Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, April 8, 1945

Gee honey, I hit the jackpot today, received four letters from you and one from Otto, so decided to answer immediately. Also received the clipping about Walter Wendt and of course was both surprised and interested.

I can’t imagine why you have been unable to phone mother as I am sure she is back from Dakota. I know she will be very happy to have you call and I really appreciate it as I don’t have time to write her as often as I should.

Believe it or not we are now living in a very clean place which is a house and cafe combination and I am sitting on a nice sun porch surrounded by flowers and sipping cherry brandy while writing you. That doesn’t sound like war does it? We are close enough to the front however to see the German ack ack guns firing on our planes and that is plenty close as the planes bomb in front of our lines. Took a long walk this afternoon with Sgt. Slavin and visited three small towns. One we had to cross a river by ferry to get there. While moving across we saw some fish in the stream and wished we had a pole and line along. Remind me of the days we spent on the Blue River which of course is much smaller. This stream meanders down thru a beautiful valley with high hills on either side. From one point we could   look down upon five communities and with the green valley it was some real scenery.

This has really been one beautiful day and our planes are certainly taking advantage of same. I saw the largest single group today that I have yet seen at one time. This nice weather apparently makes every one feel lonesome. I think it may be because of the nice evening rides we used to take when the weather became nice. Hope it won’t be long before we can do so again.

Honey it sounds as tho you are working awfully hard again. I hope you let up on it as I know how run down and nervous you get. If it continues so heavy, why don’t you find some thing else. Of course you know best but please don’t let it tire you or get you to the point where you aren’t feeling well, will you? Incidentally tell the folks, while I think of it, that I wish them a happy anniversary even tho slightly light. Also hope they have many more of them.

I am glad to receive Alain’s address and want to drop him a line real soon. I see he is still in the same business. Would surely like to see him but probably won’t have the chance.

Otto asked me to send him a request for cigarettes etc, but at the present time I have more than I know what to do with. Must have three or four cartons I’m carrying now. We are also getting more candy bars now so hate to bother him with a request. Any way, I appreciate his offer very much but know he also has trouble getting some of those things.

Well dear, that’s all for today. Bye for now.

Please send a box of food.