Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, May 7, 1945

I didn’t get to write you again last night so will try and drop a few lines now. I received your letter of the 24th last night also a V-Mail from Dr Burress dated Mar 6th. Took exactly two months to the day to arrive and still they try and sell us on the idea of using it. Heard officially today that the war in this entire theatre is over at midnight tomorrow night so the end would be on May 9th. The chaplain was here this afternoon holding Peace services in thanks for the divine guidance and progress of this war. Its a funny thing but no one seems hilarious over here regarding its ending, in fact it seems no different than any other time. There was no yelling or screaming and no celebrating with drinks or otherwise. I can imagine the big celebrations that will take place in many cities in the states but most of those people aren’t sweating and out shipment to C.B.I. or another conflict. I only wish some of the people who have never been affected in any way by the war could have the privilege of seeing some of the things we have seen first hand. Even tho winning we have still lost plenty.

I read in our Stars and Stripes about the tornado in Muskogee, it must have been pretty bad. The article stated there were 14 killed and many wounded. I am so sorry to hear of Frank’s return to the hospital and I can see how it would cause any one to crack up after the period of time he has been over there. We have had a picnic in comparison to what the boys in that theatre have gone through. The trouble there is the fact there are numerous enemies besides the Japs including all the tropical diseases. I only hope Russia will now turn toward the Jap war and help to finish that up in short order. It certainly didn’t take long here once everyone got rolling on both sides of Germany and I cant believe the Japs can last too long now that our entire resources can be turned in that direction.

Honey please don’t bother to run all over the country to find sardines for me as it isn't that important. They make a swell lunch and I like them very much but I didn’t realize they were so hard to find. I have eaten the Vienna sausages both warm and cold but when the weather was so cold they tasted so much better after heating a bit. We are getting regular rations again now for awhile so don’t need so much else.

I received a nice box of Whitman’s Sampler chocolates from Everett a couple days ago. They came through in perfect shape and weren’t even packed in a heavy cardboard box. I could hardly believe it.

Sgt. Cooper received a cablegram from his wife last night telling him he is now a papa. Its a boy - 8 lbs 2 oz and he is smiles all over. I don’t blame him.

Honey it doesn’t take a picture to remind there is some one writing over there, I think about it all the time. Regardless, I’ll be very happy to have the picture and very pleased and proud to show it as an example of the most wonderful little girl in the world and I’m not kidding.

Some of we fellows got a German lady to do our laundry today. It gets tiresome doing our own all the time and after all its their fault we’re over here.

Well darling thats about all for today but hope to hear from you again tonite. Give my regards to the folks.