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<title>Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, May 21, 1945</title>
<principal xml:id="bd">Dotan, Lisabeth</principal>
<principal>Kohen, Ari</principal>
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<name xml:id="lar">Roberts, Lindsay A.</name>
<name xml:id="est">Tylski, Ethan S.</name>
<name xml:id="lkw">Weakly, Laura K.</name>
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<addrLine>319 Love Library</addrLine>
<addrLine>University of Nebraska–Lincoln</addrLine>
<addrLine>Lincoln, NE 68588-4100</addrLine>
<addrLine>cdrh@unl.edu</addrLine>
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<title level="a">Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams</title>
<date when="1945-05-21">May 21, 1945</date>
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<term>Clarence Williams</term>
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<keywords scheme="viaf" n="people">
<term>Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945</term>
<term>Mussolini, Benito, 1883-1945</term>
<term>Dorothy</term>
<term>Mendenhall, Bob</term>
</keywords>
<keywords scheme="geonames" n="places">
<term>Kirchbichl, Austria</term>
<term>Brenner, Italy</term>
<term>Omaha, Nebraska</term>
<term>Nancy, France</term>
<term>Innsbruck, Austria</term>
</keywords>
<keywords scheme="original" n="keywords">
<term>V-E Day</term>
<term>Brenner Pass</term>
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<term>3rd Army</term></keywords>
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<persName>Williams, Clarence</persName>
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<opener><dateline>Kirchbichl, Austria<lb/>
21 May 1945.<lb/>
</dateline>

<salute>My Honey &#8212;</salute></opener>

<p>No mail from you again today but
did receive a nice long letter from Dorothy.
Its the first I have heard from any
one over there since V-E-Day and I was
anxious to hear of the reaction to the
surrender. Apparently there wasn’t
much celebrating around Omaha from
what she stated in her letter.</p>

<p>We took quite a long trip today as
I wrote to you yesterday of the plane.
We went down to and through the
Brenner Pass. I was a little disappointed 
in the Pass itself after hearing so much
about it however the scenery enroute
is really beautiful. We passed through
Innsbruck and it is quite a swell city,
not too badly damaged by the war. 
It was completely surrounded by the
snow capped Alps. At this town itself
(I mean Brenner, Italy) there are
very few buildings, that is, near the
gate that drops across the road
like a railroad crossing. One of the
buildings near the gate on the Austrian

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00109.002"/>

side is where Hitler and Mussollini
(misspelled) held one of their noted meeting.
I took some pictures there
but the sky was very cloudy so they
may not be any good. I’m hoping
they turn out okay so I can send
them home.</p>

<p>Dorothy mentioned you hadn’t
heard from me in several days and
was afraid I may have shipped.
No doubt you will soon receive
some of my letters telling what
we hear regarding shipment. We
did hear today that we are now in
Patton’s 3rd Army so I don’t know
what that means. I had thought
before that we would have a furlough
in the states now I don’t know what 
to think. I hate to plan on one and be
refused but it is surely hard to keep
from hoping.</p>

<p>Tonite we were informed there
was another day pass to Nancy,
France, open so we drew names out
of the hat. Bob Mendenhall won the
pass so leaves the 24th. I imagine
he will be gone about a week including
traveling time.</p>

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00109.003"/>

<p>The medical Bn has now set up
what they call the rest center at the
lake in the mountains where we
have been going swimming. They
are supposed to be three day pases
also and supposedly, you get to do
as you please for three days. Sleep
as late as you like, swim, fish, go
boating or play tennis. Oh yes, I
forgot to mention free beer and sandwiches
throughout the day. I only
hope the officers at Bn Hqs don’t
spoil it as they usually do everything
else. Ordinarily when some thing
that sounds that good comes along,
we find a catch in it. If they let me
come home I don’t care what happens.
I’ve seen all the foreign scenery 
that I care for.</p>

<p>Well darling thats about all the
news for now so will say “Goodnite
Sweetheart”</p>

<closer><salute>All my Love Forever</salute>
<signed>Clarence.</signed></closer>

<postscript>
<p>I am enclosing a few more
pictures. All except one is marked
on the back, that one was in the 

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00109.004"/>

camera when I liberated same.
It is typical of the entrance to
many of the old walled German
cities so thought you may like
to see it. It was taken on a
127, you see I now have three
cameras however none are too
good. The 120 is the best.</p>

<p>Bye Again<lb/>
Love<lb/>
Clarence. 
</p>

</postscript>

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

<note>Rec'd 6-12-45</note>

<ab>Air Mail</ab>

<ab type="postmark">U.S. Army Postal Service MAY 23 1945</ab>

<ab type="postmark">Council Bluffs Iowa JUN <unclear/> 430 PM</ab>

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

<ab type="address">
<address>
<addrLine>Mrs. C. O. Williams</addrLine>
<addrLine><del>1303 Avenue B.</del>302 Service Life Bldg</addrLine>
<addrLine><del>Council Bluffs,
Iowa.</del>Omaha, Nebr.</addrLine>
</address>
</ab>

<note>May 21.</note>

<note>87</note>

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