Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 15, 1945

This has been another beautiful day the sun has shone brightly and it has even been quite warm. It is grand weather for the use of planes and the sky has been filled with them all day. Evidently the Jerries are catching hell from the air.

We went up to the show at 6:00 P.M. but it was Jean Arthur in Impatient Years so I decided to come back and write you early tonite for a change. I’m sure you remember the picture, I remember when we saw it together and were very disgusted with same.

Mr Tollefson succeeded in getting his rations of liquids today so divided same with us. Thats what you call a regular guy isn’t it? Boy, he’s one in a million. The Personnel from Engineers are coming up tonite and we are going to have a party. There will be about 20 of we fellows all together so it should develop into a good party with plenty of liquid refreshments. I wish you were here, under different conditions of course but honey I guarantee we will make up for it when I return. For the time being I guess I will have to take a drink for   you. My first good one since being in France. If you have trouble undressing and going to bed you’ll know its because I’m drinking for you. Remember?

We went through an old glass factory today and gosh it was mammoth. It must have originally covered about 5 or 6 square blocks and we were told it was formerly the largest glass factory in the world. Most of the buildings are now shambles because of bombing and German artillery. Also found some German helmets with bullet holes through them.

Well honey tomorrow I go back to the company. At the present time we are several miles nearer the front than they are however we are still a safe distance. Sgt. Bell came in after me today in a Jeep but Mr Tollefson told him I would go out tomorrow. He did every thing he could to keep me here but they claim they need me back there. I didn’t know I was so damn valuable to my company. Ha! As yet I don’t know what the service is but the next I write perhaps I can give you more information.

I didn’t get any letters from you today but did receive one from Leo. He stated they were rebuilding the Lone Oak and expected to have same completed some time in April. I sure wish we were back there again for good and am hoping and praying for the day.

I received a little package in the mail today from some firm in New York. It was a small key chain fastened on one of those tiny flashlights. It has my initials in it and also some insignia and after a thorough inspection I found it was from the Elks Club. Apparently it was shipped as a Xmas gift as it was sent to the camp there. I thought it very nice of them to remember me. I wrote Harry Messner a letter at the club a few days back.

I was just showing Gus the pictures in my billfold of you. He said gee she’s really a swell looking girl, a lot younger than you isn’t she? I told him no, as a matter of fact she is older and was he surprised. See when I get back people will probably think you are my young daughter. Ha!

Well sweet enough of this for now, if I write any more I won’t be able to write tomorrow. I do want to tell you tho that I am always thinking of you and loving you more than ever if that is possible.