In search of "the best America there ever was;" bestselling author and award-winning journalist Bob Greene finds it in a small Nebraska town few people pass through today—a town where Greene discovers the echoes of the most touching love story imaginable: a love story between a country and its sons. During World War II; American soldiers from every city and walk of life rolled through North Platte; Nebraska; on troop trains en route to their ultimate destinations in Europe and the Pacific. The tiny town; wanting to offer the servicemen warmth and support; transformed its modest railroad depot into the North Platte Canteen. Every day of the year; every day of the war; the Canteen—staffed and funded entirely by local volunteers—was open from five a.m. until the last troop train of the day pulled away after midnight. Astonishingly; this remote plains community of only 12;000 people provided welcoming words; friendship; and baskets of food and treats to more than six million GIs by the time the war ended. In this poignant and heartwarming eyewitness history; based on interviews with North Platte residents and the soldiers who once passed through; Bob Greene tells a classic; lost-in-the-mists-of-time American story of a grateful country honoring its brave and dedicated sons.
#82966 in Books 2003-05-06 2003-05-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .65 x 5.31l; .45 #File Name: 006008197X288 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fitting addition to the obituary of a youngster growing up in 1920s North PlateBy B. S. DunganI am grateful to have read this book. In 1925; my father Roger Allen Dungan was born in North Plate. He moved to Denver w/ his single mother and older sister; joining the Navy upon graduating high school in 1943. Did he pass through North Platte as a sailor and experience the Canteen? Although in the later years of his life he spoke about growing up in North Plate-> he never mentioned knowing about the wartime Canteen. We buried dad this year (2017) in Fort Logan National Cemetary outside Denver; reading about the North Plate Canteen was a fitting addition to the obituary of a youngster growing up in 1920s North Plate.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Clearly written about the authors sojourn into the past to ...By breachplugClearly written about the authors sojourn into the past to discover and explain the events that occurred in North Platte during WWII. North Platte; Nebraska; was a whistle stop along the Union Pacific railroad during WWII to obtain additional coal and water for the the massive steam locomotives. These troop trains were carrying the men in the military from various bases throughout the US to their ports of embarkation during the war and bringing the veterans home after the war. You weren't normally allowed off the trains while in transit; however. for a very short 10 or 15 minutes they were allowed to disembark at the North Platte Canteen. What the service personnel experienced there was never forgotten by them or to those who served them to this very day. First hand interviews with aging participants brings this historic event to life. Anyone interested in what when in this country during WWII needs to read this book. The attitudes of the volunteers involved; their unselfish giving to others and their dedication to man the canteen could never be duplicated today. The only short coming is their are no photographs of this historical event to highlight the story. However; if there is only one book you must read about the home front during WWII; this is it!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. So it was wonderful to learn about a part of that era that ...By Joann RoskoskiAlthough my father fought in WWII; he spoke very little about his experiences. So it was wonderful to learn about a part of that era that touched so many people's lives. I really liked the effort the author made to find service folks who had experienced the warm generosity of this small Nebraska town and the volunteers who were associated with setting up and running the canteen. It's an easy read; often funny; always poignant; and informative; that stays with you long after you're finished. I only wish that the railroad company had the wits to preserve the station. They still have a huge freight yard operation in North Platte so they could have if they wanted to. I'm sure the station would be a strong candidate to be named a National Historic Site. Opportunity missed.
