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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

Clarence Williams' Belongings

  • Date: November 2, 1944
  • Creator(s): Property of U.S. Government
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Pay Record

  • Date: October 26, 1944
  • Format: document

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 14, 1944

  • Date: June 14, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 13, 1944

  • Date: June 13, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Max Hannah to Clarence Williams, June 13, 1944

  • Date: June 13, 1944
  • Creator(s): Hannah, Max
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 12, 1944

  • Date: June 12, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 7, 1944

  • Date: June 7, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 6, 1944

  • Date: June 6, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, June 5, 1944

  • Date: June 5, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, May 24, 1944

  • Date: May 24, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Ada Britten to Clarence Williams, May 15, 1944

  • Date: May 15, 1944
  • Creator(s): Britten, Ada
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, May 7, 1944

  • Date: May 7, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, May 6, 1944

  • Date: May 6, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, May 6, 1944

  • Date: May 6, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, May 4, 1944

  • Date: May 4, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

Letter from Viola to Gretchen Williams, May 4, 1944

  • Date: May 4, 1944
  • Creator(s): Viola
  • Format: letter

Letter from Otto to Clarence Williams, April 20, 1944

  • Date: April 20, 1944
  • Creator(s): Otto
  • Format: letter

Clarence Williams Pay Stub

  • Date: March 31, 1944
  • Format: document

Rainbow Division Again Fights, 'Trains' by Plugginng 7th Army Gap

  • Format: newspaper

Clarence Williams Change of Address Notice

  • Format: document

Letter from Gretchen Williams to Clarence Williams, undated

  • Creator(s): Williams, Gretchen
  • Format: letter

42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division

  • Format: book

HOLOCAUST: The Story of The 103d Infantry Divsion

  • Format: document

Clarence Williams Clerk Certification

  • Creator(s): Sheldon, Paul W.
  • Format: document

Deutsche Konzentrations — und Gefangenenlager Was die amerikanischen und britischen Armeen vorfanden April 1945

  • Format: document

Clarence Williams' Belongings

  • Format: object

Lone Oak Matchbook Cover

  • Format: object

Clarence Williams' Briefcase

Clarence Williams' Briefcase

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Postcard from Austria

  • Format: postcard

Map of Paris

  • Creator(s): American Red Cross
  • Format: object

Map of Paris

  • Format: object

Postcard from Hallein

  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

Newspaper Clipping

  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Portrait (Recto)

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph

Clarence Williams Portrait (Verso)

  • Creator(s): Mireles
  • Format: photograph

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.
  • Format: object

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.
  • Format: object

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.
  • Format: object

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.
  • Format: object

Sketch of Salzburg

  • Creator(s): Stadler-Druck, F.
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object

Clarence Williams Notebook

  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: object
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