Leyte--Hotter Than Hades

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Thursday, 21 June 1945, 7:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,
     Hello Darling, how was our baby's birthday yesterday? I'm missing so much now that it'll take years of catching and making up for it all.

     I had my usual busy morning and early afternoon. I found out just where Simmie is and will look him up in a couple of days.

     There is really nothing new or different to talk about. I haven't been ashore lately because the clubs have been so mobbed that there really isn't much fun in going over. In a few days things should quiet down a little and then I'll make up for last time.

     The mail brought me six pieces today. A letter marked the 14th, the Outlook which you sent and letters from my mother, Libby, Charlie Blume and Dave.

     My cold only lasted two days which is amazing because you remember how my sinuses would drain for days after a cold. It must be the climate but I'd still give it back to the Indians or Japs or anyone who really wants it. In the past few days, there has been no rain or overcast skies. It's been hotter than Hades. I sure miss the refreshing breeze we used to get at our last station.

     Last night's movie "The Great Mike" was a stinkeroo of the first order. Tonight we had an oldie but a good one, "Dixie" with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

     Graves was only out of the states for a year and he has gone back, so I'm still optimistic about being home in the fall.

     No more for now so I'll sign off with love and kisses to you and out sweet girls.

Devotedly,

Gil

The first few pages from "Leyte Lays," U.S.S. Ocelot song sheet. The Naval Censor Stamp is "signed" by Kathleen Windsor, the author of the sexy, racy novel "Forever Amber."

Leyte--Sheath Knife

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Wednesday 20 June 1945, 6:50 PM 

Dearest Eleanor, 
     Today was just another day of work. I was busy all morning. I cancelled the afternoon appointments because of surprise inspection by the fleet medical officer. By the time he left sick bay it was after three so there wasn't anything more for me to do but crap out. 
     I stripped down to my skivvies, censored mail and read until 5:00 PM. Then I showered and dressed for dinner. No cribbage game tonight so here I am. 
     The mailman brought me five more letters today postmarked the 12th and 13th so here goes. I see you are still teaching. Bet you'll make as much this month as I do. 
     About money matters. The reserve account should be 100% available now and if it is, close it and transfer the funds to the checking account. About your spending I had my say and I know you'll be careful. 
     Is the knife you're sending me a sheath
knife? I bought one out here for $1.95 but it isn't much good, the regular Marine issue should be much better. 
     I'll try to look up Simmie the first time I go ashore. Now that I have his address he shouldn't be hard to find.
     I really enjoyed those little pictures but was disappointed in the minicolor shot. It isn't very clear, how much did it cost? I'm saving all pictures and I'm really looking forward to the rest if they are better than those you sent. 
     In about ten days I'm giving a little "wetting down" party at the club for a few ship's officers and will shoot the spool of film you sent me. 
     The movie tonight is Stuart Ervine in "Big Mike" and I hope it's good. 
     Outside of that there is nothing more so I'll say goodnight to my darling on our baby's third birthday. 

Love, 

Gil 

Marine Issue Sheath Knife 
 

Page from Gil's photo album. The minicolor shot is of Norma in a bunny costume. The color has faded away. The colored photo taken in Hawaii (Gil,Jim Frug and their jeep) is better preserved. 

Norma 3 years old

Leyte--Black and White

 

Lt. Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Tuesday 19 June 1945, 10:10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Hello my Sweet, here I am again and feeling much better than I did last night. I doped myself with Codeine, APCs, and some Black and White mixture. Had a good night's sleep and awoke with my cold practically gone.

     As usual, worked all morning. After lunch four of us got a boat and went over to the hospital ship to see Jim Lyons. He is doing nicely and certainly is in good spirits. He should be evacuated soon. We had a rough trip back. It took an hour and the spray soaked me down pretty well. Had a shower and then I censored mail until 5:30 when I dressed for dinner.

     After dinner we played cribbage until 7:30 and then went to the movies. We had "Without Love" with Hepburn and Tracy. It was very good.

     There was no mail today but I really didn't expect any. I'm practically through with "It is Still the Morning" and I'm really enjoying it.

     By the way I took a box of those "vitamin pills" over to Lyons. I still have another full box so you can see how much candy I eat. I also have a full box of salt water taffy that my mother sent.

     After this letter I'll write to our mothers, Libby, Ethyl and others if I'm still holding out which I probably won't.

     Not a thing that's new since yesterday so I'll sign off. Goodnight my Sweet, I'm just dreaming of our happy days together in the not too distant future.

Yours alone,

Gil

A Hospital Ship
U.S.S. Comfort 

Was this the Black and White mixture?

Leyte--Navy Photographer

Lt. Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Monday, 18 June 1945, 7:15 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Hello Hon, here I am again. I've got a peach of a head cold today and my sinuses are sure draining. However otherwise I feel okay, so I should be over this in a couple of days. I had a busy morning but this afternoon I "crapped out" in my bunk because of my running nose.

     I'm reading a swell novel and if you haven't already you should read it. It is "It is Still the Morning" by Louis Danz, a simple story of an ordinary young man but written in a very unusual style. I showered at 5:15 and dressed for dinner.

     I bought two boxes of cigars ($8.00) to pass amongst the officers and some of the crew--an old Navy custom.

     After yesterday I really didn't expect any mail. Zowie another jackpot. I got five lovely, sweet Father's Day cards from my three girls, two letters from my favorite wife, a letter from Dr. Ivie and a copy of the picture a navy photographer took of me on the beach where we were before we moved. You remember I wrote you about it and told you it would appear in the paper. Well a couple of days after the picture was taken we met the same photographer on the beach and he said he wanted to retake the picture and did. However the photo he sent is the original and he has me down as lieutenant commander. Should the paper contact you before running the picture, correct that. I'd send the picture on but it only shows our backs and is lousy. I'll just keep it.

     The Merchant Marine deal is alright but it does have its drawbacks. There is no compensation for injury or death or any of the veteran's benefits after the war. Also the only medical and dental care they get is emergency treatment. The leaves are worth something but after the war, benefits accruing from service in the Armed Forces will far outweigh the good pay. They also don't get the income tax exemption of $1500 which service personnel get.

     No, we don't show our letters to anyone, at least I don't. However I have shared some of the poetry and clippings with other officers.

     The movie tonight is "It's in the Bag" with Fred Allen and Jack Benny. I hope it's funny.

     Nothing more for now my Darling so I'll sign off with love and kisses from

Your loving "daddy!"

Gil

Photo was by a Navy photographer in Ulithi

The suitcase was probably the reason for the retake mentioned above.

Gil is the short one.

Leyte--Hint of Victory

Lieut. Gilbert Steingart

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

Sunday, 17 June 1945, 10 PM

Dearest Eleanor,     
     Just to celebrate and today being Sunday I took the day off and didn't see any patients. Instead I visited for awhile with a couple of dentists who came over to our ship on business. Then when the mail came onboard I found I'd hit the jackpot and spent the rest of the morning reading these precious letters, ten of them, one from your mother and one from Marty and the rest from my Sweet.

     This afternoon I finished "Saratoga Trunk," censored some mail and took it easy. Showered at 5:00 PM and dressed for dinner. Then we had our regular cribbage game until movie time. Tonight's picture was just fair. It was "Gentle Annie" a story of the Oklahoma frontier at the beginning of this century. We did have two good shorts, one a color cartoon and the other a Wayne King musical short.

     Now to your letters. They were postmarked the 5th to the 10th. Even when we're at sea the letters are postmarked the day the ship's post office receives them. Understand? My school marm seems to be kept quite busy. Oh well, only a few more days and vacation will be here.

     From the program and your letters the dancing school show must have been excellent. Why shouldn't our daughters be stars?

     No dear I didn't ask you to wait for your fur coat until I was a civilian, only until I got home. However if you do run into a real good buy go ahead and get one. I just thought I'd like to help you choose one. That's all. I do expect to be home by Xmas.

     Talking about pictures several have been taken of me and if we can find some time to develop and print them soon I'll send them along.

     You don't sound too enthusiastic about Nina's visit. I do hope it pans out okay and that you don't have to put yourself out for her.

     So Norma is at the crying age. Sorry to hear that she cries every time you go out. Linda got over it so I guess she will too. I do hope you aren't letting it upset you.

     Yes the papers are hinting at the possibility of an early victory over the Japs. Thought the same thing a long time ago (two months ago). Check my letters and see. The next three months will tell the tale. Either it'll be all over or we'll have a tough year of fighting ahead of us.

     Never be sorry for anything you didn't do or buy. Bet our new home will be even nicer than the one you wish we'd bought.

     Your letters are precious dear and not "silly." After all if you couldn't write your thoughts to me, who could you tell them to?

     There is no reason why you shouldn't put some money in Postal Savings. There is some interest involved and it is available on demand. Go ahead and do it.

     OK let's set the alarm for 2:00 AM. Though I bet we won't need any alarm for awhile.

     I'm glad that Dr.Sands found you mother in better health than Leon thought she was in.  Just the same, she should take it easy. Ruth should hire some help to do her housework or maybe do it herself.

     So the G's want to know where Sol will go next. I wish I knew, but it is a safe bet that before moving in on an operation his ship will stop at our last anchorage or come to where we are now. 

     The barber probably missed you because he's already in Florida which is his home. Cox's home is in Arizona but his wife is planning to meet him in Long Beach and live there. He is regular Navy and his three kiddies mark the three times he's been home in the past eight or nine years. That's no life for me.

     There are several General Hospitals in this area and I'll have to have an address before I go off looking for someone. I'll probably be here for awhile yet, so I'll hold on until I get something more definite to go on.

     No more for now Sweetheart so I'll say goodnight with the hope that all your dreams do come true and soon.

Loving you as always,

Gil

P.S. I owe practically everyone a letter now, so I'll have to settle down to some serious writing real soon. Bye now.

Gil

Dancing School Program

Leyte--Officially a Lieutenant

Lt.(j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

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

Saturday 16 June 1945, 10:50 PM

My Dearest,

     Hello Darling, tomorrow I will officially be a lieutenant with pay and allowances as of June 1. The ALNAV finally came through and I took my physical this afternoon. As of now you can drop the (j.g.) from my address.

     Today was just the usual Saturday morning with plenty of work and cleaning to prepare for captain's inspection. This morning I had a slight rawness of my throat so I've been taking sulphadiazine. I feel 4.0 tonight. I've learned that preventative treatment is much better than waiting until my throat gets sore.  I've not had a sore throat since I left the United States.

     This afternoon I censored mail, attended to some welfare work and then read "Saratoga Trunk" for awhile. Then I showered and dressed for dinner. After chow a dental officer reporting to one of the other ships here came aboard looking for information and transportation. I arranged for a message to be sent to his ship and fixed him up with a bunk for tonight. Then we went to the movies to see "Santa Fe Trails" with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. It was so old it was new again. It's a story about John Brown and his fight to free the slaves, remember?

     If I were home tomorrow we would go out and celebrate my promotion, but as it is I'll probably stay aboard. However I'm planning to go ashore on Monday and bend the elbow a few times.

     No more for now so goodnight my darling until tomorrow.

Yours always,

Gil

Promotion to Lieutenant

Result of Physical 

Newspaper Article

Leyte--Arms and Legs in Casts

Lt. (j.g.) Gilbert Steingart

U.S.S. Ocelot, F.P.O. San Francisco
Friday 15 June 1945, 10:00 PM

Dearest Eleanor,

     Just another day far away from the one I love. Worked as usual all morning. After lunch three of us took a boat over to the hospital to see Jim Lyons. Poor fellow he is in bed with both forearms and both legs in casts and will remain so for 90 to 120 days. In spite of it all he is quite cheerful and making the best of a very unpleasant situation. We visited with him for an hour and then returned to the ship. 

     There was no work for me to do because it was field day. So I stripped down to my skivvies and censored a stack of mail. Then I read from "Saratoga Trunk," showered and dressed.

     I sent off an air mail package with a little something I made for each of my girls. I do think the chain on Norma's gift is too heavy so if you like you can have a finer one put on. Both of the kiddies' gifts are made from coconut shell. Yours, you'll be able to tell more about when you see it. I've still got some other ideas about the coconut shell and will see what comes of it.

     The mail service has been very poor lately. Guess the mail planes have been grounded because of adverse weather conditions. I did get one letter today dated June 5. I received the 4th three days ago.

     I see you are still teaching. Well, vacation will be here soon and you'll get a long rest. Maybe by the time school opens again I'll be home. One never can tell.

     I'm sure Norma's party will be or should I say was a great success. I'm sure missing plenty but we'll re-celebrate all these occasions as we've planned.

     We had an old but excellent movie tonight, "Fired Wife" with Louise Allbritton and Diana Barrymore. We saw it together long ago.

     Well Sweet, I'm all done for tonight so bye and pleasant dreams.

Love,

Gil

Was Jim Lyons aboard this hospital ship?