Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, March 9, 1945

I received your letter of Feb 27th today and it made me very happy as it sounded so much more cheerful or rather you seemed happier. Perhaps it was because you had just received the 7 from me the day before.

We played bridge tonite with Lt. Zander and myself playing Sgt. Cooper and Sgt. Beittel. Played three rubbers and we won but by a small margin. No one had any exceptional hands but we did have a lot of fun. Thats the first I have played since leaving Personnel.

I also received a letter form mother today and one from the Elks Club. She apparently hadn’t received your letter yet and stated she hadn’t heard from me. I have written three I think, but she is now at her sisters in So. Dakota and forwarding them will take extra time. She hasn’t been feeling well but is some better now.

Mr. Tollefson was in tonight on his way up to our Collecting station. We always kid him about coming up so near the front however our station is still a plenty safe distance from the front.

I agree with you regarding the midnight curfew and think it a little unnecessary. As you say many of the soldiers don’t get to town until late and I don’t think   they should be deprived of all outside entertainment.

I was sorry to hear of Fran being shipped P.O.R. as I think it is a lot tougher on a fellow when they separate their outfit and send them out individually. Perhaps he may even land with our outfit some time later.

Think you must have gone to a lot of trouble getting the items to pack my box. Walking through the sleet and rain and bad weather. Your mention of rambling on when I was reading the paper reminded me of how I would love to have you do that now.

Four of we fellows went for a long hike this afternoon in the woods around here. It wasn’t very cold so we really enjoyed the walk and the beautiful scenery.

If you see Gen. Finley or his wife you can inform him the new division is quite different from the old unit. I am sure it would make him proud to know it is getting to be know as a police up unit instead of a combat unit. They even expect the boys in the foxholes to get out and police up the area surrounding them and this I’ll have you know within range of the German small arms fire. Three boys have been shot and wounded doing that very thing. Being a leader among the veterans Im   sure he would appreciate hearing of such astounding leadership. For the past three days our company has been burying tin cans left by other divisions and civilians in towns surrounding us. One of the boys here states when we get back to the states and parade down the streets, our division will follow last with brooms and shovels to clean up the debris. I have even had fellows from another division tell me of our boys being forced to sweep up cigarette butts in front line pillboxes. I’m sure that would make Gen Finley and Percy Lainson proud of the outfit especially after what they did in the last war to build its present reputation. I shouldn’t squawk as I havn’t done any of it but when you see boys wounded for such silly reasons it really gets disgusting.

Well darling our light is going out so I must close. Take care of yourself and I will do the same.