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

This is another gloomy old day, very chilly and raining like the very devil. Think I will dig out my overcoat and get it cleaned and pressed so I will be ready when the snow flies. Several of the boys filled out their forms yesterday to send their friends and relatives telling them not to send Xmas gifts as they would be on their way by December. How I wish I could have been in that group. They were all either fellows with over 70 points or fellows over 35 years old. There must have been about 12 in all and in a short time one will hardly recognize our company. If Lt. Hunter stays at Frankfurt, we won’t have a single officer that came over with us or even went through combat with us. Cap’t Benton stated yesterday he believed we would all be on our way to the states by March and God how I hope he is right. If its any longer, think I will go completely nuts.

I received your letter of the 4th last night and also one form Pharis Tire and Rubber Co. I guess Jack Stein told them to put on their mailing list. They mentioned that Burt Farmer, one of our store managers in St. Louis was now back at the store since getting out of the Navy and hoped I soon would be back. Boy   they don’t hope it any more than I do.

I went down to the show last night and saw “The Plough and The Stars” with Barbara Stanwych and Preston Foster. I thot it was a new picture since I hadn’t heard of it but some of the fellows say it was made about 1929. After seeing it I think perhaps they were right.

Honey your V-J celebration sounded swell and I wish I could have been there to help you celebrate same. That would have been a terrible time not to have had anything to drink and it was lucky you could get some from Mr. Kavka.

I got quite a bang out of your telegram from Elsie and bet she was plenty happy at hearing of the ending. I see where the 1st Cavalry Division went into Tokyo as guard of honor for Gen MacArthur. With Frank’s age and all he should certainly be home real soon.

I can imagine how nice it seems to be able to buy canned fruits and vegetables point free. Your asparagus tips sound wonderful. We asked to have asparagus occasionally but of course it never tastes like the buttered asparagus you fixed. Pineapple juice we still get quite often. “Time out for chow”. I just returned from eating and it was one of the best meals we have had in ages. We had steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, sliced fresh tomatoes, string beans cooked with bacon and sliced pears for desert. Not bad huh! I hope we can   continue to have good food as thats about all we have to look forward to for a while. Yesterday we had 10 in 1 rations which is all canned stuff including the meat and it was terrible.

I think after I finish my letter to you I will take off for the Salt factory and have a nice shower in some good hot water. They have some wonderful tile showers and we can use them from Tuesday through Friday. Of course from Friday until Tuesday you go without so you can imagine my B.O. about now. One thing the weather has been cool so there is no perspiring.

I really got a bang out of your telling of your shopping spree with Charlotte. It has been a long time since you have bought any clothes honey so I can’t see where you are being extravagant. Anyway if you let me buy your coat for you, that should lower the amount of your debt to your hips instead of your neck. Ha!

Well honey, think I better close and go get rid of my B.O. so bye for now —