Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, April 21, 1945

Well darling here we are sitting out in the German forests writing letters. We are living in the same buildings which are adjoining quite a large German hospital. There is also a large Army Camp near here and in back of the building we are now in a German Obstacle course very similar to the ones we used in basic training in the states. Another interesting thing is a large air raid and gas proof shelter which they had started building in the side of a hill. They apparently didn’t have time to complete same as it is only about 30 or 40 feet long. I found the plans for same and it was to come out the other side of the hill. We also found the time keepers record and April 12th was the last day of work. They evidently decided it was no use as they couldn’t complete it anyway. The last place where we were the kitchen was set up in an old beer garden. The boys managed to locate several kegs of beer so had beer with our meals. Oh yes, we had the tables and chairs out in the yard on the blue grass in the shade. I think they should have some of these old beer gardens in the states.

I received the letter from you written on Service Life stationery and I remember the building okay, especially The Burlingtons modernistic ticket office. That is really a convenience having the street Ry Co office in the same bldg. Yes I remember our trips to 28th and A for car books. I would   love to be driving you there now. You mentioned going to Lincoln for the weekend, I hope you had a nice time and am sure you would with the Millers there. I wrote Leo a letter a few days ago. Funny thing the same day I received his letter I also received same copies of the Junior - Link from the Chamber of Commerce. The front page of one of them advertising the noon luncheon stated they were showing actual pictures of front line action furnished by the 7th Service Command. I felt like mailing it back and telling them to stuff it and you know where. As yet I havn’t received the letter you wrote from the Millers however I have the one now that was written when you returned. I was surprised to hear of Dick and Idris expecting, evidently he is to be left at Ft. Riley. The lonely stiff, but I don’t blame in him if he can stay there. Suppose you will be getting your pictures in a couple days now and I am surely looking forward to receiving mine. I have all my pictures in a small leather pocket album now and it really works swell. That old bank account is really climbing isn’t it honey? I decided to wait until another payday and then send a larger sum. Believe this time I will use a money order as it seems to be much quicker. It doesn’t look as though there will be much of a chance for a pass anymore unless its to Stalingrad so don’t know what I will use the money for. Ha! Guess I won’t even be able to send you a gift from Germany as we are not allowed to buy anything from the Germans and if we take anything we are courtmartialled for looting.   From one standpoint it looks as though we came in to liberate Germany rather than conquer them. I can readily see now why they think the American people are soft and easy going. One thing surprising to me was the fact so many of the young kids run around picking up cigarette butts and smoke them. Some of them can’t be over seven or 8 years of age. One little boy here told us his mother told him to us to give him some chocolate. He was about 5 years old I think. We really had to laugh at him he was so serious about it.

Well darling think I better close for today but will keep my fingers crossed for some mail from you tonite. Bye for now.