law and a Marine) must have clipped this article from the Marine Corps Gazette. The U.S.S. Ocelot was the flag for Squadron 10.

Ulithi--Entertainers

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday, 26 March 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     This has been one busy day. Believe it or not this is the first free time I've had since I got up this morning.
     I worked all morning and at 12:30 I took a liberty party of eighty-eight men ashore for a little recreation. It rained most of the afternoon and by the time we got back to the ship at 5:15 we were all thoroughly soaked.
     I peeled off my wet clothes and after a hot shower dressed for dinner. Just as I finished eating the exec informed me that Claude Thornhill and his show had been obtained for us for tonight and to get ready.
     The first lieutenant got his carpenters together and a small platform stage was rigged. I got the electricians busy on lighting and got our PA system hooked up. For a backdrop we hung a number of colorful signal flags. We were all ready at 7:45 and that was really making time.
     I met the entertainers on the quarterdeck and took them below. As I wrote before Jackie Cooper, Bobby Riggs (Mary Lou imitator of the radio) and several others are in the show. Claude Thornhill was an arranger for Castellanez (?spelling) as well as a band leader in his own right. His musicians are taken from many well known bands such as Goodman, Weeks, and others. The star attraction was Dennis Day and he really is good. He is an ensign. After the show he came up to the wardroom and we sat around and talked until his boat came for him. By the way, after the show we served ice cream to all hands. Now here I am.
     I hit the jackpot today. This morning, I got eight letters from you and one from your mother. When I came down to my office to write to you a few minutes ago I found two V-mails that came this afternoon, one from Libby and the other from Edward Rubin of the B'nai B'rith.
     Linda is getting to be quite the young lady. Movies on Saturday, dancing school and soon the piano. Well I'm hoping to be there when she starts in the fall.
     You mention Sophie and Fay several times. Are they the two service wives you recently met? Anyway I'm glad you've found some new congenial acquaintances.
     Such dreams! I have only one girl friend and you know who she is. No matter where I go when I get back my three girls are all going there with me.
     What about my girls' Mommy? Well gee whiz can't you wait and be surprised? If you can't you'll have to anyway.
     So Jerry and Marty are still feudin'. Well it's a small world with many "small" people.
     "The Angels Sing" and "A Song to Remember" are both very enjoyable and I'm glad you got to see them.
     I didn't know Dr. Lewis was back. Guess one of your letters telling me more about it will bounce in one of these days.
     I can't tell you what kind of shots we got but it really doesn't matter now, does it?
     I really didn't enjoy the American Weeklies much. Really, I have plenty of reading matter so please don't send any more unless there are some novelty books or magazines you think I'd enjoy.
     The Coast Guard pharmacist you mentioned--does he know the Ocelot or is he just speaking generally? Don't let it get you down dear. He could be wrong.
     Well this has been a long winded letter.  I hope I didn't tire you out. I'll sign off now as it's 11:20 and I should turn in.
     Good night Sweetheart and the next time dream about us being together.

Loving you always,

Gil

Going Ashore

Ulithi--Passover

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Sunday 25 March 1945, 6:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Darling, here I am again. Today for a change I put in an honest day's work. I saw eight patients this morning and two more this afternoon. Besides that I spent some time digging out additional information for my annual and quarterly reports. Now the Dental Corps has more control over its administration. Seeing as I am the senior dental officer aboard I have more reports to make out (ahem!). It's a good thing there aren't any more dental officers or I'd probably be junior.
     I was beginning to run low on shorts so I bought a half dozen more today (35 cents each). It has been raining or threatening to rain all day so I spent my leisure time in my room reading and censoring mail.
     There was no mail today for a change. I do wish the service would settle down so that I'd get one or two letters every day instead of all at one time. Well, I shouldn't complain, I still get more than most aboard this ship.
     It's hard to realize that next week is Passover. All days are alike and as a matter of fact I'd never know it was Sunday except the chaplain is around. Talking about chaplains, one has been assigned to our ship and I'm looking for him to arrive most any time now. Won't I be glad. Then the job of Welfare Officer and Librarian will be taken away from me and given to someone who has the time and training to do a real job of it and at the same time give me more opportunity to do what I'm here to do.
     We finally got a boxing ring built on one of the hatches. While we are waiting for the chaplain, I'll try and promote some bouts before movies.
     By the way, in one of the letters yesterday you asked if I wanted some fruits and nuts. I've still got some left and have been laying off them because I've gained a couple pounds lately. There isn't much chance for exercise but I still eat two meals a day and even that seems too much. So the answer is "no thank you."
     The movie tonight is "Fighting Lady" a picture about the carrier, "Yorktown." It is very much like the movie we saw of the flying fortress "The----Belle." I can't remember the rest of the name. We saw it in Diego together. Also it is rated as excellent.
     I'm going to sign off now. Good night, my love, my Sweet. Till tomorrow with love and kisses.

Yours alone,

Gil

Lt. (j.g.) Steingart

Ulithi--Alaskan Highway

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Saturday 24 March 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Another day of loafing, but the last. The paint wasn't quite dry this morning, so I didn't open shop today. However tomorrow I have a pretty heavy day lined up.
     What did I do all day? First I censored some mail. Then I did examine a couple of officers who were up for promotion. By the time the inspection party came through sickbay it was past 11:00 AM so I went up to my room and read until chow.
     After lunch I killed more time but don't ask me what I did because I'm darned if I can remember. It has been cloudy and raining all day else I would have gone ashore. I just didn't feel like getting all wet.
     I got five letters from my darling today, two in the AM and three in the PM.
     The one marked February 20th explained about Hansen's phone call to you. No, he hasn't written yet. The others were marked the 13th, 14th and 15th of March and that isn't bad service at all. Maybe he did call Miss Rike a "young lady" but I'm not kidding when I say she'll never see forty-five again.  Maybe you'll meet her some day and you'll judge as to whom is "kidding" you.
     That article about the Alaskan Highway didn't surprise me as I read about it in the ship's news Bulletin some time ago. All work on the road has ceased. It seems they ran into insurmountable difficulties. Oh well, there are still ships sailing and that'll give us more time to ourselves (catch on?)
     The things I find most interesting in your letters are the things that you and the kids are doing. I really don't care much about what is happening to others, hence no remarks in the past (and in the future too). Of course I read your letters through and reread them when I'm writing you. I answer all your ideas that I think are necessary.
     I'm glad you got rid of those moles. Why are you so worried about being beautiful? You always did suit me fine and I'll take you just as you are.
     Yes the Army is advancing officers faster than the Navy now. I still prefer the Navy. Still think back to how long Iz Weiss was a First Lieutenant. At least in the Navy after sixteen months (May 1) I'll get my advancement and that is only about a month from now.
     Your list of real friends is small but I do believe that no one has many more. The rest are "fair weather" friends who don't really give a tinker's damn.
     Of course we'll be together when I get stateside duty, no matter where. That is a promise.
     We saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" years ago. "Virginia" is also an oldie which we saw together.
     It looks like Joe will ship out soon and when he does I do hope Anne comes back to Santa Monica. I know how much you must miss her.
     The Mrs. Allen of the P.T.A. you mention sounds like the wife of Mark Allen, the attorney in the Tower building. Next time you see her ask her if she is and if so say hello for me. I know her fairly well.
     Sorry that you and the kids all have colds.Hope you are all well when you read this.
     Painting the house sounds like a good idea if you can get help to do it reasonably.
     Well sweet that washes me up for tonight. The movie is "Strange Affair" with (?)--I never heard of them anyway and it's time to go.
     Goodnight Sweet, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Newspaper article published on March 24, 1945. Tells of the March 13 Japanese raid in Ulithi that damaged the aircraft carrier Randolph. A kamikaze, not mentioned in the article, buzzed the U.S.S.Ocelot.

Ulithi--Loafing

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Friday 23 March 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello honey, here I am again. Today was another day of loafing because of the painting of my office. I did get considerable done in the preparation of those reports I mentioned yesterday. I had to completely inventory equipment and supplies and indicate their value and condition. I also have to estimate supplies needed for the coming year and make recommendations to improve dental treatment in the area.
     I had planned on going ashore after lunch, but it was overcast and raining on and off. So I decided to stay aboard. Censored some mail and began another book "Wild Geese Calling." We saw the movie but so far, the book is totally different (as far as I can remember). At 5:15 I showered and dressed for dinner. After eating we stood around and just talked until a few minutes ago.
     The movie tonight is Donald Duck in "The Three Caballeros" and is supposed to be excellent. Last night's movie was enjoyable too but we had a real cloudburst and even with my raincoat on I was soaked to the skin.
     No mail again today, but that is the way it goes. Good service for awhile and then for no apparent reason the delivery slows to a snail's pace. Maybe tomorrow will be different.
     There is nothing new to talk about. Do you remember when every day we always had plenty to talk about and plan? Well maybe sooner than we think we'll be able to do it again (I hope).
     I haven't told you I love you lately so here goes, "I love you" darling and if possible more and more every day.
     Goodnight, I'll see you in my dreams.

Yours alone,
Gil

U.S.S. Ocelot
Movie Screen in Background

Ulithi--Ice Cream

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 22 March 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Just a lot of loafing today. I took care of a couple emergencies this morning and then secured so that my office could be painted. I spent the rest of the morning on some professional reading.
     After lunch I went over to another ship to visit with the dental officer there. I also picked up some information about reports that are supposed to be sent to the Bureau but of which no one seemed to know much about. I'll have several busy days getting them out.
     I got back at 3:30, had a coke and got comfortable in my room. Censored some mail and then studied the reports that I need to make. Soon it was 5:15 and time to shower and change for dinner.
     We had steak tonight. Of course, soup and fruit salad to begin with, and for dessert two big scoops of ice cream. We were able to purchase several hundred gallons of ice cream and keep it in our freeze box. Now we can have ice cream everyday as long as the supply lasts.
     After dinner we enjoyed the usual cool ocean breeze and brilliant colored sunset. Now here I am.
     No mail today but the six letters from you yesterday should sustain me for another day anyway.
     The movie tonight is "Music for Millions" and stars Margaret O'Brien, Iturbi, Durante, Marsha Hunt and others. It is rated as excellent so I'll go (as usual).
     Sweet, there is nothing new to talk about. Do you remember when (years ago) I'd come home and tell you that you had another "surprise" coming because I landed another large case? Soon they were coming so frequently we quit. Well after the war we we'll reinstitute that routine. OK?
     Good night Honey, until tomorrow.

Loving you always,
Gil

U.S.S. Ocelot