Sweat

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday 13 November 1944, 8:35 AM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Good morning, Sweet, how is my darling this morning? Saturday night after writing I saw the movie aboard, "The Rhythm of the Island," and although it was amusing I haven't seen any of the dusty beauties in their native costumes running around loose. Anyway I was amused and after the picture I turned in. This hot weather really tires one out. By 9:30 or 10:00 PM. I'm really ready to hit the sack.
     Yesterday was Sunday but unless you looked at a calendar it was just like any other day of the week. Eat and sweat, work and sweat, rest and sweat, and that goes for everyday. Then around 7:00 PM we had a real cloud burst. The rain came down in buckets so we stood under the awnings and just watched. It did seem like there would be no movie, but at 7:45 it stopped raining and the many, many twinkling stairs lit up the heavens once more. The movie was "Charter Pilot" with Lynn Bari and Lloyd Nolan. Just another picture is all I can say.
     After the movie I was tired so I read in bed until ten o'clock when all lights must go out at this place.
     Our skipper got his orders to go back to the states and our executive officer will be captain in his place. The shaver has not arrived as yet so I'm selling the captain the one I have now and will keep the new one when it arrives.
     I awoke this morning and it was raining again and it is still. But who cares! As long as it rains, the sun won't shine and that makes everything much cooler and tenable.
     Although we have been here now for several days, no mail has been received. I guess when it does come I'll get a sack full all for myself (I hope so). Anyway dear, don't worry if my mail doesn't come regularly. It's simple--a problem of transportation and distribution. I'm really well and safe.
     Goodbye for now. Love and kisses and a great big hug to you my darling and my two sweet girls.

Devotedly

Gil

God Bless You

Saturday 11 November 1944

Dear Linda,
     Hello Sweetie. How are you today? I hope you've been a good girl. I'm sending you some books and I want you to share them with Norma.
     It has been a long time since I wrote you but I've been very busy and conditions were such that I couldn't write when I was through working. However, I hope you are continuing to write me and I'm expecting a letter from you real soon.
     How is your painting at school coming? I hear that you are doing quite well. Maybe you'll send me one of your finished pictures.
     That's all for now honey, good night and God bless you

Love

Daddy

Linda

Armistice Day

NOTE IN ELEANOR'S WRITING: Received November 18, Postmarked November 12

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Saturday 11 November 1944, 6:45 PM

My Darling,
     Here it is Armistice Day and here am I in the Navy several thousand miles from home. I didn't realize what day this was until I sat down to write and looked at the calendar.
     It is so hot here that when I don't have any work I just look for a place to light and "crap out," the Navy turn for loafing. In spite of that I've been doing more work and keeping busier in the past few days than I have for several weeks. Today I saw nine patients by ten o'clock, extracted two teeth, filled five cavities and treated two men for trench mouth. At ten I made a sanitary inspection tour of the ship which took me to 10:45. By then I looked like I had taken a shower with my clothes on so I went up to the bridge and relaxed until 11:30 at which time we have lunch. After chow I played a few games of cribbage and at 1:15 I went back to work. I saw three more patients--all for gum treatment.
     Honey, do you remember the heat wave we had when Linda was a baby? How we undressed her completely and put her out in her buggy on the porch? We even have some movies of her turning on her tummy with her fuzzy head looking up at us. After this war I'm going to take a lot more movies of all of us so we'll be able to look back together and enjoy the past.
     Well Sweet, I'm going to sign off now. Last night we had "Whistling in Brooklyn" with Red Skelton. I don't know what we have tonight but anything will be OK by me. Good night my darling, I love you

As ever,
Gil 

Linda during heat wave. September 1939.

Roosevelt

NOTE ON LETTER IN ELEANOR'S WRITING: Received November 17. Postmarked November 11

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart
U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Thursday 9 November 1944 1:45 PM

My Dearest
     Here I am again. It's so blasted hot that I have a sheet of paper under my right hand and forearm to prevent this sheet I'm writing on from getting soaked from the sweat off my arm.
     I had an interesting experience today that I can talk about so here goes. I was talking to the doctor in sick bay when a young ensign who was visiting one of the patients saw my B'nai B'rith ring. He asked me what lodge I was a member of and it turned out that he is a Long Beach boy. He knows many of our friends. His name is Bill Spitzer and he is acquainted with Herman Stein, Mort Eisner, Bruce Stern, Dave Gindoff and Abe Weinberg. Isn't this a small world?
     Well, my Sweet, the election is over and Roosevelt is still president. We have a couple of "diehard" Republicans aboard and we've really had quite a time discussing politics and the future of our country. Personally I am happy about the results and do feel that our country will be better off than if Dewey had been elected.
     How is by you? I haven't received and mail since the last jackpot but I do hope to get another batch tomorrow. Don't worry about the irregularity of my mail, it just can't be helped. Anyway when I get back I'll have some interesting stories to tell.
     In the meantime, Honey, please be patient. My love for you is unending and you are in my thoughts always. Will write again tomorrow. Until then

Love
Gil

Gil's B'nai B'rith ring has disappeared.  This pin is similar in design.

Sanitary Inspection

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Tuesday 7 November 1944, 5:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Hello Sweetheart here I am again. Because there is so little I can say I'll begin with I love you my darling. Since yesterday it has been raining on and off all day and night. My routine is unchanged with the exception of one additional duty. The doctor banged his knee so I've been making the sanitary inspection throughout the ship. It only takes about an hour. But when it's hot, going up and down ladders, throughout all compartments of the ship sixty minutes is plenty long. When I'm done I really need a complete change of clothes for I was soaked.
     That is all that is new. There is plenty to eat and I get plenty of sleep. There are some interesting things I would like to tell you but they will have to wait.
     I'm going to sign off now Honey and with write more in the morning. Good night and pleasant dreams.

Love
Gil

Wednesday 8 November 1944, 11:15 AM

My darling,
     Good morning Dear, though lord knows what's good about it. It's been raining steadily since last night and the only thing in its favor is that it is cooler.
     As I didn't make the sanitary inspection, I've been doing dentistry all morning.
     Sweet, do you remember how when it would rain, you'd bundle the kids into the car and come down to the office to pick me up? Boy, oh boy, would I love to have that happen to me today. After this war, I'm going to be a changed man. All the little things that I took for granted will be looked forward to and enjoyed to the fullest. It takes a separation such as this to wake a guy up. I really never appreciated my blessings but believe me, from now on I will.
     Well dear, I'm going to close for lack of any more small talk. With all my love I am

Devotedly yours
Gil

Stinko

NOTE ON LETTER IN ELEANOR'S HAND WRITING: "Received November 18th Postmarked November 11th"

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday, 5 November 1944 5:45 PM

My Dearest,
     I went on liberty yesterday for the first time in two weeks and did I get stinko. In fact all the officers who went on liberty were in the same condition but it was really fun. Wish I could tell you more about it but "no can do." Anyway when we returned I poured myself into my bunk and there I stayed until 5:30 AM.
     I woke up with no hangover and a healthy appetite so I guess I didn't over do. Today the usual routine prevailed with one exception. We had an appendectomy at which I assisted and it does help to break the monotony.
     Well darling, I began to say that was all the news but then the lights went off. You see the ship is blacked out at sundown and so here it is Monday, 8:15 AM and I'm back to continue our visit.
     Boy, was it warm last night. Did I say warm? I should have said hot. I sat out on the bridge which is usually quite a breezy place and there was hardly a stir in the air. Further it was so dark that many were just groping around going from one part of the ship to another. Seeing as it was so warm I decided there was no use sitting around and I turned in.
     I got into my birthday clothes, turned the fan directly on me and fell asleep to wake up soaked. We had a regular pour down. The rain came in my porthole and really cooled me down. I was nice and cool for the rest of the night. However, when I awoke I was just as hot as I was when I turned in (in more ways than one!).
     Well my Sweet, I'm going to sign off now. Do you remember how nice and crisp and cold it was up at Mount Hood? I don't think I'll ever get enough cool weather again. Besides we'll need it cool when we are together again. Goodbye my darling.

Love

Gil

Ulithi

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

USS Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Friday 3 November 1944, 10:00 PM

My Dearest,

     Today I hit the jackpot again. After days of no mail I received twenty-two letters, all at one time. Sixteen from you, a couple from Libby, Ruth, Gilman, Manny, and the Fleishers. That was some haul. Three of the letters bear an October 9 postmark and looked like they had been soaked down. It is my guess that these letters were on that plane that went down between the States and some of our Pacific Islands. Anyway they were late but plenty welcome.

     I have arranged your letters chronologically and will try to cover anything that needs any comment.
     First Honey, I'm glad that you are getting out for a little recreation. As a matter of fact all your letters have a much more cheerful tone and believe me that does make me much happier.
     The mails are going to be very slow from now on until well after Xmas so be patient if you don't hear right on the dot. If you have anything to send on don't stall.
     I do wish I could see your new hairdo. So you think I'd like it? Well you know me so you can tell even if I don't see it.
     My throat cleared up quickly as did my cold and I'm in the pink right now. I am all through with my shots and their effects. It should be smooth sailing from here on out.
     I am looking forward to the book you mention. Do you think it is safe reading with so many sailors around? Ah Well, I'll let you know after I've read it.
     Those Xmas cards will never reach me in time so I may stow them away for next year and we'll sign both of our names to them. By the time you get this letter the package I sent should have arrived and I hope everything will be OK.
     The Halloween party sounds very nice and I'm very sorry not to have been there to see my girls parade around, play games and entertain.
     Nina's split up with Jack isn't all surprising. You could see it coming every time you saw them together. However I am surprised at her joining the WACs. Frankly I don't believe that it was purely a sex problem. She had her friends and ways: he had his and neither was willing to compromise and divorce is the result. After all no woman would suit me either after having loved and known you. By comparison the same probably applies in their case.
     Regarding the office accounts. Write or phone all who haven't made payment s in the past 30 days. If you don't get any response turn them over to the bureau. Pay particular attention to: Shelling, Teaham, and Mitchel. Go easy on Curry, Guber, and Mellick. Turn over Buchwalter right away. Accept the $20 from Solgado. We would only net $5 more if we sued and would have to wait for our money. In the future use your judgment. Too much time slips buy for me to advise you.
     I really missed Halloween and the kids. Though I wasn't there I was wondering what you were doing. I suppose I'll get a full report soon now.
     I hope you've sent in my correspondence course. It takes too much time to send it to you for typing, so I'll have to write it out longhand.
     Still worrying about money? Forget it and I shan't repeat myself again.
     I told you Mary and Wally would patch things up. I would have bet my bottom dollars. And by the way lay off the liquor. Give other gifts. Whiskey such as "V.O." is practically gone, so put it away and forget about it. Get Dr. White something at the Marbros. They have plenty of stuff for men. Just how far do you think a bottle of whiskey will go with just the family? Again I say leave it alone. I sound like a real drunk but good stuff is very hard to get and I'd rather not give it away.
     Sounds like you had a nice time with Freda and I'll drop her a note as soon as I'm caught up on my correspondence.
     Sounds like Dick and his band are really going places. Doubling with Tommy Dorsey is really something to brag about. I bet Ruth and Harry are really proud and they should be.
     About the rumor that I'm coming home on a furlough (really leave). I'm afraid it's just a rumor after all. So Ivie and Crossland are shipping out . Well maybe, I'll see them maybe. This Navy is really small when it comes to meeting old friends. McPherson was stationed with Jim but hasn't been there for several months. Guess Mrs. Schurr was a little mixed up.
     The party at the Beverly Hills Hotel sounds quite nice and when I get back we have a date to go there so put it down in you date book. You can fill the date later on.
     From what you write I'm never know my girls when I get back. I just hope they remember me if only just a little. Norma is really moving, right along and Linda must be quite a young lady now. I've been away now for a few days over three months and it seems like three years. I have a hunch that when I return I'll be back for good even if this war is still unfinished. I do think that my returning won't be too long from now.
     I've written to Edith about a watch and though I haven't heard from her I'm sure she'll take care of it for me. As far as what you are spending, I don't care Dear, go ahead and have fun. That's what money is for anyway.
     Well Darling, the invasion of the Philippines is moving right along. Though I am not involved in that action, all Navy ships and personnel in the Pacific area fit in the general plan and have their jobs to accomplish, each one small but all working to a common goal, a final and lasting peace after a decisive victory.
     It is now midnight and time I turned in. Honey do you remember my first weekend home after I had reported in San Diego? Well our next meeting will just make that seem like a couple of kids playing house and I hope it'll last more than just a weekend.
     Goodnight my darling, till tomorrow. I'll see you in my dreams.

Lovingly

Gil

About Ulithi