Better

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Tuesday 13 February 1945. 6:45 PM

My Darling,
     I am a little early. It is raining so there is no sunset to witness tonight. Note my pen is writing a little better. I worked the point down a little finer; it'll do me until I get home.
     This has been my busiest day aboard. I worked steadily all morning and afternoon until about 4:00 PM. By then I was pretty tired so I undressed and relaxed with an Ellery Queen story.
     Don't worry about me working too hard. I'm really enjoying keeping busy as it helps the time to pass more quickly. This month seems to be flying by and I think it is because I'm working most of the time.
     Got five letters this morning. Three from you, a valentine from Linda and a nice letter from Ethyl. She sure is swell. I wish all our friends were like her, and then I wouldn't worry about you being so lonesome with me away.
     I see you're still teaching. Swell as long as you say it isn't too much for you. Bet you are making more money than I am, considering the time we both put in.
     The concert sounds quite good and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
     No, I didn't know I was buying you a new mink coat but I'll save my pennies and by Xmas the coat will materialize.
     I'll weigh myself right now and report back. Don't go away. It's 170 on the nose, clothes, dinner and all. Took some snaps the last time I went ashore. When I get them I'll send them on.
     Wait until you get into "Forever Amber" more. I found it more interesting every page I read and you will too.
     We could use some of the cold weather you are having. I do hope Linda's indisposition was short lived and she is OK now. Guess "Stinky" is over hers alright.
     Be sure that Sol has my address. If he is shipping out our paths may cross. Send me his address as well and I'll keep my eyes open.
     There aren't any seaman third class ratings. A third class rating is a petty officer rating. Examples: pharmacist mate, storekeeper, yeoman etc. They all rate from third, second, first to chief. Yes, my promotion should be soon now. Another two or three months. It takes fifteen to sixteen months to make lieutenant. Leon and Jim can be Lieutenant Commanders for a much longer period. Two years is nothing at the present time.
     I don't know why Libby's letter should upset you. She doesn't have any more money than we have or had for the past five years. I can't see anything to get excited about in her letter, and Honey it isn't like you to be so jealous and selfish. I'll just blame it on the times and say no more.
     Got a valentine from Gilman but haven't heard from the repair base for a long time. Guess I've been remiss in writing.
     Honey, I'm seeing my share of movies. Just to be with you I'll go anyplace you want when I get home.
     I'm glad you're going ahead with plans for Arrowhead this summer. It'll do the kids and you (too) a lot of good. Maybe I'll even surprise you and join you up there. I'm still hoping. Plan to go in the late summer when the chances will be better.
     That was a pleasant day in Santa Barbara. We'll spend our next honeymoon any place you say. Even home will suit me.
     Well Sweet, I'm fresh out of words and stuff so I'll close with loving thoughts and dreams of days to come.

Yours only,

Gil

Gil's damaged pen is writing better.  A good thing because materials to repair pens are difficult to get.  

Pen

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday 12 February 1945, 7:25 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello darling, how is my Sweet today? This morning was a busy but enjoyable one. Extractions all morning and that was fun for a change. However I did manage four fillings.
     After lunch I had two more extractions and was all through for the day. Don't ask me what happened but I'm glad I didn't have to work.
     You are probably wondering about my pen. Well it rolled off my desk and one of the prongs of the nub broke off. I ground the other prong down and polished the point up. It writes pretty heavy now but I finally got it smooth. I'm not going to do any more fussing with it. When I get back I'll have a new point put on.
     Got three letters from you this morning. One contained the "Modern Dentistry" booklet, another "Temple Tattler" and the third some U.S. News clippings with a very short note. Well, I suppose I'll get more mail tomorrow. This afternoon I got a nice letter from Dave.
     Caught up on my correspondence. I wrote to Deb and Dave, Ruth and Harry, mother and the Leavys. I have some others to write to but they'll have to keep a little longer.
     We have another poor movie tonight but I guess I'll go anyway. It is "Missing Juror." I hope it is at least passing.
     Not a damn thing worth talking about. Every day is a repetition of the one before. The only consolation is that we can't stay here much longer (that's what we thought when we first got here, too). Sooner or later we'll all come home.
     Good night my Sweet, till we meet again tomorrow. Hugs and kisses to all three of you.

Love,

Daddy

Catholic and Protestant

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O San Francisco
Sunday February 11, 1945, 10:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello darling, this being Sunday, how about an extra hug and kiss. Swell, I knew you'd be agreeable.
     Between arranging Catholic and Protestant services and dentistry I had quite a busy morning. However after lunch six of us went ashore and did a little elbow bending. In between drinks I managed a little time for hunting shells. I also picked up a ripe coconut and I'm making a paper weight of it. It will be an interesting souvenir of this place.
     Got back a little high. Showered and changed for dinner. After eating, another fellow and I went up on the bridge and enjoyed our usual evening breeze. We've really had some beautiful sunsets, but today topped them all. As the sun set in the west the clouds on the eastern horizon took on a beautiful pink hue, on the western horizon the clouds changed from white to yellow to orange and then on to deepening shades of red until it faded into a grey. In between these clouds the sky was a deep blue which changed to robin egg blue and then to a blue green as it merged with the horizon. Guess my description isn't so hot but you know if I take the time write about anything like a sunset it must have been beautiful. Oh yes, when looking at a sunset on the seas the water also makes an interesting study. The reddish clouds reflected their hues onto the gray waters to give it a reddish gray appearance and as the light faded from the skies the water took on a mysterious deep blue color. Guess that is enough for sunsets.
Went to the movie as usual. We had "Girl Rush" but it is one movie people won't rush to see. "Poor" is putting it mildly. By the way last night's "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier," was quite good. See it.
     After the movie I went up to the wardroom and saw some shipboard battle scenes. It wasn't what one would call entertaining but it did illustrate some of the horrors of war very graphically.
     After that I was brought a large paper cup full of ice cream. We make our own once a week and buy some from another ship twice a week, so we get enough of that.
     We've also got fresh lettuce and celery aboard. It is the first we've had since we were in the Hawaiians. Now if I could get some fresh tomatoes and fresh milk I'd be satisfied. That is if I could have you too. Guess when I get any of the above I'll get them all. I hope it will be soon.
     After reading the last paragraph I've decided that I'm not quite sober yet so--good night Honey and pleasant dreams. Until tomorrow.

Love,

Gil

Link to video of Ulithi Lagoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip8hhbQ7oho

Dingey Gal

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Saturday 10 February 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Still busy. Worked all morning and placed twelve fillings and extracted one tooth. This afternoon I completed eight more fillings so I guess I earned my money today.
No mail this morning but this afternoon I got the "Yearbook of Dentistry," the December Esquire, American Dental Association Journal and a package from you containing several Coronets and those party recordings. Because of the slight motion of the ship, two of the recordings at normal speed were scratched and spoiled when the pick-up arm slipped across the face of the records. In the future, any recordings you make should be at 33-1/3. They are much easier to play back without messing them up. Intend playing the good ones tonight after the movies. If the officers like them I may request more.
     Remember the letter that disappeared? Well it showed up today. It was a nice note from this Dingey gal thanking me for writing her. It'll probably be Xmas again before I get caught up enough to write her again. I'll enclose her note in tomorrow's letter. It is in my room. I want this to go off in the morning if possible.
     Nothing new, different or exciting out here. I've been sunning myself at noon daily and should have a nice tan soon. Tomorrow if nothing comes up I'll go ashore for a little refreshment.
     Darling, do you remember how much pleasure we got out of our records and movies on Wednesday nights? I was reading a Radio News magazine and it seems that television is a certainty after the war and the receivers will be a great improvement on pre-war sets. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? OK we'll get one.
     The movie tonight is "Sunday Dinner for a Soldier" and hasn't been shown out here yet, so it hasn't been rated. Hope it's good.
That is all for tonight darling. Good night and pleasant dreams. I love you.

Always yours,

Gil

P.S. Going up to my room so I'll enclose the above mentioned note.

200 Books

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Friday 9 February 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Got four letters from you today and a couple of dental periodicals. About Cousins, the Army is like that. Promotions are sometimes rapid. However in the Navy everybody short of God has to put in his time in a grade or rank before he can expect any advancement.
     About the Professional Bureau. If and when they turn an account back to you and you turn it over to Posner, notify the Bureau what you have done. After they turn it back to you they can't expect any collection commissions if you have, in the meantime, turned the account over to someone else.

     Regarding the Ottis-Kelley account. There are three cards, one for Mrs. Kelley, one for her daughter and one for her mother Mrs. Ottis.  Don't let them confuse you by claiming credit on one card when the credit is given on another.  If you get in a jam, phone Miss Earnest for a hand.

     After all these months I'm surprised at the long letter from Blanche. It goes to show something, but I don't know what.

     So you are reading "Forever Amber" eh? What a gal.
     The dinner party at the Beverly Hills Hotel sounded especially nice. Wish I could have been there for a couple of rumbas and sambas with you.
     You're right Honey. Dave hit it right on the head this time. But then a guy can't be wrong all the time. He's bound to be right once in awhile.
     Yes dear, I'll try out that technique you mention first chance I get and I know you can do it.
     Now back to me. Today began as usual with work and more work. I knocked off at 11:15 AM and read Esquire until chow time. This being field day, I "crapped out" while my corpsman worked all afternoon. One of the ships had 200 books they wanted to get rid of so I took them off their hands. Nice of me wasn't it. The books aren't new but there is still plenty of good reading in them. They are mostly mystery and detective stories. I think they'll be quite popular.
     The movie tonight is "Music Over Manhattan" with Ann Savage but only rates 3. However I don't believe I'll miss it. Not me.
Well Sweet, this thirty for tonight. Good night and pleasant dreams. I love you, I love you, I love you. (note the repetition for emphasis). When I get back I'll show you how much.

Impatiently,

Gil

"Bitch" of a Day

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O San Francisco
Thursday 8 February 1945, 7:15 PM

My darling,
     Here I am again. This has been a "bitch" of a day. The way I was working today would make outsider think I was getting paid for each operation. Began the morning with a nice juicy cyst that almost extended into the nasal cavity. Then I had nine patients off other ships to take care of. By 11:40 I had removed a cyst, filled 14 teeth, X-rayed several teeth and extracted a couple more. After lunch I had a couple of treatments, lanced an abscess and filled another tooth. By then it was 3:00 PM. I was tired so I just quit.
     I was talking to a commander. He thought that there was a tax forgiveness on 1943 incomes for men in service during 1944. Ask Dave if he knows anything about that. After all we paid over $5000 and all or part of that would come in real handy later on.
     Did my letter of yesterday make sense? I was feeling pretty good as you probably concluded.
     The movie tonight is the "Woman in the Window" with Edward G. Robinson. It is supposed to be 4.0 I do hope so and also hope that it doesn't rain.
     No mail today. It has been several days now since any "bird" mail came aboard. I suppose I'll hit another jackpot in a few days. Also hope those other packages arrive soon.
     I got the "Esquire," January issue yesterday so I guess that'll be coming through now.
     Sweet, do you remember the long walks we used to take on the ocean front when we lived in Venice? Those were the carefree days but more are just around the corner.
     Nothing new and nothing different so guess I'll sign off with love and kisses for my whole family.

Devotedly,

Gil

Xmas in February

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Wednesday 7 February 1945, 10:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     What a day! Began this morning with work straight through until 11:30 AM. Went up to my room, washed up and went to lunch. After lunch--more work! First thing I knew it was 4:00 PM and I was tired. Under conditions like that a guy needs a drink so--I rustled up a boat, had very little difficulty finding a few thirsty souls. We went ashore for a few hard ones (drinks to you).
     Got back to the ship at 7:30 PM high and happy. We ate the supper that the steward had saved for us and went up to see the movie "Hollywood Canteen." I confused it with "Stage Door Canteen." Anyway as soon as the picture started I knew it was a new picture and I did enjoy it.
     The mail brought me lots of stuff but nothing from my darling. I got an Esquire, a dental periodical and six Xmas cards. The way mail is coming through maybe I'll get those other packages real soon.
     Nothing new to talk about. Scuttlebutt is varied and very unreliable. Anyway the war is going great and maybe we'll all be coming home soon to stay.
     From the tone of this letter you'll probably conclude "Gil is tight." Well I am, so what! Quite belligerent aren't I?
Well Honey before we get into an argument (we never fight). I'll say good night. Will do better tomorrow when I'm in better condition.

Love,

Gil

Ashore on Mog Mog Recreation Island for drinks
Gil in front row left