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<title>Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, March 9, 1945</title>
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<principal>Kohen, Ari</principal>
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<addrLine>University of Nebraska–Lincoln</addrLine>
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<title level="a">Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams</title>
<date when="1945-03-09">March 9, 1945</date>
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<term>Clarence Williams</term>
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<term>Zander</term>
<term>Tollefson</term>
<term>Cooper, Irv</term>
<term>Beittel</term>
<!-- <term>Mother</term> -->
<term>Fran</term>
<term>Finley</term>
<term>Lainson, Percy</term>
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<term>South Dakota</term>
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<persName>Williams, Gretchen</persName>
<placeName>Council Bluffs, Iowa</placeName>
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<opener><dateline>Friday<lb/>
9 March 45.<lb/>
</dateline>

<salute>Dearest &#8212;</salute></opener>

<p>I received your letter of Feb 27th today
and it made me very happy as it sounded
so much more cheerful or rather you
seemed happier. Perhaps it was because
you had just received the 7 from me the
day before.</p>

<p>We played bridge tonite with Lt. Zander
and myself playing Sgt. Cooper and Sgt.
Beittel. Played three rubbers and we won
but by a small margin. No one had any
exceptional hands but we did have a lot
of fun. Thats the first I have played since
leaving Personnel.</p>

<p>I also received a letter form mother
today and one from the Elks Club. She
apparently hadn’t received your letter yet
and stated she hadn’t heard from me. I 
have written three I think, but she is
now at her sisters in So. Dakota and 
forwarding them will take extra time.
She hasn’t been feeling well but is some
better now.</p>

<p>Mr. Tollefson was in tonight on his
way up to our Collecting station. We
always kid him about coming up so
near the front however our station is
still a plenty safe distance from the front.</p>

<p>I agree with you regarding the
midnight curfew and think it a little unnecessary.
As you say many of the soldiers
don’t get to town until late and I don’t think

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00057.002"/>

they should be deprived of all outside entertainment.</p>

<p>I was sorry to hear of Fran being
shipped P.O.R. as I think it is a lot tougher 
on a fellow when they separate their
outfit and send them out individually.
Perhaps he may even land with our
outfit some time later.</p>

<p>Think you must have gone to a lot 
of trouble getting the items to pack my box. 
Walking through the sleet and rain and
bad weather. Your mention of rambling
on when I was reading the paper reminded
me of how I would love to 
have you do that now.</p>

<p>Four of we fellows went for a 
long hike this afternoon in the woods
around here. It wasn’t very cold so we
really enjoyed the walk and the beautiful
scenery.</p>

<p>If you see Gen. Finley or his wife
you can inform him the new division
is quite different from the old unit. I am
sure it would make him proud to know
it is getting to be know as a police up
unit instead of a combat unit. They even
expect the boys in the foxholes to get out
and police up the area surrounding
them and this I’ll have you know 
within range of the German small
arms fire. Three boys have been shot
and wounded doing that very thing.
Being a leader among the veterans Im 

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00057.003"/>

sure he would appreciate hearing of
such astounding leadership. For the
past three days our company has been
burying tin cans left by other divisions
and civilians in towns surrounding us.
One of the boys here states when we get
back to the states and parade down the 
streets, our division will follow last with
brooms and shovels to clean up the debris. 
I have even had fellows from
another division tell me of our boys
being forced to sweep up cigarette butts
in front line pillboxes. I’m sure that
would make Gen Finley and Percy Lainson
proud of the outfit especially after what
they did in the last war to build its
present reputation. I shouldn’t squawk as
I havn’t done any of it but when you see
boys wounded for such silly reasons
it really gets disgusting.</p>

<p>Well darling our light is going out
so I must close. Take care of yourself
and I will do the same.</p>

<closer><salute>Bye for now<lb/>
Loving you forever</salute>
<signed>Clarence.</signed></closer>

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<ab type="return">
<address>
<addrLine>Pfc. C. O. Williams 37738878</addrLine>
<addrLine>Co A. 122d Medical Bn.</addrLine>
<addrLine>A.P.O. #411, c/o P.M.</addrLine>
<addrLine>New York, New York.</addrLine>
</address>
</ab>

<note>Rec'd 3/19/45</note>

<ab type="postmark">U.S. Army Postal Service MAR 11 1945</ab>

<ab type="postage"><figure></figure></ab>

<ab type="address">
<address>
<addrLine>Mrs. C. O. Williams</addrLine>
<addrLine>1303 Ave B.</addrLine>
<addrLine>Council Bluffs, Iowa.</addrLine>
</address>
</ab>

<note>Mar. 9</note>

<ab type="censor">Passed by US Army Examiner 50819 Lt H H Zander</ab>

<note>35</note>

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