Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 19, 1945

  Monday
19 February 45.

Part I

My Darling Wife —

This is my second letter to you tonite but I just received four from you and was so disgusted to think you hadn’t received any of my letters except that damned V-Mail that I wrote hurriedly one evening. They are definitely giving V-Mail preference as they have held up my air mail for more than a month. The regular air mail I wrote tonite was addressed to CB but I am going to send this air mail also in hopes it will reach you before leaving.

So the Mann’s and Mr. A are trying to talk you out of leaving Muskogee. Honey you’re not only popular with them I’ll have you know, there’s also a guy in France who is always thinking of you. I hope he is right about June but I’m afraid he is a little too optimistic from what I have seen and heard. I can’t believe it will last too much longer but wouldn’t be surprised if the Japs fell first now after hearing of the Marine’s new landing in the news today.

I was sorry to hear that you must have two wisdoms pulled and certainly hope you didn’t have as much trouble with them as with your last. Also hope your other treatments are completed by this time.

I want to tell you again in this letter that your mail has been coming thru in fine shape. Think I now have a letter for every day up to and including Feb 8th.

  your letters have been coming thru so good I assumed you had been receiving mine. Your air mails and V-Mails make about the same time. The best I have had was an air mail in 8 days.

Regarding your writing wrong on the V-Mails I noticed some and wondered why but decided perhaps they fit the typewriter better that way. However, I was so happy to receive them that it made no difference what ever to me.

I received a two pound box of candy also in the mail today. It was sent to the camp there and forwarded here so of course was badly smashed in overseas shipment. I think there were about 15 pieces left in the package, smashed flat and full of dirt but we are so hungry for candy and sweets that we finished them in a very short time. They were meant for the both of us as we had a Xmas card enclosed. Your share really tasted swell honey! Ha!

I have seen quite a lot of France including Marseilles and Nancy. The country up here is very beautiful with steep cliffs and mountains. At the present there is considerable green vegetation and the weather is some warmer so guess spring is on the way. We have had lots of rain in fact I think every day except five since our arrival.

 

Regarding Marge’s address, I’m afraid I won’t see Dan in time to get same to you as at present we are not together. I am back at the Company now and am to work as records clerk in our clearing station. Im sure I will like the work very much and know I would be better at that then as a technician.

I surely appreciate your writing my mother as I did write her an air mail also and know she will be worried if she has received nothing.

I first happened to think and know you will be surprised to hear that I ran into Bill Dow here in France. Remember he was at our house in Lincoln when I was at Riley. He as surely surprised to see me and he looked real good.

Honey, please don’t send me any more cigarettes as you stated in your letter as I am getting by on our ration okay for the present and would prefer you to keep them for yourself. I also have plenty of razor blades for now but of course can always use them.

Well darling it is now 1:00 AM so must close and get to bed. Give my regards to the Mann’s and keep your chin up.

Bye for now
All my Love Clarence.

Please send me candy or sweets, nuts, jams or any other canned goods as sardines or fruit. Those are the things we seem to crave honey.