Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, July 11, 1945

I am hoping that perhaps today I will have time to write you a decent letter since the past couple of days I have used pencil and scribbled it off hurriedly.

To begin with, I am again back with the company so you can again address my mail to Co “A”. This transfer however, I asked for myself due to several things that happened and that I didn’t like. One of the things was the fact that last Sunday when we moved here all we clerks from the companies helped to put up Hq’s tents. After that we were told they would be too crowded and that we should sleep with our companies. Well you can imagine how the boys in the Co would feel to barge in one of their tents without helping them so I went to Co “D” with Drake to sleep. I saw Cooper that evening and he said to come on over to Co “A” and he would find me space. Also being in Personnel, I missed out on some nice tours and never had half the free time I have in the Co. Even tho they don’t have much to do at present they still keep you there from 8:30 to 5:00. Last night I wanted to go swimming with the boys but they decided for some crazy reason that there should be a C.Q. in their tent so me being next in line, I got the job. Fortunately, Insull and Harris came over after me about 3:30 to go swimming. I wasn’t doing a thing but when they asked, I said I am too busy and laughed. Waples wasn’t there and all the   other guys said to go ahead so I did. Of course we couldn’t stay long because of eating at 5:00. Several of those things plus the fact Capt. O’Brien has been asking me all the time when I was coming back. He came in a couple nites ago and told me “Willie we want you back” and I told him then I wanted to come back. Also there may be a few ratings open in the company now with some of the boys going out on points and there is a possibility I may get one some time later. I used that for one of my excuses when I told Mr. Tollefson I would like to go back to the Company. The boys in Personnel are all swell but I can’t say the same for the rest of the men in Bn Hqs.

I havn’t seen Cap’t O’Brien since I returned but know Mr. Tollefson talked with him before he told me to report back to the Co.

Last night while I was on C.Q. I wrote three letters, one to Otto, Herb and Eileen and Chuck B. I have owed Otto and Herb and Eileen for almost a month so decided I should try and write them something. Some of the boys went up to Berchtesgaden yesterday afternoon. I didn’t particularly care to go since I had been there previously but they did have a beautiful day for the trip. Today it has been training all day and is pretty cool outside. This is the kind of weather that is really nasty living in the field. All the boys are saying if this is unconditional surrender they are damn glad we didn’t sign an armistice or we probably wouldn’t even have tents to live under.

After C.Q. yesterday evening, I went over to our ball field to see the movie. “Lucky Mr Smith” was the picture. It wasn’t much good but was a way to pass away the evening.

I received four letters from you altogether yesterday, two from the 2nd and one from the 3rd and 4th. Honey, I can’t say I blame you for not wanting to take the railroad job. As you say money isn’t every thing and you apparently are pretty much your own boss in your present set up. Regarding the leave of absence if and when I get home, that does not look very probable for some time now. Especially after reading this last clipping from you about the 42d and the 65th in Austria. That should be fairly straight dope as it probably came to the World Herald from Maj Gen Gruenther. I’m still hoping that after they thin out and send back some of these divisions, they will allow our wives to come over however by that time we will probably be about ready to leave for the states. Thats the reason we are now in tents there are so many G.I.’s in this territory. In Salzburg alone these are two 3rd and 7th Army quarters besides two Corps Hqs and two Div Hqs.

So you kids got up to the Elks Club for a fried chicken dinner. Gee honey that sounds like old times. I’ll bet Harry was glad to see you, I would sure like to see that old gang again. I should write him a letter as I know he would appreciate it. Sounds as though Viola is really getting around for the short period of time she has been up. She evidently is feeling almost up to par again. Did the operation leave much of a scar? I am glad   you sent me Pete’s address in England. I’m only hoping now that I am lucky enough to get the trip there. No doubt he could show me plenty of places of interest having been there for this period of time. Of course it wouldn’t happen once in a thousand years that we could get furloughs at the same time.

You mentioned I should see the dust in your apartment, honey you should see it on the floor of our tent. Hell I don’t even wash the sinks. Ha!

I am very happy to hear that Charley finally got his discharge. Did he get it because of age or dependency? Any way I can imagine how tickled he must feel of being out. I know it will be one of the happiest day of my life, Honey I don’t know whether it was a gag she pulled but regardless I would prefer to stay in a while longer than have you do the thing she did.

Well darling, I think I better close this or put covers on it and call it a book so until tomorrow honey,