Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, November 4, 1945

Perhaps I may beat this letter home but just in case I don’t, decided to drop you a few lines to give you what little information I can.

We left Namur the 2nd and came here by train, the trip taking about five hours. We moved out here to Camp Top Hat by trucks and it is quite the place. There are tents in every direction practically as far as the eye can see. We sleep in a squad tent, forteen of us, on canvas cots. They really aren’t too bad, have cement floors and the walls are boarded part way up but they do get pretty cool during the nite. Right now I am using four blankets plus my bed roll and still don’t sleep to warm. From all indications we should move out of here either tomorrow   -2- or Tuesday. Our processing here is completed with the exception of money conversion and getting a flu shot. The camp has several conveniences in fact it is almost a city in itself. We have several Red Cross Clubs, Ice Cream Parlors, Beer Gardens and six theatres. I have seen a different show each day since here including “Back To Bataan,” “Her Highness and The Bell Boy” and “Swing Out Sister.”

Honey there are only two of us in this ship’t going to Leavenworth, A Cap’t. from the 9th Air Force and myself so of course he is in charge of me and is carrying my records. He seems to be a swell fellow, his name is Baldwin and he lives or at least is going to an address on Randolph St. in Lincoln. Honey, keep this part real quiet, but he said we would try and go by way of Omaha (on the way to Leavenworth) and that he thot I could stop   off for a few days before going on down. Then he would come from Lincoln, pick me up in Omaha and then proceed to Leaven— to start on our furloughs. It sounds good and I hope it will work out since it would give us a few extra days. He also said he was going to try for plane reservations on the East coast as he tho’t perhaps we could ride a B29 to the Lincoln Field. Of course none of this is definite but I am hoping some of it will work out. I think it best for you not to make any plans until I can telephone and tell you for sure.

Honey I bought a few little gifts which I am mailing from here and which I hope to beat home. I wanted to find some thing for Otto but couldn’t find any thing suitable so guess will have to make theirs a joint gift. They aren’t any thing fancy but as I said before one can’t be   choosy over here but at least they are from Europe.

I ran onto another kid from Co. Bluffs last night - Max Anderson who used to come in the store a lot and lived on So. 1st St. I didn’t recognize him since he had gained so much weight but he came up and spoke to me. He is sweating out coming home on points. Seeing all these guys from C.B. seems like old home week.

Well darling, I have no idea where I can mail this so think I better close and try to find a letter box. Will be thinking of you honey and hope to see you soon —