Ulithi--Shell Hunting Expedition

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Tuesday 15 May 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Began today as every other day with work and kept busy all morning. 
     After lunch I organized a shell hunting expedition to one of the other close by islands. The island is completely surrounded by a coral reef and it is impossible to bring a boat right up on the beach. So the boat came in as close as we dared and then we all swam ashore. When we got there the tide was fairly high but was going out rapidly. We went to work--it really was work. You see we waded into the water up to our waists and then turned over pieces of coral and rock on the bottom looking for the shells. The live ones have a beautiful luster and color. Whereas the dead ones, which one can find on the beach, change color and lose their shine. We spent about four hours. I brought back over fifty live shells and a number of dead ones. Some of the shells I have sell for $1.00 each while others sell for less than 25 cents. If I felt like it I could go into business, but I won't.
     We had to swim back to our boat which was waiting offshore. And then we returned to the ship. By the time I showered and cleaned up it was 6:45 PM. I was too tired to eat. So I had two scoops of ice cream and here I am. After the movie I'll have a sandwich and some fruit.
     Tonight's movie is "Keep Your Powder Dry" with Lana Turner, Lorraine Day and a whole bevy of other pretties. I hope it's good. Last night's "Grizzly's Millions" was a murder mystery and wasn't bad at all.
     No mail today so this is thirty for tonight. Goodnight Darling and sweet dreams.

Love,

Gil

Gil found many cowry shells like these

Ulithi--Lock of Hair

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday 14 May 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Monday and thus begins another week of work. I was a busy little bee all morning and though I received seven letters in the morning mail, it was noon before I got a chance to read any of it. Now here goes.
     Thanks for the lock of Norma's hair. I sure had a funny feeling when I held it between my fingers. Now I have it next to Norma in one of the framed photos of her.
     I don't care if our name was out of the United Jewish Appeal booklet but I'd check and find out if the money was ever credited to us or even received.
     I haven't gotten a B'nai B'rith Bulletin in a long while but everything except air mail is very undependable. I'll get my back copies one of these days. I suppose they are being sent.
     "Roughly Speaking" followed the book very closely because the author also wrote the scenario and helped in directing the picture. Let me know what you find out about the authoress.
     So you don't like teaching problem boys? Well I don't blame you. One of these days you'll have another problem boy on your hands and is he going to raise hell, wow. Hope you won't mind too much. Or will you keep me after school to catch up on my homework? Well I really won't mind.
     Linda's drawing and writing is very good. I'm glad that she is doing so well in school.
     That "masterpiece," "He grabbed me by..." is making the rounds and gets a chuckle from everyone.
     Don't you worry about prosperity after the war. Naturally there'll be an adjustment period of depression but that'll be all over by the time I'm released and I'll get some of the gravy.
     I do hope something works out for you and the kiddies of Lake Arrowhead with the Siegers. Yes, that place holds many wonderful memories for us and we'll have many more wonderful days together there. That is a promise.
     Well Sweet, that winds up our visit for tonight. Remember what we used to do when we got through visiting? All right then, let's turn out the light and go to bed and I didn't say sleep.
     Goodnight Darling, I'll have to quit dreaming now and sign off.

Loving you always,
Gil

P.S. The movie tonight is "Grizzly's Millions." Hope it's good.

Gil

Another lock of Norma's hair

Ulithi--Circulatory File

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Sunday 13 May 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     It is Mothers' Day. Many times today I've wondered what you were doing. Since we married, we were always together on this day. I hope you got your gift on time and liked it. I would have liked to have sent you something more but there really wasn't much choice.
     Though today is Sunday I was quite busy all morning. After lunch I took a liberty party ashore. Passed out six cans of beer to each man and then hunted up a few more shells. My collection is getting larger and more interesting all the time. 
     At two o'clock a party of ships' officers came ashore bringing along seventy-five steaks, all the trimmings and four cases of beer. We pitched horseshoes, played cribbage, drank beer and had a swell afternoon. At 4:30 PM I sent the liberty party back to the ship and rejoined the officers' party. I put away two steaks. Boy were they good! Quit drooling.
     We returned to the ship at 6:30 PM. I showered and changed into fresh clothes. For the movie tonight we had "For Whom the Bell Tolls" which I saw for the second time. Why I'll never know. I still think it was very slow moving and Gary Cooper was lousy.
     I came down to my office to write you and found two letters. Yours was postmarked May 4th and your mother's May 6th. I guess tomorrow I'll get your letters of the 3rd to 6th inclusive. I hope!
     You say that your letter "is #4 for today" and you still have something to say. I have trouble writing one decent letter a day.
     It is really surprising that they are still going after men well along in their thirties. 
     If Dick had pneumonia, taking chest x-rays is just routine before release from the hospital. He is very silly to hope for a discharge. If that happened it would be because he was a seriously sick boy without much hope of returning to normal. Of course I don't blame him for trying to get a specialist rating. However the Army has plenty of them. Even If Ruth did write the chaplain, she'll probably be disappointed. Her letter will probably be placed in what we call the circulatory file--the waste basket.
     Are Ruth's anniversary party and musicale going to be on the same night or are they separate affairs? I'd love to be with you Sweet, but I guess I'll miss this big blow this time. I don't know why I should write Ruth and Harry. It's been a long time since I heard from Ruth. She probably thinks of me when she thinks of you and you know how often that is. She even asked me to write to Dick. Like hell I will. He never wrote to me before he went into the Army. If he'd like to have me write, he can drop me a line first.
     I'd like prints (black and white) of the negatives Libby sent. By the way we had some more snaps taken on the island today and I should have some new photos to send you in a few days.
     It's 11:15 PM and I still want to write a few lines to our mothers so I'll sign off now.
     Good night Darling and don't give up hope. One of these days I'm hoping to have some well news for you. Pleasant dreams.

Yours alone,

Gil

 Dick (Gil's Nephew)

Ruth (Dick's mother and Gil's sister-in-law) 

Ulithi--Nightly Game of Cribbage

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Saturday 12 May 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Sweetheart,
     This morning, I got four letters from you and one from my mother. However I was so busy that I didn't have time to read any of it until noon.
     After lunch I had a three day stack of mail to censor and it took me better than an hour to get the letters all read. Then I cleaned up some more of the shells and also did a little more work on the little surprise I'm making for you.
     At 5:15 I had my usual shower and changed for dinner, following which we went up to the captain's cabin for our nightly game of cribbage. However, in the middle of the game I was called away to extract a badly aching tooth and though I did get back we didn't play long because we had to quit for the movies.
     The movie consisted of two shorts and the feature, "She's A Sweetheart," which was lousy. One of the shorts was in color and all about California. It was entitled "California Here We Are." They had good shots of the Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Boulevard, Catalina Island, Lake Arrowhead and many other places we know. So you see I did enjoy some of the show.
     I finally got the name of Sol's ship from Deb and was very provoked to find that he had been here just before the Okinawa Invasion. His ship is now headed back to Frisco--sure wish I was on it.
     Now to your mail. The name Rothwell sounds familiar, but I can't say that I remember them.
     I haven't read or heard anything about psychosomatic medicine. However magazines take more time getting out here and I'll keep a weather eye out for those items.
     I see my school marm got another day at Samohi. Do you get more pay for high school than junior high or has that changed?
     We haven't had "Tonight and Every Night" yet. I suppose it'll show up one of these days. I've heard and read about it and have been wanting to see it.
     I do hope you can work something out with the Siegers about a house at Lake Arrowhead. Estelle would be good company and you and the kids could stand a change of scenery.
     Talking about food. The mention of cucumbers and fresh corn does sound good. However we really get swell food. The only things I miss are fresh milk and tomatoes. We have plenty of oranges, apples, fresh frozen peaches, apricots and several vegetables. We get steak, turkey, chicken and roast beef at least once a week. Now who is drooling?
     No more for now my Darling so I'll sign off. Good night Honey with a great big hug and kiss for all three of my girls.

Love,

Gil

A Cribbage Board

Ulithi--Shoved Off

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Friday 11 May 1945, 9:50 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello my Darling, how's about a great big kiss. OK then that's another one you owe me. When I do get home, that thirty day leave will hardly be enough to collect all you owe me and pay back all I owe you. Anyway it'll be fun trying.
     As usual there was plenty to do all morning. This being field day, six of us shoved off for the island. The tide was way out and ideal for hunting shells. I found nine beauties. That doesn't sound like much but I have quite a shell collection now.
     We returned at 5:15 in time to shower and change before dinner. After dinner the same three of us joined the skipper for a game of cribbage. We knocked off at 7:30 to go to the movies. We had "Fog Island" a murder story, but I don't recommend it to you.
     Following the movie I took the shells and removed the muscle from the inside. You see, they are alive and stink to high heaven if they aren't cleaned out. Now they're in formaldehyde and will stay there until tomorrow night.
     There was no mail this morning. But I was surprised to find a letter marked April 21 and an American Dental Association Journal in my office. Nothing to comment on in your letter. Everything has been covered already.
     You do ask where I want to go and what I want to do when I get back. Well how does bed sound. You guess what I want to do and I don't mean sleep. I really can't think of anything else, but we'll have to come up for air sooner or later even if it's later. Anything you suggest will be okay with me. Yes, even back to bed.
     Let's get out of the bedroom now dear, it isn't doing either of us any good at the moment. Last night and the night before I wrote seven letters besides yours and now I'm all caught up. Bet I get a new batch tomorrow and I'll have more to write. I'd complain if I didn't get mail, so I'd better keep quiet when I do.
     I'm mentioning this again because it is important. Don't close the San Diego account until I give you the word. It takes time to make a change and this month's check will still go to San Diego.
     No more for now Sweet so I'll sign off. Keep everything on ice until I get back. I'll warm things up for you. Good night.

Your lover,

Gil

The Island

Mog Mog

Ulithi--Fresh Frozen Treats

 Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 10 May 1945, 8:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, here I am again. Had a nice day for a change. Saw several patients this morning and then had my mess statement audited.
     After lunch I had several appointments and spent an hour working on a gadget I'm making. Then I took a magazine and got forty-five minutes of sun on the poop deck. Although it was late afternoon the sun was plenty hot.
     Then I returned to my room, censored some mail, showered and dressed for dinner. After chow three of us joined the captain for another game of cribbage. Now here I am.
     All the mail brought today was the U.S. News Navy Report, the Service Edition of the Outlook and American Dental Association Bulletin and the postcard you sent from Los Angeles when you were with Yetta.
     Now that the European war is over even bigger things should develop out this way and soon the whole thing will be over. I'm really optimistic about Japan throwing in the sponge.
     For the time being there's nothing new out here. It's still hot and sticky and rain is a welcome change.
     The last few days we had several treats in the way of fresh food. We got hold of some fresh frozen peaches, apricots, peas, string beans and cauliflower. Believe me, they sure tasted good after months of canned food.
     No more for now darling so I'll sign off. Good night Dear, I'll see you in my dreams.

Loving you always,

Gil

Negative of U.S.S. Ocelot

Ulithi--Beer Ashore

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Wednesday 9 May 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     This hasn't been too busy a day, but it has been a full day. I worked on patients all morning and for an hour this afternoon. Then I let the doctor talk me into going ashore; or did I sell him a bill of goods? Well anyway we went ashore.
     We found a table under some trees and sat, talked and drank beer all afternoon. At 5:00 P.M. our boat picked us up and we returned to the ship. After a nice cold shower, I dressed and then it was time for dinner.
     After chow Cox (my roommate), another officer and I joined the captain in a game of cribbage. We (Cox and I) won all five games (with a little luck). Then it was 7:30 PM so we broke it up and went out to see the movies.
     The movie tonight was "Frisco Sal" with Susannah Foster and though she does some good singing I can't say much for the movie--just fair.
     The mail brought me seven letters today. There were five from you, another from Libby and one from the Regan gal. Now here goes.
     I hope you haven't closed our San Diego account yet. I told you not to until I gave you the word. There will still be a check going there this month. It takes time for a change to clear all the red tape.
     Bet Leon ships out soon after this present leave is up. That is usually the way it works.
     You might as well give away my German books. I don't suppose they'll ever be used again. At least not until our girls grow up and go to college and by then we should be able to afford some new ones.
     Yes I know about your earrings but I doubt that I'll locate anything like that until I head home again. Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open. Maybe I'll make you something you'll like better. It's a surprise and practically finished. Something for you, Norma, and Linda.
     I don't know how much Phenobarbital you are taking but it is habit forming and I'd be careful about taking anything like that regularly.
     You've really had a busy week with the Rosen party, dinner with Ruth, Cappy and Frieda, the Mah Jong game, etc. Also your letters have a tone of cheer that I'm very happy to see. When you get down in the dumps, you'll never know how much your letters worry me.
     That's about all there is this time Sweet, so I'll sign off. Good night Darling and may all your dreams come true and soon.

Loving you as always

Gil

Drinking beer on Mog Mog Recreation Island, Ulithi