Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, August 5, 1945

How’s my honey today? I received your letter of the 26th at mail call last night so am now missing only the 25th.

I have been watching the inhabitants here come and go to church today. Speaking of odd costumes, I wish you could see some of them. Most of the older men wear a long moustache, a green or brown felt hat with a thing in the band that looks like a round clothes brush and they are usually smoking one of those long stemmed (about 1 ft) alpine pipes with a porcelain bowl. I hope some time I can find oe of those to send your dad I’ll bet he would get quite a bang out of it. There are of course still a lot of fellows wearing the leather alpine knee pants with the harness suspenders and socks that come to just below the knees. Many of the socks are in bright colors and reach only from the knee to the ankle. They have no felt in them and actually cover only the calf of the leg. Screwy isn’t it? The ladies wear bright colored dresses, as a rule of the jumper type (I think that is what you call them) with a white waist or blouse and most always wear an apron of bright colors. Many of them look exactly   as you have seen them in pictures. There are of course some people here who dress very modern and very similar to any one in the States. Saw one fellow coming from church wearing a very good looking gray suit with pleated trousers and all. God, I felt like taking it away from him and trying it on myself. For taxi service here they use horse and carriages. Yesterday there must have been a wedding as the carriage had bouquets of flowers on each side at the front and contained a couple of people wearing corsages. It stopped about one half block up the street and a girl came out of a house carrying a big bouquet of flowers and climbed in. Oh we really see some interesting sights. I only hope someday I can bring you over to see these places we have been. It would make a wonderful vacation trip and I know how much you would enjoy it honey. I think within a few years one will be able to fly over here at a reasonable charge so honey it isn’t too impossible for a dream. As you stated in your letter, I think this section is probably the most beautiful part of Europe and I think we were very fortunate it being down in here as long as we must be here.

I see by our S & S and also heard on the radio where Senator Johnson is trying to get congress to lower the size of our army to   3,000,000 men. He states we can’t possibly use more in our attack on Japan. I believe he is right and hope he starts some action. Actually I believe the big Army men wish to hold a large Army indefinitely so they can maintain their temporary rank. I don’t think they give a damn if we ever get home. I also saw where some of the newspapers are starting a drive to release some of the older men. Boy how I hope they cut it to 32 if they get any action. There is sure as hell no need in holding us over here. Ten men could do all the work our entire company is doing at the present time.

I was glad to hear the Alpine Rose came through without falling apart. They are really beautiful when fresh as they bloom in large clusters. The sardines you mentioned I had saved from the previous box you had sent. I have written you every time upon receiving a box and have given a description so as to let you know which ones have come through. I am still worried about the package I sent you and I am very much afraid some bastard has swiped it. I don’t know where it would do any good to start a tracer or not but think I shall try.

Well honey guess I better close for today —

P.S. — Please send a box of food. Thanx. Love again- C.