Skip to main content

Clarence Williams

Staff Sergeant Clarence Williams was a combat medic assigned to the US 122nd Medical Battalion, 42nd Division (the Rainbow Division) during World War II. Williams deployed to France in January 1945 and was present at the liberation of Dachau concentration camp in April of that year. Williams photographed both the liberation of Dachau and other experiences he had during the war in Europe. Growing up in Crescent and Council Bluffs, Iowa, he eventually settled in Lincoln, Nebraska after the war. Clarence’s collection of photographs and letters between he and his wife, Gretchen, detailing his World War II experiences were made available to the Institute for Holocaust by Clarences son, Dr. Tom Williams. There are instances where Clarence does not use proper English conventions in his descriptions. We have transcribed his writing as it appears in the original text. Hear Clarence's stories directly from his family members.


604 items

Interview with Tom Williams, Clarence Williams' Son

  • Date: May 17, 2021
  • Format: testimony

Letter from Tom Williams, April 11, 2004

  • Date: April 11, 2004
  • Format: letter

Photo Album

  • Date: 1984
  • Format: photograph

Photo Album

  • Date: 1979
  • Format: photograph

Clarence Williams's Application for World War II Service Compensation

  • Date: September 7, 1949
  • Format: document

Clarence Williams Special Orders, January 25, 1946

  • Date: January 25, 1946
  • Format: document

Clarence Williams 1945 Photo Album

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: album

Nadine Kavka and Robert J. O'Neill Wedding Invitation

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: document

Clarence Williams Special Orders

  • Date: December 18, 1945
  • Format: document

Clarence Williams, Special Orders Number 332

  • Date: December 1, 1945
  • Format: document

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, November 9, 1945

  • Date: November 9, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

  • Date: November 4, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, November 1, 1945

  • Date: November 1, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Antwerp, Belgium Harbor

  • Date: November 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Clarence Williams Photo Album, Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha, Nebraska

Aboard the S.S. Barbara Freitche

  • Date: November 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Clarence Williams Photo Album, Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha, Nebraska

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 29, 1945

  • Date: October 29, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 27, 1945

  • Date: October 27, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 25, 1945

  • Date: October 25, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 23, 1945

  • Date: October 23, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Telegram from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 21, 1945

  • Date: October 21, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: telegram

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 20, 1945

  • Date: October 20, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 18, 1945

  • Date: October 18, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Telegram from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 18, 1945

  • Date: October 18, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: telegram

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 17, 1945

  • Date: October 17, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 16, 1945

  • Date: October 16, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Clarence Williams' Belongings

  • Date: October 16, 1945
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 15, 1945

  • Date: October 15, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 15, 1945

  • Date: October 15, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 13, 1945

  • Date: October 13, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

American Red Cross Coupons

  • Date: October 13, 1945
  • Format: object

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

  • Date: October 12, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

  • Date: October 12, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 10, 1945

  • Date: October 10, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 9, 1945

  • Date: October 9, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 7, 1945

  • Date: October 7, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 6, 1945

  • Date: October 6, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 5, 1945

  • Date: October 5, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

  • Date: October 4, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 3, 1945

  • Date: October 3, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Magazine

  • Date: October 3, 1945
  • Creator(s): TIME
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 2, 1945

  • Date: October 2, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, October 1, 1945

  • Date: October 1, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Clarence Williams on Tower

  • Date: October 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Clarence Williams Photo Album, Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha, Nebraska

Hallein, Austria - Church

  • Date: October 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Clarence Williams Photo Album, Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha, Nebraska

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: October 1945
  • Creator(s): Echte Fotografie
  • Format: postcard

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 30, 1945

  • Date: September 30, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Newspaper Article

  • Date: September 30, 1945
  • Creator(s): Muskogee Daily Pheonix
  • Format: object

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 28, 1945

  • Date: September 28, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 27, 1945

  • Date: September 27, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, September 26, 1945

  • Date: September 26, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
⟰