Leyte--MPs

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 6 June 1945, 10:00 PM

My Darling,
     Here I am again honey so how's about a great big kiss, huh? That was nice and thanks but I sure could stand a little of that at closer quarters.
     Today was just another day. I worked all morning and saw two patients this afternoon. When I was through I finished a little something I was making for you. Now I have but one more piece to assemble and off they'll go.  I do hope you and the kids like them.
     I got five letters today, three from you and one each from our mothers. You sure are getting absent minded, going to see a movie you'd seen just two weeks before. I've noticed in your letters too that your days of the week and the dates don't always match up.
     Guess I'll have to hurry home and wake you up. What a pleasure that'll be. Yes dear you may definitely hope for me to be home in the fall. Another of our officers got his orders today and will leave on Friday.
     Sounds like Slapsy Maxie's is still tops.  We've got a date to go there when I get back. I'm really surprised at Dick's actions. If the MPs ever catch up with him, he'll be a sorry boy. The best thing that could have happened to him did when he was drafted. The Army will straighten him out (I hope).
     Quit worrying about my next station. I'll ask for Long Beach and should get it. If not wherever I go my family goes too. Satisfied?
     Your dinner party sounds like a success. My mouth just waters when I think of sour cream, radish and green onion salad, tomatoes and all the other things we never get. Bananas and pineapple can be purchased from the natives. As a matter of fact, I'm planning a trip into town and will see what I can buy.
     I'm really surprised at the Spivaks. We won't forget it when I get home. Evidently Frieda Marcus didn't make any impression on Leon. Correct me if I'm wrong.
     I'm sorry to hear about your mother. It's up to you and Deb to get up on your hind legs and tell Ruth once and for all that she'd better hire a maid and let you mother relax. I'm sure your sister can afford it.
     We had an excellent movie tonight, "A Royal Scandal" with Tallulah Bankhead and Ann Baxter. See it; I know you'll enjoy it.
     No more to tonight Darling so bye and pleasant dreams. I'll close with those three little words "I love you,"

Yours as always,

Gil

Picture of family members.  Some mentioned in this letter.

Left to right Ruth, mother, Dick, Babs and Harry

Leyte--Promotions

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 5 June 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Honey, here I am again. Nothing exciting today. Worked all morning and though I could have gone on liberty this afternoon, I didn't. Instead I finished another one of the gadgets. Now Linda's and Norma's are finished but what I'm making for you isn't. I should finish up this week and I'll send a box of stuff home.
     Late this afternoon I censored a stack of mail and just as I finished I received two letters from you and one from Herman Stein. Your letters were old ones and rather short so there is little to comment on. I read over the clipping about the $2,500 fine against the Ocean Park Boxing Arena. The story isn't all there, so I couldn't tell what it was all about.
     We had a pretty good movie tonight, "Dangerous Passage," with unknown leads but still a good picture. However it isn't your type so don't bother seeing it. It's an adventure story with murder, shipwreck and grand larceny all in one.
     The promotion ALNAV is not out yet but there is scuttlebutt out that from now on promotions will be few and far between. From what I could learn the Navy is reverting to the plan the Army used early in the war. If a ship calls for a j.g. or a limit in a certain job, an officer cannot be promoted past that rank unless he gets a change of duty. However I'll wait and see what it's all about. If it is so, I may get a change of duty sudden-like. If I don't I'll write in asking for one. In the meantime keep your fingers crossed.

     No more for now Sweet, so I'll sign off. Love and kisses to you and our girls.

Yours forever,

Gil

Gil aboard the U.S.S.Ocelot

Leyte--Damage and Casualties

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday 4 June 1945, 10:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweet, how is my favorite wife tonight? I spent a not too busy morning in my office, grabbed a steak sandwich and took the liberty party ashore. We are now taking our men to an area fourteen miles away because it has swell facilities. We go over in an LCI. The skipper of the LCI, a Joseph Goldfarb, is a nice chap from New York. He is an architect by profession and went through Columbia on a scholarship. He must have something on the ball. He has been married for 3-1/2 years now and has a nine month old baby which he has never seen.
     Anyway Joe and I went over to the native trading post, but the prices were so ridiculous we didn't buy a thing. Soon it began to rain and we made for the only shelter available, the Officers' Club. We had a couple of beers and at 3:00 PM went back aboard the LCI where we just sat around and visited. We got the liberty party back aboard at 4:45 and got underway for our ship. I had dinner aboard as Joe's guest and he came over to our ship to see the movie. It was lousy, entitled "What a Blonde" with Leon Errol--nuff said.
     When I came down to my office I found four letters from you. I really wasn't expecting any letters for awhile. Nina's is very hard to read; it looks like you'll be stuck with her for a couple of days. Maybe it'll give you something different to do for a change.
     We had "Tomorrow the World" some time ago and I did enjoy it. I'm not so fat; at least the scales don't think so. I'm just about what I was when I left the states. However I could stand some more exercise, although walking around the ship and up and down ladders is more exercise than one imagines.
     Linda's show seems to keep you quite busy with costumes, rehearsals and what have you. I'd love some snaps of our girls in costume if that could be arranged.
     Sol's ship did see some action which is probably why she returned to the states. I don't believe he saw a hospital ship sink though one of ours was heavily damaged and suffered numerous casualties. I can't mention its name. I don't know whether the information has been released officially yet.
     Nina mentioned the Franklin. That carrier really took a beating. I saw it soon after the engagement--what a mess. You probably saw pictures of it in the papers.
     Well Darling, that is all for this time. You complain about my originality or lack thereof in making love. I always liked the old fashioned way the best. Bye Sweet until tomorrow.

I love you as always
Gil

U.S.S. Franklin damaged and listing after a Japanese air attack in March 1945.  Over 800 were lost.

Leyte--Expensive Junk

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday 3 June 1945, 10:35 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Sweetheart, here I am just in time for our little visit. Today being Sunday I observed holiday routine and didn't go to work until 9:00 AM. From then on I was busy until lunch time.
     I didn't have any appointments this afternoon and wasn't in any mood to go ashore so I worked on those gadgets I'm making.
     What I made for Norma was all finished when the darn thing broke; four hours of work went to hell. Was I mad. Seeing as it's fragile I decided maybe I'd better make her something more substantial. It'll be ready this week. Anyway I spent the afternoon puttering around. Before I knew it, five o'clock had rolled around and it was time to shower and change into some fresh clothes.
     After dinner I played some cribbage with the skipper. Then it was time for the movies. We had a real oldie and if I had seen it before, I'd forgotten all about it. It was "Destry Rides Again" with James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. All I can say is 4.0.
     I didn't get any mail today, but twenty-three letters in two days will have to hold me for awhile I guess.
     Tomorrow I take the liberty party ashore.  It's quite a job and responsibility out here. Twice as many go as ever did at our last location and they scatter so that unless they come back on their own, they're just left behind. Anyway I'll get a chance to shop for some souvenirs. They tell me all that the natives have is junk and very expensive junk at that. We'll see.
     Well Sweet I'll sign off now with loving thoughts of you and our girls and the fun we'll have when I come home.

Yours as always,

Gil

Leyte--Scuttlebutt

 

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Saturday 2 June 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor, 
     Hello Sweet, I hit the jackpot again today. I got ten letters in all, eight from you and one each from Deb and Ethyl. Outside of that today was very uneventful. I worked all morning and didn't get to read my mail until after lunch. Then a few of us went ashore and got back at 6:00 P.M. and now here I am.
     I really was disappointed about missing Sol. As an enlisted man it is pretty hard for him to get around but if I had known the ship he was on (and I would have if I'd had the name), it would have been a simple matter for me to make the run. Of course it would be nice if our ship would make the states once in awhile, but I really wouldn't care for duty on an APA. They are always in there when the going is tough and they have plenty of casualties. Don't say anything to the "Gs." You see even Sol didn't know he was going back to Frisco when I did. I can find out about others but not about myself. Oh, well!
I've never given up about getting back soon. However so much of the scuttlebutt is unreliable, I don't mention stuff unless it is well founded. Don't worry, I'll ask for Long Beach and I'm pretty sure to get it.
     What do you mean my course grades should be 4.0? Don't worry I won't flunk and anything above 3.9-- is excellent.
     It is getting close to movie time so I'll secure until later. Don't go away. I'll be back soon.
     9:45 and here I am again Honey. We had an excellent movie tonight. It was "Conflict" with Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith and Sidney Greenstreet. Now back to your letters.
     Bet I know the photography place Wallie is taking over. Do you remember the young Jewish fellow who took some pictures at Linda's 4th or 5th birthday party? He is married to a shiksa and is in the Army. It all ties up very nicely.
     Your news of Iz Goldman is interesting. By the by, you sent me Simmy Marcus' address once and I misplaced it. Also Vic Spitzer's. How about sending them to me again.
     Cox is my roommate. He is married and has three kiddies. He has been in the Navy for about ten years and is a lieutenant (j.g.) with a permanent rank of chief yeoman. You see after the war all men's rank will revert back to what they were at the beginning of the war or when they were first commissioned if they came in after the war started. Peacetime promotions are very slow. Of course invite him over. He still hasn't left here. Lord alone knows where his relief is.
     I love your ideas about our new home. They certainly are not too crazy.
     Yes I went to a lot of trouble for my shells but it was lots of fun and the effort well worth the results or vice versa.
     Linda seems to be spending lots of time on her dancing and it sounds like she is getting quite good at it. Gosh it's been so long now since I've seen any of you that I wonder if I'll know how to act when I get back. I've really been living in the present and try not to think of the past or future. Thinking of the past brings back many loving memories and thoughts but also makes me homesick and blue. Looking to the future makes time drag, so it's just today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
     I do love you Darling and while all those couples you write about are together, we are far apart. That is, far apart physically, yet you are always in my thoughts.
     I'm all writ out for tonight so I'll sign off. Goodnight Sweetheart, until tomorrow.

Yours alone,

Gil

Sol

Leyte--Budget?

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Friday June 1, 1945, 4:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     This morning I hit the jackpot. I got thirteen letters, eight from you, two from Deb, and one each from Libby, your mother and mine. However, I was busy all morning. It was noon before I had a chance to read any of them.
     Now to your letters. They were all written prior to the one I received Tuesday and cover the 15th to 18th inclusive. I'm glad that Norma is about over her illness and pray that Linda will escape catching it.
     You didn't draw down too pleasant a teaching assignment this time, did you? Oh well, the school year is about over and every dollar helps towards balancing the budget. Don't ask me "what budget?"
     Sure wish I had a camera of my own. This is a swell place for taking pictures. Send on any film that you can get and I'll borrow a camera. Even some 116 film will do.
     Sorry dear but even out here we don't have all the pens we need. I only got the Sheaffer through some pull. Besides $6.50 is too much for a gift. Remember please, my total income is only $300 per month. Take it easy we'll need plenty of surplus when I discard my blues and set up in practice again. What do you want me to do? Put you on a budget like someone else we know? Sorry to say it but you don't seem to realize that you're spending too much and expensive gifts are one place to cut down.
     Talking about candy and diets. You know I have practically all the "vitamin pills" you sent me and also the salt water taffy from my mom. I seldom eat any sweets though I do drink a coke two or three times a week.
     I'm glad you found my fountain pen. I know it wasn't a very good one but they are hard to get.
     It's hard for me to understand anyone saying "gosh it's nice and hot." If I never see hot weather again, I'll be satisfied. At this moment the back of my shirt is soaked with perspiration.
     I've had my say on the fur coat dear. However, if you've still got your heart set on it, you can have $100 cash for our anniversary. My reserve is down to $275 now and I'd like to keep it around $300. One never can tell when he'll need money in a hurry.
     Your mention of Monskey reminds me of an article in the April 7 Colliers called "Repelled and Miami Beachhead." Special mention is made of it in the B'nai B'rith Bulletin.
     When you get your budget worked out I'd like to see it. I know things are high but still your spending over $300 a month means that you're spending as much as before I got into the Navy. How do I figure it? Well we ran $500 a month then including payments on the house which you aren't making now. Then we spent no more than $150 on amusement together so you figure it out. I hate to harp on money but I'm getting a little worried when you say than soon there won't be any surplus. Remember I have about $100 a month for insurance, too and there'll have to be a surplus to pay that until I get rolling again. Don't tell me we have bonds. Those are savings and should stay so. I really feel that with the $50 increase I'm expecting this month, you should be able to get by without using up too much from the bank account. Bet Ruby doesn't spend that much a month. She still has a few friends and you can do it too. I've had my say about money and I won't talk about it again.
     Let me explain how the ALNAV works. The Navy Department sends out a message to all ships and stations saying advance to lieutenant all line and staff lieutenant (j.g.) with date of rank January 1 to January 31. Individual names are seldom mentioned. We won't get the ALNAV out here until around the 10th.
     Sweet I am enclosing a $100 check for Norma's birthday bond and incidentals. Please don't feel badly about my harping on our finances. I do love you and I know you aren't willingly squandering money, but I also know how big hearted and generous you are and I'm not there to apply the brakes as I used to.
It is 4:55 and I must shower and change so I'll sign off. Goodnight Darling until tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

P.S. The movie tonight is "Eadie Was A Lady" with Ann Miller. Don't know a thing about it.

Gil

Sheaffer pen  

$6.50 is too much for a gift.

Leyte--Little to Censor

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 31 May 1945, 9:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Dearest, here is that man again. Today has been a very ordinary one. I worked steadily all morning and after lunch saw three additional patients. Then I went to work on the wardroom books which balanced out OK for the first time. After that I censored some mail and finished the mystery story I was reading. By then it was five o'clock so I shampooed my hair, showered, and dressed for dinner. We had a very pretty sunset tonight. It sure looks good to see the sun setting behind some mountains for a change. Then I went to the movie. The picture was a comedy mystery, very light and slap-sticky. It was "The Adventures of Kitty O'Day" with Jean Parker. Oh well we can't have a good movie every night; there were a few laughs in it.
     No mail again today. Gee it's been a whole week now since I got your last letter. Hope the mail situation gets squared away soon because I sure miss hearing from you and knowing that you and the kids are well.
     One thing I have noticed is that there is very little letter writing going on now, not many letters to censor. However when our mail does catch up with us, there'll be plenty of mail to censor--you bet.
     This is the rainy season out here (thank God). It doesn't rain hard and doesn't interfere with any of our work or operations. However the skies are cloudy and overcast and so it is cooler. I've noticed an interesting phenomenon. We've seen it portrayed in the movies and it seems unreal. Looking out onto the jungles in the hills, big clouds of steam can be seen rising up. At first I thought it was low hanging clouds until I was straightened out on that.
     In this place we are having many new and interesting experiences. I'll try to tell you as much about them as I can. There are lots of souvenirs available and as soon as I can, I am going down to one of the villages and do a little trading with the natives.
     No more for now Sweet, so I'll sign off. Goodnight honey, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

Gil

Censor Stamp