Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 14, 1945

Well sweet it is almost 10:30 so I won’t have time to write a lot but did want to drop you a line especially since this is St. Valentine’s Day. When we were awakened this morning the first thing Jones said was happy Valentines Day. Needless to say we felt like choking him. Ha!

Gus and I had passes to Nancy today. We left at 9:30 AM and were supposed to return at 4:30 but got lost on the way in so they gave us a little more time and we just got home. I looked all over the stores for some thing to send you but it is practically impossible to find any thing suitable without ration points. They do have some beautiful garments but at enormous prices. Saw some dresses at 5600 Franc’s or approximately $112.00 also fur coats at 25,000. Have been looking for some Chenille #5 perfume but to date have been unable to locate some. They have a beautiful Red Cross in Nancy in an old theatre building I believe it was. We spent most of our time there when not out walking over the streets seeing the city. We had doughnuts (I ate 10) and coffee and it really tasted delicious. They also had a French Civilian Band that played all afternoon and evening. We really enjoyed them as they played all American music. They also had a lady doing sketches of GI’s   but it was a very slow process and the line being quite long, she quit before she got to me. Perhaps she decided I would be impossible so gave up on the guys before me. While eating the doughnuts I couldn’t help but think of the doughnut party Marg, you and I had on Lincoln Ave. Remember?

I received two letters from you today. Feb 1st and 2nd and would surely have been disappointed if there were none waiting for me when we returned.

So Dorothy is letting her hair grow out in natural color. I would like to see it as I believe she has always tinted it since I have known her. Honey, I am not worried about you changing so that I can’t recognize you and think we deserve a second honey moon as you suggested. Any way I’m planning on it my “bosom pidgeon[?]”.

Incidentally I meant to tell you the boys were telling us that Nancy was bombed this morning before our arrival. There’s a big air fleet going over us right now in fact the motors have been roaring for about 30 minutes. I hope it is ours however. It is a beautiful clean night and ideal for bombing, really the first we have had. The sun has shone all day believe it or not. It certainly seemed good to see it again.

Well daring I must close and go to bed but I’ll be thinking of you and hoping you are well and okay — take care of your self honey (and don’t forget your cod liver oil). Ha!