Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 24, 1945

Here I am again with another of those boring letters. I did pretty good today, received a V-mail from you, a letter from Otto and one from mother.

The letter I received from you was dated Feb 12th and you mentioned receiving some letters but didn’t say how many. I have been wondering if you received only the ones I had written on the boat. Perhaps when I receive your letters for the 10th and 11th they will tell me more.

Mother wrote she has been quite sick and sounded as though she had a touch of pneumonia. She is up in Isabel, So. Dakota with her sister but Mable forwarded by letter. She asked if you had gone back to Lincoln and said she would like to hear from you so I know she will be very happy when she receives your letter. I really appreciated it too honey as I don’t get to write her as often as I should.

I went back to the clearing station and hospital this morning and had a nice hot shower. Boy it really felt good to get nice and clean and wash my hair. Went in with some casualties in an ambulance, had dinner there with Sf Sgt Weiser and then returned on the next ambulance.

Honey I don’t think it will be necessary to send me soaps as they furnish us soap with our rations. They give us rations each couple of days, which usually amount to 2 packs of cigarettes, 2 small Hershey Tropical chocolate bars, and 2 sticks of gum. We can also have shaving cream, dental cream, pipe tobacco, soap and tooth brushes all free merely for the asking. You mentioned soap made in that was before the Germans were there. It was badly damaged by bombing and next to cigarettes soap is probably the scarcest item. Some of the boys brought quantities of soaps and traded some for wine.

I am enclosing a piece of literature or German propaganda that they use on our front line troops. I can readily see how some G.I. that is tired and disgusted may think along these lines after reading such stuff. However I don’t imagine many of them bother to pick it up off the ground. You’ll have to admit it is cleverly written.

At the present time on the radio they are playing one of our songs, “Together”, remember? Hardly a day goes by without hearing it and always I listen and think of you and wish I were back where you are.

Well, well, here I am again. Finished my bath and feel like a million so decided to write my honey a few more lines. You should have seen me this morning, I really looked like a bum since I hadn’t shaved since last Tuesday. It surely seemed swell to get them off. I understand we will now be allowed two baths per week in a public bath house. Sounds like a good deal don’t you think.

There wa a party tonite for the [censored] boys in our group or echelon at a big chateau near this town. They were to have gin, coffee and doughnuts but unfortunately we went without our canteen cups so didn’t stay for any of it. The house was really beautiful, run down a little of course but still has some gorgeous furniture and fixtures. I think it must of had about 100 rooms, many large fireplaces, great large chandeliers, and beautiful vases and tapestries. Also had several statues and much hand carving in the walls and woodwork. I understand there are five lakes on the estate and the countess who owns same lives at Aix.

Luckily we have a theatre or cinema as the French call same in the building adjoining ours. Most of us attended the show last night and saw Rhapsody in Blue. It was the story of the life of George Gershwin and I thot it very good. Also had a G.I. band there that gave us some good music for one half hour preceding the picture.

It is now almost 2:00 AM and I am having trouble staying awake so guess you will just have to be bored with the remainder of this as I will write and stay awake. I enjoyed reading the note from   Harold Ast and will have to drop him a line when I find time. $85.50 sounds like a lot of deduction for income tax for three months. Surely you will get a refund on part of it at least especially since I have been in the Army the rest of that year.

Honey you stated in the letter you were sending me cigarettes. As yet I still have plenty and would rather you keep them for yourself. I know how much trouble you will have trying to buy them and so far I have been plenty lucky. Also I have been smoking my pipes quite a lot which conserves them. When you have extra space I would like you to send coffee, jam, candy, peanuts, or any kind of canned goods. We get terribly hungry for sweets as we don’t get a lot of rich deserts as you can imagine.

I would surely like to see Al Anderson but since he is in Belgium it is unlikely. I can’t imagine why he isn’t receiving his mail unless he is constantly moving. I’m sure it will catch up with him some time. Was nice to hear of Dr. Woodrings escapade. I should drop those kids a line some time.

So you think yo may leave for home on Mar. 3rd. Boy how I wish I could be there to help you celebrate that anniversary. Any way I’m hoping and praying we’ll be together for the next. Gee I’ve written so much I had to refill with ink. Mr Tollefson will probably feel like wringing my neck when he has to censor all this. Ha!

I was surely happy to hear that you finally got the cable. It took it exactly ten   days and I do hope by this time my letters are coming through to you. The last one I read from you today took only eleven days which isn’t bad service I hope they continue to do as well as mail from you means more than every thing else in keeping my spirits up!

Well sweet it is now almost 3:00 AM so think I should close for the present. I might add that you might possibly be writing me at this very moment also as it is only 9:00 PM there.

Please don’t forget that when you have space I would like any kind of sweets, peanuts, cookies, jam or canned goods. Incidentally, will you also send that pair of gloves I left as I lost my others and Sol gave me a pair. Thanks honey.

Oh yes, note the new address as I am now separated from the company for the time being.