IN INDIA
Sgt. Clare Williams, of this city, a veteran of two years army service, has arrived safely overseas in India after a 3-day trip, according to word received here by his relatives. The sergeant has written an interesting letter back from his new station in which he describes the people, buildings and living conditions in that theater of war. Excerpts from his letter follow:
“Throughout the country you find many homes made out of woven slough grass, about three feet high and four feet wide. How they manage to crawl into them is beyond me. Many of the people have no homes and just live out in the fields.
Dress Oddly.
“The dress very oddly, mostly with old dirty rags about three feet wide and about six feet long which they drape in diaper form around their bodies and over their shoulders. Many wear very little. Children up to three or four years old wear nothing at all.
“Most of the people of India are professional beggars. As you travel through the country they will swarm the train and beg for money, eats or anything which you will give them. They will eat anything. All you have to do is dump the garbage and a second later it is all gone.
At First Camp.
“Upon arrival at my first camp, we found tents with no sides. Our beds are of crude construction, with crisscross ropes, no mattresses and no pillows. We only had one blanket, so it is plenty cool at night. We only stayed here a short time, then moved on….
“The trains of India are somewhat like ours except much older. The seats are of wood slats and are not very good to sleep on. When traveling our eats consist of K rations which, after you get used to them, seem very good.”
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, February 12, 1945 (photo included)
Clare Edward Williams was born July 11, 1916 to Carl Edward and Annie Irene Perry Williams. He died Oct. 7, 2003 and is buried in Memorial Gardens, Colorado Springs, CO.
Source: ancestry.com
