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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

View Across the River

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

Astor Theatre

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

Fortress and Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Kufstein

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Hotel Alpenrose

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell with Valley

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Bayrischzell

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: postcard

Clarence Williams with Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: photograph

Clarence Williams with Sign

  • Date: 1945
  • Format: photograph

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 8, 1945

  • Date: January 8, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 11, 1945

  • Date: January 11, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 14, 1945

  • Date: January 14, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 21, 1945

  • Date: January 21, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 24, 1945

  • Date: January 24, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 24, 1945

  • Date: January 24, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

Telegram from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, January 29, 1945

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

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

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

Letter from Henning Linden to the Officers and Men of the Rainbow Infantry Regiments, January 31, 1945

  • Date: January 31, 1945
  • Format: letter

A Group of the Boys

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

One of Our Billets

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

Group Photo February 1945

  • Date: February 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, Feburary 1, 1945

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 14, 1945

  • Date: February 14,1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 14, 1945

  • Date: Feburary 14, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 19, 1945

  • Date: February 19, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, February 19, 1945

  • Date: February 19, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter
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