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

Well darling I hit the jackpot again tonite when I received eleven letters in all, seven from you, one from Herb, one from Ada, one from mother and one from J&R. Also received one from you last night after I had written so guess I am pretty well caught up again. I wrote five letters yesterday afternoon so am partially caught up again. I dropped Pete a line which he should have in a couple days. Told him I hoped we could meet some time soon but at present I am going further away. We are right in the heart of Nazidom now and you can tell it from the civilians. After arriving in this town today we watched German prisoners pass by the hundreds. You can imagine their embarrassment being marched through their own cities as prisoners. We are set up now in a home with some of the most beautiful furniture I have ever seen. Whoever owned it must have really been in the dough. There is a beautiful big radio with a record player here and we listened to Bing Crosbies program tonite. Surely seemed good to hear him again. Right now I am listening to Frank Morgan. From our front yard we can see large fires burning in the center of this city. From the looks of things they received plenty of our artillery in this sector as well as planes. We passed an air field that was literally covered with wrecked German planes. When we first arrived the civilians were pouring out of underground caverns built in the bank. They apparently had been   living there for several days as they were carrying chairs and bedding. I suppose for many it seemed a relief to return to their homes or what was left. I hope people in the states never have to resort to such ways of living.

Your first pay check sounds enormous for such a short period of time. You must have put in considerable overtime. I am surely looking forward to receiving that picture. I found a small leather pocket album so it will be swell to carry it in. If you can’t get the smaller one, send a large one and I’ll put it in my leather stationary frame. That was swell of Bunny to make those extra pictures, I didn’t know it was possible to copy them that way.

Honey, regarding the box with the cheese and crackers, you were right, I thought both cans were coffee in fact I havn’t opened the crackers yet as I still had a few bags left in the other can. Funny thing we ate the cheese alone and Cap’t O’Brein remarked at the time, “Now if we only had some crackers.” After this I will open everything — the cheese was delicious alone anyway.

Honey, by all means don’t miss Ramberg’s performance, I thought it was wonderful and know you would like it also. Anyone who appreciates good music can’t help like his show.

I was surprised to hear of Chuck B. being in a hospital in England. I assumed from the way he wrote it was some thing minor, he was evidently in the hospital there when he wrote me. I hope it was nothing serious and nothing to impair him physically the rest of his life.

By this time Otto should be home on furlough so suppose those kids are busy flitting here and there. Honey you aren’t kidding about the celebration we will have when we all get together again. That will really be the day when everyone can again be home.

Well darling I must close and get this censored before the Cap’t goes to bed. I’ll be dreaming of you darling —