Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, July 15, 1945

If by chance you find grease spots all over these sheets, think nothing of it as I just opened your box and dug out the potato chips. Honey they are fresh and crisp as can be and surely taste wonderful. We just returned from seeing a wonderful music concert in Salzburg. it was held in the Mozart Theater which is really a music hall. I don’t believe they can have pictures there as I could see no sign of a screen. I am inclosing one of the programs to give you an idea of the music played. It reminded me very much of Sigmund Romberg’s program in Lincoln, about the same type of music, perhaps slightly on the heavier side.

I just heard a hot rumor about us moving in a couple of days to Vienna. I rather hope it is true as I have heard so much about that city that I think I would enjoy seeing it. For one thing it is quite large almost 2,000,000 so there should be many worthwhile sights.

We didn’t do much today, I played some soft ball this morning, the first since hurting my ankle but found it was still a little tender so decided to quit. This afternoon we went swimming again over in the pits. The sun was so terribly hot that even with my tan I started getting a little red so decided   to come back and lay in the tent. I slept until time for chow and then had to dress hurriedly to be ready in time for the concert.

I received two letters from you tonite both postmarked the 9th but one was written while you were at Charlotte’s. Incidentally I meant to tell you the stationery in the box will come in handy as I was getting pretty low. I want to thank you also for the sardines and peanuts as I know they will really taste swell.

I didn’t go to the show after all last night as about ten of us went to visit the “Tulsa Club” operated by the Field Artillery in the next town. Believe it or not we had Coca Cola too but of course not like you get in the states. They get the genuine Coke syrup but have no carbonated water consequently use plain tap water. Even that tasted good to us and I drank two big mugs of it plus a couple glasses of wine.

You should see Insull and I writing letters tonite. Our power plant is “kaput” so we are sitting on cots facing each other with two candles between us. I can hardly wait until we can again get back in a house where we can live half way clean again and have tables on which to write a decent letter. I got quite a bang out of the clipping you mailed. I sent practically the same one to you however yours went a little more into detail. I hope Drew Pierson is right and I really believe myself   that the Japs will fold up this year. I got quite a kick out of your buying the Murin[?]for me however you guessed wrong on the Fresh[?], I still have it as I havn’t used it since leaving you. Why should I care how the hell I smell over here? I was just thinking a few days ago, I should either use it or throw it away to give me the extra room in my toilet kit. Since you are sending me some, I will start using it again. Your mention of baking the rhubarb pie really made me hungry. Gee honey I would give anything for some of your good food again. I thought I could never get to the point of actually liking army food but guess its like beer, you have to learn to like it.

So Mae and Walt are moving shortly. I can understand why Charlotte would feel as she does toward them as they have probably gained by the war while the rest of us have suffered. I get burned up over a deal like that myself.

While I think of it, tell Dorothy happy birthday for me. I hope you have or rather had a nice dinner for the celebration. I will try and drop her a few lines one of these first days.

Well darling it is getting quite late so think I better tune off for tonite — Will be dreaming of you —