One Yen and 50 Sen

Thursday, 25 October 1945, 9:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Another day and still nothing happens. You can be sure of one thing about the regular Navy. They'll take their time and do nothing until they absolutely have to. Then it is rush, rush, rush.
     I made a trip over to the ship this morning to make sure that the captain sent off my request for a new assignment. Although they promised us all that we'd be sent home, nothing is happening. So I sent a letter to the Bureau informing them that my equipment has been damaged beyond repair and asked for duty in Long Beach. The captain endorsed it recommending approval. Now even if they don't send me back soon, orders from the bureau should get me back home in time for Xmas with you, Sweetheart, and our two little darlings.
     I got back my claim for lost clothing and personal gear. It comes to the grand total of $410.85. I won't need to buy any new uniforms because I have blues at home. Even counting what I lost that I could have used later, I'm still $300 ahead. Personally I'd rather not have experienced the second storm but financially I'll benefit from it.
     The mailman brought me sixteen letters ranging from the 8th to the 16th. All but four were from you. As I don't expect any more letters for a few days, I'll answer some of your questions tonight and leave some for tomorrow.
     I don't blame you for being concerned about office space. I know it is scare. Still, it'll be approximately six weeks before I'm back. I'll be darned if I want to start worrying about an office right away. For thirty days, you and I and the kids are going to be in a holiday routine without worry about business matters. Then I'll go to work and see what's cooking. Make some contact and get some leads. But as far as signing on the dotted line, I'd still rather you didn't unless the opportunity is outstanding.
     News of this last storm broke a lot faster than after the one of September 16. I know how worried you must have been, but now you know I'm okay and there is nothing to worry about. Of course there is no way of knowing for sure whether I'll get home sooner or later than I would have if the "Mighty O" had been able to sail. In any case, I'll have enough points by December so I'll be home then.
     No dear, I didn't marry a moron, but darling two and two still adds up to four. We have many expenses to face with an office to equip and insurance to pay. Besides at first, my income will be reduced to even less than I'm making now. So an economy program has to be instituted and adhered to. Now, now, don't get excited. Save it all till I get home and then I promise you'll forget all about it. At least I'll do my best to make you do so.
     I'm doing quite well on answering your letters, so I'll go through all of them after all. You seem to be getting plenty of teaching and that must keep you busy. You say you'll go to see Dr. Lewis, but all you've done is talk about it. How about scratching off a day on your calendar and taking care of it and yourself. You owe it to yourself, the kids and me too. Catch on? Let's have fun when I get home.
     Besides sufficient points, there are other ways of getting out of the Navy such as bad health. However I did not sign up for regulars and there is no record of that questionnaire. When I have points I'll get out like everyone else. Just remember that all those who have gotten out were in longer than I and most of them had as much or more overseas duty than I have. This nonsense about politics is all hooey. Way out here where I am you can't talk to the one you'd like to and letters are not very effective. Anyway when I get home and go on leave I'll be out. Until my leave is up I'll technically still be in the Navy, but I'll not have a new station to report to.
     Glad to hear Bud Schurr got back and you got to see him. It really hasn't been so long since I saw him, but so much has happened that it seems like months. It would be nice to see him when I get back.
     That Kuba Saki explosion really wiped out the receiving station. We drove by an hour after it happened. Where there had been many tents, there was nothing. The Navy announced fifteen dead. Several times that many were hurt. I can't see how the casualties could have been so small. At the time, Brinker, the pharmacist mate I wrote you about, was at the camp; he has since left for home. Hope he has contacted you by now. If he hasn't, he should in a few days. I just heard that his folks have moved to Beverly Hills and that is just around the corner.
Sorry I didn't sound excited about coming home. So many times we've had our hope up just to be disappointed. I won't believe I'm going home until I'm actually there and even then it'll be hard to believe. Really I haven't complained but the past fifteen months haven't been a picnic.
     I didn't get those 10 sen notes, but I intend to get a few to pass out as souvenirs. I had a whole mess of different monies, but they are all gone. I'm enclosing one yen and 50 sen. 15 yen are worth a $1.00 and it takes 100 sen to make 1 yen. This is legal tender on this island. The men are paid in the currency and everything is purchased in the same way. Save the dime's worth of souvenirs until I send on some more. Then you can pass a few out.
     That's the works for tonight Dear. Go to sleep and don't worry about me. "Nite" darling.

Love,

Gil

Salvage

Wednesday 24 October 1945, 9:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Another day gone to hell. During the night a squadron of mosquitoes dive bombed me and this morning I awoke with a lump on my forehead, a swollen eye and a protruded lower lip. Now the swelling if gone. The hut has been sprayed with DDT so I hope they won't invade us again tonight.
     The day went but darned if I can say how. Didn't even do any reading. Dinner tonight was the first decent meal we've had since we've been ashore. We had steak with French fries and peas. For dessert we had butterscotch pudding with peaches. Then to the movies. We had "The Angels Sing" with Dorothy Lamarr and Betty Hutton. Some time ago, we had it on the ship. A musical is good for two or three showings.
     Wish I had some new dope to give you but nary a word. We are waiting on the survey board to have their say and then we can decommission in short order. Everyone knows the Ocelot can't be salvaged, but the board still has to make a formal investigation and report. That's the way the Navy is.
    No more for tonight Sweetheart. So goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

USS Ocelot

"K" and "C" Rations

23 October 1945

Dear Linda and Norma,
     Here is your daddy again. I am still in Okinawa waiting for orders to return home.
     The food here is not very good. We get lots of "K" or "C" rations and in the "K" ration I found a few things that I did like. I am sending you some soup, orange juice and some coffee for Mother. When you have dinner I want you to have them and think about me. I'm thinking about you all the time and looking forward to the day when we are all together again.
     No more for now my darlings. Be good and nice mother's helpers. God bless you both.

Love,

Daddy

Big Bang

Wednesday, 23 October 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     I was OD today so I had to hang around all day. In the morning, after mustering the men, we walked over to the photo lab at the CB Camp and arranged to have some film developed. Maybe I'll have some interesting pictures to send home in a few days.
     Then I read for awhile and soon it was time for lunch. At 1:00 P.M. I mustered the men again and then some more loafing around. After dinner we went to the movies and saw "Jesse James."
     When we got back from the show I found four letters from you and one from Libby. Your letters are dated 6, 8, 10, and 11 October. About office space--don't obligate yourself for anything. There will be enough time to arrange things when I get home. Why? Because I'll have at least two months to work things out, I don't want to rush into anything.
     Read the interesting article and am looking forward to when we'll be together again. In the meantime I'm returning the article to you.
     Still, your estimate of December 9 for my homecoming should hold good. This sitting around and doing nothing is driving me nuts but I'll try to make the best of it. In the meantime I'm hoping the gold braid will get off their asses and survey the Ocelot. Then she can be decommissioned in short order and we'll be able to move on.
     As for Xmas gifts, I personally won't be able to bring anything with me. The few things I had I lost. I hope we won't stop over anyplace long enough to do any shopping. Anyway we'll know in enough time if I'll be able to help you with your shopping. Even if I don't leave here until 15 November, I should still be home by 9 December.
     Received the clipping from the Outlook. All the officers got a big bang out of it. However it was cut up so that it gave all a laugh.
     Again dear, don't do anything at all about an office till I get home. Glad you dropped the new car idea. We'll have lots of time and fun arranging and planning my new office.
     In the meantime Sweet, good night and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Was this the clipping from the Outlook?

Wrecked Post Office

Monday, 22 October 1945, 9:30 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Spent another lazy day in camp. An officer with another group of survivors had a tooth ache so I took him over to the CB dental dispensary and filled two teeth. The rest of the day was spent just loafing, reading, playing cribbage and generally killing time.
     My claim for lost personal gear and uniforms went in this morning. I estimated my loss at $495. I'll be surprised if they allow me even $400. However with my prospects of being out of the Navy before the year is out, I'll need to spend very little of the money on clothing or other personal gear. I bought a $17.50 Remington Electric shaver for $10.50 from the ship's store. Both my watches are gone so I'm looking for a watch too. They are as scarce as hen's teeth out here, but maybe I'll connect with something.
     After dinner (Spam again) I went to the movies and saw "Valley of Decision" for the second time and now here I am.
     I got two letters of the 5th from you and one from your mother. Little by little the sacks of mail in the wrecked post office are being salvaged and being delivered. The story of the storm is slightly mixed up. However the general idea is there. This last one was much worse but things happened so fast that it takes the stories of several men put together to get any continuity on what happened. Someday soon I'll tell you all about it.
     The mosquitoes on the island have taken quite a liking to me. I have several beautiful bites. It has been raining on and off. The rainfall for this month has reached a total of eleven and a fraction inches. Normal is about three inches. That makes an excess of 7.8 inches for the month. No wonder this place is so muddy.
     That is the story for today Sweetheart. The ship is slowly being stripped but still no news as to when we will head back. Goodnight Darling and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Wrecked Post Office


Slightly mixed up story of the first typhoon. From the Santa Monica Evening Outlook

Spam

Sunday 21 October 1945, 8:45 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Had a busy morning. At 8:00 AM we took the jeep and drove down to the ship. It's a thirty mile run. The road was muddy and slick so it took a good hour to make the trip. We got to the ship a little after twelve, but not too late for chow.
     I left my clothing claim and expect it to be approved in a couple of days.
     Talking about food, it is pretty poor at advanced bases. Okinawa is no exception. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are quite rare. Everything eaten is canned, even the butter. Now I know why soldiers and marines don't like Spam. Getting it for breakfast, lunch and dinner day in and day out isn't anything to rave about. Still it is better than going hungry.
     This afternoon I just loafed around, showered and went up for chow. Then to the movies. Saw "Don Juan Guiligan" for the second time but laughed at it again. That is all for tonight.
     Goodnight Darling, I'll see you in my dreams.

Love,

G. Steingart

Laugh. I thought I'd die with all the noise around here. There is so much commotion and horseplay in here tonight that I stopped writing several times. After signing my name to papers so much frequently, the G. Steingart just slipped out. But Sweet I'm still the same Gil and I love you more than ever. Goodnight again.

Gil

Hurricane

Saturday, 20 October 1945

Dearest Eleanor,
     Another day on Okinawa gone to hell. Slept until eight o'clock this morning and then had some eggs and coffee for breakfast. I had planned to go over to NOB (Naval Operating Base) to file my claim but it began to rain so we postponed our trip till tomorrow morning. It rained and rained all day today so all I did was loaf around and read most of the day. This afternoon I lanced an abscess for one of the boys. Hope I can save the tooth by treating it, but with lack of facilities I probably won't be able to do much.
     Here is the dope on points for discharge. It will take 44 points for me to get out. I now have 42-3/4 points so I'll have 43-1/2 on December first. That means that on December 17 I'll have sufficient points to be a civilian. The way it looks now I should be home sometime around December 1 and will take my leave then. What it actually amounts to is two months pay plus mustering out pay. I'll never be reassigned to any duty when I get back to the United States. Isn't that swell? Just think, I'll be home in about six weeks and for practical purposes home to stay.
     Now here is what I want you to do. Get my blues pressed and ready for me. My cap and white cover, minus the insignia, should be boxed and ready to go. If I arrive in Frisco I'll want you to send the clothes up there for me, so I can have something to wear without buying anything more. Include two white shirts with attached collars, so I won't need to be bothered with cuff links or collar buttons. I'll have shoes, socks and shorts, so you won't need to bother about that. Of course if I land in Long Beach there won't be any problem at all. I'll be able to give you plenty of time to get clothes to me. It'll be ten days to two weeks before I'll have any dope.
     The movie tonight is "Hurricane." We had it on the ship recently. The past typhoon was just as bad as or worse than the blow pictured in the movie, so I won't go. Besides it looks like rain which is the real reason for not going.
     And that is thirty for tonight. Goodnight Darling, I'm beginning to count the days till I see you again.

Love,

Gil

P.S. Just to make sure I'll repeat the dope about clothes in 2 or 3 letters.