Hallein, Austria20 Sep't 45.
Dearest Gretchen —
I received two letters from you last night and one this afternoon. The one I received today was Sept 14th and in it you remarked that you had received the compact I sent from Glasgow. I am so glad you liked it because as I said before it is next to impossible to buy gifts of any kind without ration coupons in England and that compact was the last one they had.
Regarding the sending of boxes to me — honey I think you can continue for some time yet. You can probably tell as well as I when my time to ship arrives because from all appearances my only chance is on age and if they don’t drop the age I will be here indefinitely. Anyway when one is alerted they are given change of address cards so when you can receive one of those you will know I will soon be on my way. Also you mentioned one time you might try sending some whiskey and I wrote not to do so but since have changed my mind. Some of the boys are getting it thru from the states okay. Sgt. Slavin gave me a drink of Canadian Club this afternoon and it really tasted good. That is the first drink of bourbon I have had, I believe, since coming over.
Well Bob left for Paris this morning so
I am back as Co. Clerk again. This job is a pain
in the neck and I sure wouldn’t want it steady.
Cap’t Benton is leaving soon for Switzerland
so this morning he said how is your bank
William? I said okay, how much do you need,
so he borrowed $60.00 from me. Perhaps I didn’t
write you about it as the time but when he
went to England a couple months back, he
borrowed $80.00 from me. I don’t mind loaning
to him as he pays as soon as he gets back and
I know he would do the same for me in a
pinch. When Insull went to the Riviera, he gave
him a pair of his oxfords to wear wear while there
so he could discard his combat boots. In fact
he is one swell guy and is some ways close
to the enlisted man than even Cap’t O’Brien.
I rather looked for J and R to open a bunch of new stores as soon as possible after the war but didn’t think they would open so many at one time. I hope he can stay until I get back just to be sure things wouldn’t be screwed up too much in my going to Lincoln but guess there isn’t much chance of that happening. In a way I hate to see Mr. Mullen retire as I know he has helped to make things a lot easier for the boy sin that territory.
Well darling, I guess thats about all the news for today so — Bye for now —
With All my Love, Always 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.
