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<title>Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 6, 1945</title>
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<principal>Kohen, Ari</principal>
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<addrLine>319 Love Library</addrLine>
<addrLine>University of Nebraska–Lincoln</addrLine>
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<title level="a">Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams</title>
<date when="1945-09-06">September 6, 1945</date>
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<term>Clarence Williams</term>
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<term>Benton</term>
<term>Martin, James B.</term>
<term>Cloud, Bob</term>
<term>Jessen</term>
<term>Leo</term>
<term>Hall</term>
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<keywords scheme="geonames" n="places">
<term>Munich, Germany</term>
<term>Hallein, Austria</term>
<term>Chicago, Illinois</term>
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<term>Stars and Stripes</term>
<term>11th Armored Division</term>
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<persName>Williams, Clarence</persName>
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<persName>Williams, Gretchen</persName>
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<opener><dateline>Hallein, Austria<lb/>
6 Sept 45<lb/>
</dateline>

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

<p>The rumors are flying thick
and fast again today honey, especially
since reading the latest Stars 
&amp; Stripes. According to the article,
no men will be sent overseas
from the states that at present
have 45 points also no man will
be sent if 34 or older and has one
year of service. I don’t know what
effect that will have on we fellows
already over here. If true I
think I should get to return when
I am 34 in Dec however the guy
overseas always gets screwed on
such a deal. I read also where
some Senator has asked for legislation
to release all married men
as quickly as possible but whether
anything happens remains to be 
seen. I get so damn mad every
time I think about this deal of
discharge by point system that I
don’t care whether school keeps or
not. From all appearances, at
best it looks as though it will be

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00194.002"/>

at least another six months for
me before getting to the states. Of
course I know nothing definite and
it is only a guess. When I returned
from my trip I could hardly recognize
our company. We have eight
or ten new fellows, most of them
came from the 11th Armored Div. 
Cap’t Benton is again our C.O.
replacing Cap’t Martin and some
of the boys have left. One fellow
by the name of Leo left for Chicago
on emergency furlough, 1st Sgt.
Hall left on points and we have
about 4 or 5 that are over 38 who
expect to leave soon. Also have
quite a number over 35 that have
over two years in the Army and
are now eligible. I have fully
decided that if they keep me here
for A of O they will have to tie me.
My points are below the average in
the company at present with 35. I 
think there are two fellows who
have fewer than I so you can see
where I stand. Most of the single
men have been in for a longer
period of time and practically all
the married men have at least one
child. The awarding of decorations

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00194.003"/>

turned out to be a farce. The first
few we sent in went straight
thru but I guess the Div decided
they had awarded enough consequently
the many fellows who
actually deserved them (much worse
than some who received them) will
not get them. Thats the way the
Army operates however and awards
and decorations turned out to be a 
joke. Many of the litter bearers
right up with the infantry were
turned down while most of the
fellows in Hq’s and Hq’s Dep. — 60 miles
behind us, received them.</p>

<p>In one of your letters you
inquired about the meaning of
Category I. Groups in that category
are supposed to be Army of Occupation
however I find now we
are not in that group but still
in Category II which means
redeployment. No one can say
what the division may wind
up as because we are constantly
sending fellows out and receiving
new ones in return. The company

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00194.004"/>

isn’t doing a damn thing at the
present time except biding time.
Guys who are sure of going
home shortly won’t do a thing
for which I can’t say I blame
them. They do try to have classes
in school on certain subjects
but no one has interest in them
and instructors are practically
impossible to obtain. Guess I
have rattled on enough about
my gripes but I am really fed
up with the present set up.
Now perhaps you can understand
why there was no cheering
in the station at Munich
when the president announced
the Japs had surrendered. Most
of the fellows felt it would
make very little difference as 
far as they, personally, were 
concerned.</p>

<p>The weather here today is
chilly, cloudy and gloomy. It
was quite nice yesterday until
in the evening when it started
to rain some. I am gradually

<pb facs="soh.sto002.00194.005"/>

getting my things straightened
around and getting my clothes
in order after the trip.</p>

<p>Jessen told me today that
they were planning to change
jobs with Bob Cloud and me
putting him in the station
and me as co. clerk. If they
do, I am going to raise hell
as you can never get your
work done in that place.
I am just waiting for Lt.
Hunter to tell me about it and
if they make me go — I will
ask for a transfer to Personnel
again. Even that would
be easier than the job as
Co. Clerk. If for a week or
two I will do it otherwise
they can take my two stripes
and jam them.</p>

<p>Well honey I guess thats
all the rubbish for today.
Bye for now —</p>

<closer><salute>I Love You</salute>
<signed>Clarence.</signed></closer>

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<pb facs="soh.sto002.00194.006"/>

<ab>AFTER FIVE DAYS RETURN TO</ab>

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

<note>Rec'd
9-19-45.</note>

<ab type="postmark">U.S. Army Postal Service SEP 7 1945</ab>

<ab type="postage"><figure></figure></ab>
<ab>VIA AIR MAIL</ab>

<ab type="address">
<address>
<addrLine>Mrs. C. O. Williams</addrLine>
<addrLine>2501 Harney St - Apt. #6.</addrLine>
<addrLine>Omaha, Nebraska.</addrLine>
</address>
</ab>

<note>Sept. 6</note>

<note>163a</note>
    
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