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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Postcard from Innsbruck

  • Date: June 17, 1945
  • Format: postcard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, June 22, 1945

  • Date: June 22, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newspaper Clipping

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

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

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

Kufstien, Austria

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

Postcard from Hallein

  • Date: July 1945
  • Format: postcard

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

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

From Strasbourg to Munich and Salzburg With 42nd Division

  • Date: July 1, 1945
  • Format: newspaper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letter from Clarence Williams to Gretchen Williams, July 22, 1945

  • Date: July 22, 1945
  • Creator(s): Williams, Clarence
  • Format: letter

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

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

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

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