Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 11, 1945
- Date
- Creator
- Williams, Clarence
- Format
- letter
- Category
- Stories
- Subcategory
- Clarence Williams
- Repository
- Institute for Holocaust Education
- Collection
- Clarence Williams Collection
- Bibliographic ID
- Folder 21, Item a
- People
- MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964
- Farmer, Bert
- Williams, Gretchen
- Stein, Jack
- Stanwyck, Barbara, 1907–1990
- Mann, Frank
- Hunter
- Kavka, John
- Charlotte
- Williams, Clarence
- Benton, Deane W.
- Foster, Preston, 1900-1970
- Mann, Elsie
- Data URI
- soh.sto002.00199.xml
- Sender(s)
- Williams, Clarence
- Sent from
- Hallein, Austria
- Recipient(s)
- Williams, Gretchen
- Received at
- Omaha, Nebraska
Hallein, Austria11 Sept 45
Dearest Gretchen —
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 —
All my Love, Forever Clarence.
AFTER FIVE DAYS RETURN TO
Cpl. C. O. Williams 37738878
Co A - 122 Med Bn - APO 411
c/o P.M. - New York, N. Y.
U.S. Army Postal Service SEP 12 1945