Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 12, 1945

I didn’t receive any mail from you last night and apparently our mail is also very slow reaching the states. All the boys are getting letters complaining of no mail and then some of them received notice of their wives receiving 12 letters at once. There must have been a large batch that was transported by boat instead of my plane.

The sun is half way trying to shine today after rain practically the entire day yesterday. The air is very cool and crisp this morning and really feels like fall is here.

I go on C.Q. again today at noon so am going to try and get caught up on some more of my correspondence. Yesterday after writing you, I wrote letters to both Jake and Hanks so spent the entire day writing. It usually takes me a couple of hours to write a halfway decent letter and when writing Jake I try and think of things that would be of interest to him. I still owe several letters so doubt if I can get caught up even if I’m not busy on C.Q. and can write all the time I am on duty.

Some of the boys, including Cap’t Benton and are going to Vienna tomorrow and I surely wish I could go along. I would like to see the city as well as sell a few items. I talked with a fellow from there this morning   and he says they are getting $85.00 for a carton of cigarettes. Also says the market as dropped on them now and that they formerly got $130.00 per carton. He says a wrist watch will bring from 5 to 8 hundred — can you imagine that? Of course thats the reason they clamped down on the amount of money we can send home and hold us to 10% more than the amount we draw each month. I am getting two money orders now, one for $60.00 and one from $35.00 from Sgt. Harris and will have them on the way to you soon.

I just opened the can of nuts Ruth and Dorothy got for me and they are really delicious. They are all large and so crisp and fresh. This is a grand assortment with plenty of each kind.

Honey I really got a kick out of your little inclosure “Suzzana.” I hadn’t seen it before and neither had most of the boys. Your chicken dinner and Kavka’s sounded wonderful and I am so glad you are close to some one like that. I was sorry to hear of Gertrude’s misfortune and the wrist is sort of a nasty place for a break. As you stated Sunny’s age would be a great advantage in the Navie’s discharge system. I think your idea of placing the young single fellows who were laid off defense jobs, in the Army, a very good one. That is one reason I hope they continue the draft. The faster they take   in some of those guys, the quicker I will get out. I am glad you got straightened out on that little Prudential policy. I should have changed it to yearly basis long ago to save all that trouble. It isn’t much but after putting this much in it, I hate to lose it. I know Leo would be very cooperative in helping any way possible and glad you called him.

I am inclosing the letter from Jake since answering same. I wanted to send him some of those Dachau pictures hence my writing so long to answer. I finally got some printed and sent some to him since he seemed so interested and some in my letter to Kenny. I told them they were pretty horrible to look at so they could destroy them or use them as they see fit.

Well darling I must go eat early chow so I can go on C.Q. so better close — Bye for now —