Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, July 6, 1945

I received another letter from you this morning it being dated June 29th. I think I have had a letter from you every day so far this week and much prefer receiving them that way than in groups.

After work last night and after eating, I went home and did the rest of my laundry. I had more than I thought and it took me until almost nine o’clock. After that George and I were going to the donut shop for some donuts and coffee only to find they close at four. I guess I must have worked up quite an appetite. I left my clothes out all night and today it is nice and sunny again so they should be dry enough to press and put away tonite. About 10:30 this afternoon last night (I was listening to a conversation here and wrote “this afternoon”) we all felt hungry so french fried a bunch of potatoes, eggs, made some soup and I opened a couple cans of vienna sausages. It certainly tasted good but was about 12:30 when we finally got to bed.

I remember of meeting Christine Rauth’s husband a long time ago but have forgotten what he looked like. It was a good thing you kids sent flowers or Mrs. Rauth would never have gotten over it.

We just now got the bad news that we are moving again. It seems we are in territory to be occupied by the   French (Marroccens) (?) Anyway we have to move further East presumably around the vicinity of Salzburg. The worst part about the deal is the fact there are no billets available because of so many other troops in the area that we are to live in tents. I think that won’t last for too long however as they are waiting for some units in that area to be redeployed and then we shall move into their locations. Naturally all the guys are disgusted over the deal but I guess nothing can be done. It seems some of the big shots don't wish to move out the civilians to make room for more GI’s. They treat the people more as liberated than as a conquered nations.

So Dorothy and Ruth have returned from their trip to Chicago. I suppose every place is terribly crowded and can understand why their vacation wasn’t too enjoyable. If ever I get out of the Army, I never want to see a crowd again. It seems everything you do, you must get in a long line. We line up for almost a block when we go to chow and its the same if we want to see a show or anything else. You either go early and wait in line or go late and find it too crowded to get in. Oh, its wonderful. How any one could ever stand it fo 30 years or long enough to retire, I will never know. I do know they would have to be slightly mute. I suppose Don & Helen were surprised to see Dorothy in Chicago. What is Don doing there now? It seems you wrote me   about it once but I have forgotten.

Viola is apparently coming along in fine shape if she is considering working some already. She has always been pretty active so I can understand how she would feel impatient and nervous after laying around for this period of time.

The boys here are all kidding me about a calendar I made for the month of July. We don’t have a large one so each month we just make one on a sheet of paper. Well I made one all up fancy and it really looked swell but lo and behold, I left off the 17th. Guess I never will hear the last of it but I told them I had declared that a holiday and that no one had to come to work.

We had very good chow this noon, both pork chops and salmon salad with mashed potatoes, string beans and pineapple turnovers for desert.

Well darling that’s all my news for today. Will let you know more about our move later.