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

After writing you last night, I received two letters from you March 4th and March 11th. Today I received another dated March 6th. Naturally it made me very happy as those are the first I have had in a week.

I was glad to hear you arrived okay at C.B. but sorry to hear of the train delays and of your catching cold. Guess you must be a Southerner at heart honey and can’t take that colder weather up North. Anyway I hope you get over it real soon. Too bad you didn’t get to see Hal a few minutes before his leaving but know you had a grand visit with Kay. It would have been nice had it been possible for you to spend more time with her under the circumstances.

The clipping about Henry Olson was really a shock to me. Imagine Fern and the rest took it pretty hard or perhaps they have been expecting some thing to happen after this long period of time. Its fortunate both Ernie and Earl are home now to look after the cafe. No doubt they will continue to operation of the business.

So Mary has plates now. Seems to me that they could wait until she regains her health once before becoming in here present condition. Did she say whether Rance is walking and talking.

Does good old C.B. look the same? I cant suppose there have been many changes since I was there but it seems like ages. Was surprised to hear that Marilyn recognized me in the picture, it has been a long time since seeing her. I would love to see her now bet she is plenty cute. Be sure and tell her I said hello and also Deb, Stell, and Loretta. Also tell Dow and Martha hello, it seems I never find time to write them and tell them I hope this one will be a girl.

Chuck Bremholm isn’t in this division but is in the 63rd. Think I wrote you a few days ago that I received a letter from him. He also gave me Jack Reimer’s address and stated Frank Saiter was some where in the 3rd Army.

Regarding the plasma, I didn’t mean it was a demonstration. It was the real thing. See we get the casualties from the aid stations and collecting points at the front, treat them and evacuate them to the Clearing Co and field hospital. Quite often because of loss of blood they have to be given plasma at our stations.

I was sorry to hear that I missed out on the pint of Four Roses but thank the girls for their effort. The rest of the box was delicious any way wasn’t it? I opened a package of the cheese last night and it really tasted swell (The hickory smoked that you sent). Cap’t O’Brein says it is his favorite cheese and we had some Scotch to go with it. Miller rec’d a box with some rye bread and salami so we had quite a feast. Pleasant way to spend an evening don’t you think.

So you are going to start at Service Life. Hope it will be some thing you like and won’t keep you too busy. Do you have any friends that are employed there?

I can’t imagine what happened to the letters Mr. Mullen wrote but I sure never received his. I’m glad you stopped in to see him and know he appreciated the visit. It seems I never find time to write so many people that I would like to write but hope they understand.

No honey I can’t say that I feel any differently since our 11th wedding anniversary except that I miss you more and love you more if such a thing is possible.

The box of candy I mentioned receiving was from Everett. I tho’t I stated who sent same but guess I overlooked that part.

Suppose by this time you have been to Lincoln and visited the Millers. I surely would like to see them. Let me know if they have heard from Vic recently. I hope they are all well and okay.

I hope your Dad’s fall didn’t cause any serious injury. Tell him he’s too old to be doing acrobatics.

We moved again this morning so consequently got to see some more scenery. I’m getting to feel like a Gypsy. Also had a new experience when I visited one of the forts in the Maginot Line. Barrow and I went over this afternoon and really went through two of them. They are built of reinforced concrete and steel with walls about four   to five feet thick. They consist of six or seven rooms and have sleeping quarters, inside toilets wash bowls and all the conveniences. They are constructed so that it is possible to fire in any direction and have two pillboxes high in the top with elevators operated by a crank. They have large air conditioning units to purify the air and large steel doors at the entrance to each room. Our troops had already occupied them and damaged the fixtures so that nothing could be used except the walls and ceiling for protection.

Well darling, I don’t have any more news for today so will close. Bye for now dear.