Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, May 25, 1945

I didn’t receive any mail from you yesterday but didn’t really expect to after getting eight the day before. Usually when I get a group like that I don’t get anymore for a couple of days. I really don’t have much of interest to write about since I havn't been out of our building however do have a few pictures that Miller took at Delta Bay Staging Area or DBS and at our first station in La Petite Pierre, France, actually in Alsace, that I am inclosing.

Today is the first since arriving in this place that the sun has shone and it really seems swell. Last night when I went to bed the moon which was practically full was barely over the top of the mountain and was shining brightly through the double doors leading out onto the porch. Here I was in a nice big double bed all by myself and all I could do was think, oh, if my honey was only here.

I thought this may be a good time to write you about our trip just in case they clamp down on censoring again. I don’t have a map here of the states and cant remember all the towns we passed through however I can give you a general idea of our route. Xmas morning, which I will never forget, we were in Chattanooga   Tenn. I remember we passed through the corner of Alabama, then to Atlanta, Ga and then North to Washington, Philadelphia and Brunswick, N.J. where Camp Kilmer is located. We were there I think nine days during which time we had a couple short Arm inspections, received a couple shots in the arm and climbed down a rope ladder into a life boat assimilating a sinking ship. Oh yes, Ill never forget, we arrived at Kilmer about 1:30 AM and waiting for us were the guys from the band with the Bagpipes. If that wasn’t eerie to march with those damn things at 2 AM in the morning. Every time we hear them play any more, we call it the Kilmer Blues. We left there late in the afternoon of the 5th of Jan and took the train as far as possible in Jersey and them crossed on a ferry to the New York pier. The entire band met us there and played while some Red Cross gals passed out doughnuts, coffee and a candy bar. We then loaded on the boat, “The SS General Gordon” which was a practically new troopship and sailed the following morning on Jan 6th. We were in convoy coming over with five troop ships, one oil tanker and six destroyers. Ours was the flagship carrying the admiral consequently we were in the center of the convoy. We were on the fourth deck down and each day they would have abandon ship drill so every   one would know which exit to use. We arrived in Marseilles the afternoon of Jan 18th after passing Gibraltar early in the morning of the 17th. At Marseilles we got in trucks that hauled us about 15 miles to the Staging Area on top of the mountains. From then on I think it was the roughest two weeks any of us had spent in the Army. We put up our tents that first night after dark and we were all about frozen stiff. I still can’t understand how half of us didn’t come down with pneumonia. The big tents had stoves but we had to walk about 1 ½ miles, cut the wood and then carry it back. When moving from DBS the rest of the Co went by Convoy but I went on the train with Personnel for which I was sorry. I was really miserable, seven of us jammed up in one little section with all our equipment we didn’t have room to stretch out once on the entire trip. I slept on a board shelf about 6’’ wide and 5’ long. Used my belt to strap myself on as it was near the ceiling of the car. We had no heat, no lights and only “C” rations to eat some times not even that. To this day I can’t eat “C” rations without making me sick. The French engines aren’t worth a damn and every little incline we would have to stop and send ahead for one or two more engines. Oh it was really a wonderful trip but I sincerely hope I never have to make another like it. We came up the Rhine Valley through Lyon, Nancy and then   over to Cirey where Personnel was set up. I was at Cirey until our Infantry went back on the line and we set up our first station in the telephone offices at La Petite Pierre on 16 Feb 45. The remainder of our company stayed back in an old Hotel bldg. at Oberhoff, France. We had some of our most serious cases at Le Petite because of the long period of time there the Germans had ample time to place Schu-Mines and other contraptions. When our boys would go on night patrols they would step on these and blow off a foot and some times a leg. One boy lost both feet. We moved to Zittersheim, Fr. on the 13th of Mar stayed over nite and on to Wimmenau on the 14th. We replaced the Aid Station there which was made portable to move with the men and at 6:45 AM on the 15th the big drive started in full swing. Some of the 155’s were directly in back of our station and I’ll never forget that barrage that started the drive at exactly 6:45. We were all looking at our watches waiting for that exact minute and when it arrived it sounded as though all hell had torn loose.

Well darling I guess I better conclude this for today. Perhaps it is boring to you but if not I will finish some time later. The pictures I am inclosing are described on the back.

Take good care of yourself for me honey and I am hoping to see you before too long.