Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, March 6, 1945

I really don’t have much in the way of news but did want to drop you a few lines to let you know I am well and okay and thinking of you. Also, I havn’t told you yet today that I love you. I didn’t receive any letters from you today but guess I can’t complain as they have been coming through in fine shape. However, I shall expect two tomorrow. “I hope." I wrote Otto a long letter after writing you last night. Knew he would be interested in hearing of some of our experiences.

We have a little beer hall here in this little hotel we are living in so I just returned from having a few. It is a quaint little place with the old blue and white checkered table cloths on every table. They also have a big police dog that is very friendly and now and then bounces up and places his paws on the table beside you. I don’t believe any one could ever get tight on the beer but it does keep you up all night.

Mr. Tollefson was out to see us a few days ago and had quite a chat with him. Seemed good to see him again as he is really a grand fellow. I really enjoy the work I am doing now more than than at Personnel and we couldn’t ask for   a finer C.O. to work with than we now have. We were notified last night that we are now entitled to wear a bronze star on our E.T.O. Service Ribbon. I hope they help to count as points in getting out of this damn army, if not, they can keep mine.

We were up near the front today to get some old shell casings. I saw plenty of barbed wire entanglements, foxholes and dugouts in the mountains. We went through one community that was almost completely demolished. I never saw a single building that wasn’t badly damaged.

The weather here today has been terrible with rain and snow intermixed. We have had several days of this now so hope the weather breaks snow and we have some sunshine.

Well honey, my mind is a blank so will tell you again that I love you and close for tonight. Bye for now.