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

Well honey we finally got a break in the weather. It started clearing off yesterday afternoon and today it is really beautiful. The sun is shining brightly and is very warm. I would even like to go swimming today if it wasn’t for the fact I am again on C.Q. It isn’t bad being on C.Q. now as there isn’t much to do except to watch that no one walks off with the place, do a little bandaging and record the patients as they come in. We have had a pretty heavy day again today but mostly minor things as sick call. We now have most of the 2nd Battalion of the 222d Infantry here in town so think perhaps we will now have a few events of interest to attend. They have taken over a nice theater here for G.I. movies, a swimming pool, are building a basket ball court, baseball diamond, and a boxing ring.

I took a couple pictures this morning, one from each direction down the streets in this town, from the window in my room. I hope they turn out good as they will give you idea of this old town.

Honey regarding the Bell Bottom Trousers song, I have heard some of the boys in the company sing it even before we left Gruber. If they are playing it on the radio they apparently have different words for it. I am glad you sent the words however as I could never remember   them before. I was surprised to hear of Elsie’s working at the U.S.O. but suppose she likes something to take up her time. I suppose the 86th is well established there by this time. I’ll bet those boys are really sweating out the ending of the Jap war before their arrival. If it ends before completion of this period of training they will be very fortunate being in the states as they will no doubt be left there. I think it would be swell if Elsie would come up and see you over the holidays. Perhaps Frank will be home by then but I am quite sure I won’t unless they they make some radical changes.

I am glad to hear Otto is applying for a release and believe now he can get it especially with his age and all. According to the S & S they are going to release railroad men here in the ETO and fly them home as quickly as possible. It must be a terrible problem trying to shift all the troops and equipment across the continent.

Honey I surely hope your hunch is right regarding the end of the Jap war. I can’t see how it can possibly last much longer and there doesn’t seem to be opposition anywhere except on the ground. I hope it won’t be necessary to invade the home islands as it can’t help but mean plenty of lives lost even tho they may be weak.

I was just watching a crowd about ½ block down the street. There is a little store there that sells ice cream in the afternoons   a couple times a week. There must be at least 50 or 60 people lined up on the side walk. Some thing like that is a rare treat for the people over here. You should see the crowds line up to take the food and scraps out of our mess gears that we don’t eat. When people do that they must be hungry.

I received two letters from you again last night, the 25th and 29th so now lack the 27th and 28th. I am wondering how we will ever manage to get our mail this winter as they say it isn’t uncommon to have as much as four feet of snow here. They are now organizing ski classes in the division to teach the fellows who wish to learn. I decided not to try that as think I am about the right age to break my neck at some crazy such thing. Any way I think these mountains would be rather treacherous for beginners.

Well darling think I better close for today and write a few others I owe.