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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

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: July 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

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

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: July 31, 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Hallein

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: September 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Germany

  • Date: May 3, 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Germany

  • Date: May 1945
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 31, 1944

  • Date: December 31, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, December 29, 1944

  • Date: December 29, 1944
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: postcard

Postcard from Austria

  • Format: postcard

Plane Information

Plane Information

Piles of Clothing at Dachau

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Photo Album

  • Date: 1979
  • Format: photograph

Photo Album

  • Date: 1984
  • Format: photograph

Personnel Office

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Personnel Headquarters

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Pappy Bellflower

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Outside View of the Castle

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Station at Obing, Germany.

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our "Sinze" Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Enlisted Mens Club

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Aid Station at Freutsmoos

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Aid Station at Eoling

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Aid Station at Oberfurberg

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Aid Station

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our Aid Sation

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Our 1st Sgt. Jack Bell

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

One of the Cars at Dachau

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

One of our Billets at Untereisenheim

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

One of Our Billets at Oberfurgerg

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

One of Our Billets

  • Date: February 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Once a Beautiful City

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Old Monastery

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

The Old Fortress at Salzburg, Austria

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Norman Waples with Laskos

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Newspaper Headline

  • Date: April 13, 1945
  • Creator(s): The Stars and Stripes
  • Format: object

Newspaper Headline

  • Date: April 13, 1945
  • Creator(s): The Stars and Stripes
  • Format: object

Newspaper Clipping

  • Format: object

Newspaper Clipping

  • Date: June 30, 1945
  • Creator(s): The Stars and Stripes
  • Format: object

Newspaper Article

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

New German Dachau Mass Grave Found

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Near Marseilles, France

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Nancy, France

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education

Namur, Belgium

  • Date: 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: photograph
  • Source: Institute for Holocaust Education
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