Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 2, 1945

Well honey I hit the jackpot tonite, I received five letters. Three were from you the 22nd, 23d and 24th, one from Dorothy and one from John at the store. I am hoping that now we are settled, the mail will come in more regular again. I think that one week we were in the field was the best I have ever had. I had mail every day for a week in a stretch and that is the only time since being overseas that has happened.

What a contrast there is to our weather and the weather you have been having. Today it is very cold and is raining like hell outside right now. I am very happy for one reason, that it waited until we got moved out of the tents in the field. The three weeks we were there was really the nicest weather we have had all summer.

Tomorrow morning we start something new and different. Cap’t Martin got a wild hair and decided we should stand reveille each morning. Cap’t Benton, our C.O. isn’t back from England so I guess Martin wants to have his fling at authority. He also wanted to have calisthenics before breakfast but 1st Sgt. Hall politely informed him that was contrary to War Dep’t orders.

At the present time there are several vacancies open in O.C.S. including Ordinance and Quartermaster. I have been debating for the past week whether to apply for one of them. I am quite sure that I could make it at this time but have been holding back because of thinking perhaps it would hold me in the Army for a longer period of time or perhaps speed up my transfer to the Pacific. I have the blank forms and all to fill out but think I shall wait for the time being.

I got quite a kick out of reading your clipping about the boys in the State Guard going to camp. Seems to me that is a little foolish now with this war in Europe over and with plenty of soldiers in the states. I have always regretted spending my last vacation at camp instead of with you and believe me if I was home it would never happen again.

Regarding the deal at Personnel, all the fellows there have asked me to come back and I think they are all swell however I still prefer to remain with the boys in the company. As near as I can figure out about all I will have to do is to make out my daily report each evening and pull C.Q. in the station about once each week for 24 hrs. They also mentioned they may want me to run to Bn Hq’s occasionally for mail etc but think I can get out of that.   It is about 60 miles from here to Zell Am Sea where they are located and some one has to make the trip twice daily.

Dorothy inclosed a nice wrist band for my watch in her letter and I was very glad as it was some thing I really needed. I broke one of the pins off on one side of the watch and as yet havn’t had it repaired. I took it to a jewelryman at Kufstein but he couldn’t do me any good. He told me to take it to a goldsmith as it had to be welded back in place. I think perhaps there may be one here in Hallein when I get out and look around. I have been carrying it in my watch pocket for the past two or three months.

Well darling, think I better close this for tonite and go to bed. I am on C.Q. tomorrow so should have plenty of time to write you then.