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Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen – A Heartwarming Eyewitness History of WWII Volunteers and Grateful GIs
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.
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.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Bob Greene
41 books51 followersRobert Bernard Greene, Jr., who writes as Bob Greene, is a journalist.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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December 10, 2023
Being a member of what I dub the last generation to grow up on the newspaper, reading the Chicago Tribune with my breakfast was a part of my morning routine. I admit to being a dictionary definition of a morning person so rushing to get ready for school was not a part of my vocabulary. I would be the first one in the kitchen by six am and then I’d read the sports page, followed by columnists in the other sections. That is how I discovered Bob Greene as an adolescent reading the paper. Greene’s work stood out to me even then because he wrote about human interest, both what is good and not so good in society; in essence he wrote about the tapestry of America and the inherent hope for humanity to constantly improve itself. Yes, Bob Greene has always been a favorite writer of mine, and, now, in the last few years, I have discovered a bevy of his books, each one better than the previous. In time for the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, I discovered a gem of Greene’s that taught me about an angle of the Homefront that most Americans are probably unaware of, the story of the North Platte Canteen.
December 7, 1941 is a day that will live in infamy. This past Thursday I asked a class of third graders if they had heard of Pearl Harbor, and, surprisingly, a few of them said yes and related what happened. After the event that brought the United States into World War II, young men of a certain age either registered with the selective service or were drafted into the armed forces. This much is known. What is also known is how women in urban areas went to work in factories, replacing men who had gone to fight. Rosie the Riveter, the WACs, the women of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League; these are stories that are known to most Americans at this point. What about the women who resided in the rural areas of the United States? Their story has largely been untold until this point until by a chance meeting of an elder man who rode a troop train across the country, this soldier of a bygone era told about these train rides to Bob Greene. Over the course of the war, women in western Nebraska would donate their time and rations to the North Platte Canteen to feed and nurture hundreds of thousands of servicemen. Greene was intrigued and travelled to North Platte to uncover this untold story of life on the homefront during World War II.
When train travel was at its heyday, North Platte, Nebraska was dubbed Little Chicago. Thirty two passenger trains would stop at the station on a daily basis, carrying Nebraskans to cities as close as Denver (three hours) and as far away as Los Angeles and New York City. This was no Union Station, but during the 1920s, North Platte was a bustling city, complete with restaurants, shopping, and the Pawnee Hotel and ballgame. North Platte, although considered a ghost town today, was the gem of the sandhills of western Nebraska. Then came the war, and Nebraskans wanted to do their part to help the war effort. The first meeting to organize the canteen took place a few weeks before Christmas, 1941, and the women mobilized, serving the first troops on Christmas Day, 1941. These women would serve as many as seven thousand troops a day, a number that is almost unfathomable to even the most organized person or top cook. Seven thousand troops a day? There were barely that many people in the region after the men went to fight. The citizens of Nebraska viewed this as their patriotic duty and entire towns signed up to take a shift multiple times a month. Women treated the troops as though they were their own sons and served them sandwiches, cake, and coffee along with magazines and cigarettes. At the station, a piano player would regale troops with the top hits of the day including In the Mood, always a danceable favorite. While the hospitality of these women does not surprise me, what does is that North Platte was the only place in the United States that ran a war time canteen. When conducting interviews all Greene had to do was mention North Platte and the memories came flooding out; it was the most memorable and gracious memory for all the troops that Greene met.
Besides the happy humanity working together, Greene experienced first hand the wholesomeness of life on the plains. He could not find anything negative about the now tiny community. A bar sponsors a bikini contest, and no one enters. The entire town shows up for day long softball tournaments in ninety degree weather. The Pawnee Hotel is still an elegent hotel although today it is a convention center rather than hosting nightly dances. Written in 2004 when war veterans were in their late seventies and early eighties, the people who ran the canteen and their descendants comprised the backbone of North Platte. Single women would put their name and addresses in popcorn balls to be given to soldiers so they would have someone to write to. After the war, this lead to marriages, and many of the couples chose to stay near or around North Platte. The town gave such a magnetic pull that people would settle there and not leave. As for the soldiers who passed through from other parts of the country, many would tear up during their interviews with Greene because of the positivity that the canteen evoked for them. Stopping in North Platte was the high point of the war for most, and veterans would even bring their families to the train depot to show their children as part of driving vacations. By that point, the town was only home to a few thousand inhabitants albeit ones who cherished their role in boosting morale during World War II.
When I think of the North Platte Canteen, another positive example of humanity comes to mind, and that is the people of Newfoundland portrayed in The World Came to Gander. The latter book got turned into a successful musical, and I wonder if North Platte would also be triumphant as a period piece complete with dancing at the Pawnee Ballroom. The exposure, however, is not Bob Greene’s style. He showcases his hope for humanity but not in a flashy manner. The North Platte Canteen is about Americans at their finest. I am glad that he brought it to light and told the story in a way that only Bob Greene can. Today I only read the newspaper online, but I can still read all the books of columns and stories that my favorite columnists penned while still at the height of their journalistic careers. Bob Greene and his human interest stories are one of a kind. The story of the North Platte Canteen is one that seemed designed for only him to tell. I am fortunate to have uncovered this gem in time to preserve the memories of the greatest generation on a day that otherwise lived in infamy.
4+ stars
December 7, 1941 is a day that will live in infamy. This past Thursday I asked a class of third graders if they had heard of Pearl Harbor, and, surprisingly, a few of them said yes and related what happened. After the event that brought the United States into World War II, young men of a certain age either registered with the selective service or were drafted into the armed forces. This much is known. What is also known is how women in urban areas went to work in factories, replacing men who had gone to fight. Rosie the Riveter, the WACs, the women of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League; these are stories that are known to most Americans at this point. What about the women who resided in the rural areas of the United States? Their story has largely been untold until this point until by a chance meeting of an elder man who rode a troop train across the country, this soldier of a bygone era told about these train rides to Bob Greene. Over the course of the war, women in western Nebraska would donate their time and rations to the North Platte Canteen to feed and nurture hundreds of thousands of servicemen. Greene was intrigued and travelled to North Platte to uncover this untold story of life on the homefront during World War II.
When train travel was at its heyday, North Platte, Nebraska was dubbed Little Chicago. Thirty two passenger trains would stop at the station on a daily basis, carrying Nebraskans to cities as close as Denver (three hours) and as far away as Los Angeles and New York City. This was no Union Station, but during the 1920s, North Platte was a bustling city, complete with restaurants, shopping, and the Pawnee Hotel and ballgame. North Platte, although considered a ghost town today, was the gem of the sandhills of western Nebraska. Then came the war, and Nebraskans wanted to do their part to help the war effort. The first meeting to organize the canteen took place a few weeks before Christmas, 1941, and the women mobilized, serving the first troops on Christmas Day, 1941. These women would serve as many as seven thousand troops a day, a number that is almost unfathomable to even the most organized person or top cook. Seven thousand troops a day? There were barely that many people in the region after the men went to fight. The citizens of Nebraska viewed this as their patriotic duty and entire towns signed up to take a shift multiple times a month. Women treated the troops as though they were their own sons and served them sandwiches, cake, and coffee along with magazines and cigarettes. At the station, a piano player would regale troops with the top hits of the day including In the Mood, always a danceable favorite. While the hospitality of these women does not surprise me, what does is that North Platte was the only place in the United States that ran a war time canteen. When conducting interviews all Greene had to do was mention North Platte and the memories came flooding out; it was the most memorable and gracious memory for all the troops that Greene met.
Besides the happy humanity working together, Greene experienced first hand the wholesomeness of life on the plains. He could not find anything negative about the now tiny community. A bar sponsors a bikini contest, and no one enters. The entire town shows up for day long softball tournaments in ninety degree weather. The Pawnee Hotel is still an elegent hotel although today it is a convention center rather than hosting nightly dances. Written in 2004 when war veterans were in their late seventies and early eighties, the people who ran the canteen and their descendants comprised the backbone of North Platte. Single women would put their name and addresses in popcorn balls to be given to soldiers so they would have someone to write to. After the war, this lead to marriages, and many of the couples chose to stay near or around North Platte. The town gave such a magnetic pull that people would settle there and not leave. As for the soldiers who passed through from other parts of the country, many would tear up during their interviews with Greene because of the positivity that the canteen evoked for them. Stopping in North Platte was the high point of the war for most, and veterans would even bring their families to the train depot to show their children as part of driving vacations. By that point, the town was only home to a few thousand inhabitants albeit ones who cherished their role in boosting morale during World War II.
When I think of the North Platte Canteen, another positive example of humanity comes to mind, and that is the people of Newfoundland portrayed in The World Came to Gander. The latter book got turned into a successful musical, and I wonder if North Platte would also be triumphant as a period piece complete with dancing at the Pawnee Ballroom. The exposure, however, is not Bob Greene’s style. He showcases his hope for humanity but not in a flashy manner. The North Platte Canteen is about Americans at their finest. I am glad that he brought it to light and told the story in a way that only Bob Greene can. Today I only read the newspaper online, but I can still read all the books of columns and stories that my favorite columnists penned while still at the height of their journalistic careers. Bob Greene and his human interest stories are one of a kind. The story of the North Platte Canteen is one that seemed designed for only him to tell. I am fortunate to have uncovered this gem in time to preserve the memories of the greatest generation on a day that otherwise lived in infamy.
4+ stars
July 9, 2008
I wanted to buy this book when it first came out, but didn't. Glad I didn't pay $22 for it. I found a copy at a book sale at the Cooperstown Library for 50 cents.
The book is about a really fantastic community effort that took place in WWII - a small town in Nebraska that decided to meet troop trains that stopped in its town for only ten minutes each. So, they set up the North Platte, Nebraska, "Canteen."
Along with a dozen other towns, some of them one hundred miles away, volunteers provided sandwiches, fried chicken, homemade cakes, hard boiled eggs, cookies, music, cards and letters, and words of encouragement to these mostly young kids who were on their way to war. They served 6 million soldiers over a five year period, providing them with the only bright spot in their trips.
What a tremendous story, right? However, there are two huge flaws in this book that made it a major disappointment to me. The first is that Bob Greene is more interested in blathering on and on with his own shallow observations about the character of North Platte (and by extension, small town America) and drawing rudimentary conclusions, using a maudlin, cloying, overly dramatic style, and repeating the same conclusions over and over again.
The second flaw is that he's lazy. The actual interviews, newspaper story quotes, and description of the Canteen organization, the background about WWII rationing, and the entire context of the Canteen takes up about only about one-fourth of the book and his "observations" take up the rest. I skimmed most of the book, concentrating on the actual Canteen content, and finished it in about an hour.
What makes me sad about this is that there will probably not be another book about the Canteen again, and the subject deserves far more serious investigation and true scholarship/reporting than Greene gave it. He just wasn't up to the task. To be honest, I felt as though he wrote this book to cash in on the WWII veterans who are quickly disappearing - that's how bad I thought it was.
Recommendation: try to find a used copy for 50 cents and skim it.
The book is about a really fantastic community effort that took place in WWII - a small town in Nebraska that decided to meet troop trains that stopped in its town for only ten minutes each. So, they set up the North Platte, Nebraska, "Canteen."
Along with a dozen other towns, some of them one hundred miles away, volunteers provided sandwiches, fried chicken, homemade cakes, hard boiled eggs, cookies, music, cards and letters, and words of encouragement to these mostly young kids who were on their way to war. They served 6 million soldiers over a five year period, providing them with the only bright spot in their trips.
What a tremendous story, right? However, there are two huge flaws in this book that made it a major disappointment to me. The first is that Bob Greene is more interested in blathering on and on with his own shallow observations about the character of North Platte (and by extension, small town America) and drawing rudimentary conclusions, using a maudlin, cloying, overly dramatic style, and repeating the same conclusions over and over again.
The second flaw is that he's lazy. The actual interviews, newspaper story quotes, and description of the Canteen organization, the background about WWII rationing, and the entire context of the Canteen takes up about only about one-fourth of the book and his "observations" take up the rest. I skimmed most of the book, concentrating on the actual Canteen content, and finished it in about an hour.
What makes me sad about this is that there will probably not be another book about the Canteen again, and the subject deserves far more serious investigation and true scholarship/reporting than Greene gave it. He just wasn't up to the task. To be honest, I felt as though he wrote this book to cash in on the WWII veterans who are quickly disappearing - that's how bad I thought it was.
Recommendation: try to find a used copy for 50 cents and skim it.
December 10, 2008
"Once Upon a Town" is the true story of the North Platte Canteen. What is that? Well, on December 25, 1941, just 18 days after Pearl Harbor, the women of North Platte realized that many troop trains were stopping through their Nebraska town crossing over to the Pacific side of the U.S. They decided to meet the servicemen on the trains for Christmas, because it was supposed to be Nebraska boys. It turned out to be Kansas servicemen, but it didn't matter, they gave them all of their Christmas gifts and food anyway. They promptly decided that it was their responsibility to meet EVERY train at the depot, and for the next five years, at the rate of about 10-15 trains a day, they met and fed every serviceman that traveled through North Platte. Every one. Millions of soldiers. Many remember their brief 10-minute stop in North Platte to this day, and Bob Greene's book tells their story, and the story of those women who remember working in the Canteen.
This book touched me in so many ways, that I am still wondering how Bob Greene managed to write such a wonderful book. This isn't just a story about World War II. It's a story about America, and what it was like on the home front for so many American women, and frankly, what it means to be American in the first place.
In our muddy situation in Iraq, it was a breath of fresh air to listen to a different generation talk about the genuine responsibility they felt to the world, because they could do something to stop Hitler, and the Japanese advance, and they felt it was their obligation to do it. It is not enough in our day and age to say, "This is wrong, and we can stop it." Things get more complex, and it was wonderful to visit a time, even for a short while, when things were much more simple.
The servicemen would cry when they talked about the Canteen, and what it meant to them. That short 10 minute period in their lives could bring tears to their eyes sixty years later. It brought plenty to mine too. The pure goodness and graciousness of the people of the North Platte area, and the sacrifices they made to make sure that those servicemen knew they were appreciated, and that they went to war knowing what they were fighting for, made an impact on the soldiers that gave them courage in times of doubt. One man commented that when they were sitting in foxholes in the South Pacific, they would talk about the delicious food and warm feelings they had for North Platte. It sustained them in their darkest hours. I was so proud to be an American, and a Mid-Western American at that, for the past few weeks, while reading this book. It is not often, in our busy lives, that one gets a chance to stop and think about patriotism, this book gave me the opportunity, and I relished every minute.
This book touched me in so many ways, that I am still wondering how Bob Greene managed to write such a wonderful book. This isn't just a story about World War II. It's a story about America, and what it was like on the home front for so many American women, and frankly, what it means to be American in the first place.
In our muddy situation in Iraq, it was a breath of fresh air to listen to a different generation talk about the genuine responsibility they felt to the world, because they could do something to stop Hitler, and the Japanese advance, and they felt it was their obligation to do it. It is not enough in our day and age to say, "This is wrong, and we can stop it." Things get more complex, and it was wonderful to visit a time, even for a short while, when things were much more simple.
The servicemen would cry when they talked about the Canteen, and what it meant to them. That short 10 minute period in their lives could bring tears to their eyes sixty years later. It brought plenty to mine too. The pure goodness and graciousness of the people of the North Platte area, and the sacrifices they made to make sure that those servicemen knew they were appreciated, and that they went to war knowing what they were fighting for, made an impact on the soldiers that gave them courage in times of doubt. One man commented that when they were sitting in foxholes in the South Pacific, they would talk about the delicious food and warm feelings they had for North Platte. It sustained them in their darkest hours. I was so proud to be an American, and a Mid-Western American at that, for the past few weeks, while reading this book. It is not often, in our busy lives, that one gets a chance to stop and think about patriotism, this book gave me the opportunity, and I relished every minute.
September 9, 2017
3.5 stars. This was a great true story of the North Platte Canteen.
February 16, 2010
What a heart warming book this is! This is the story of North Platte, Nebraska during World War II. Troop trains enroute to their ultimate destinations in Europe and the Pacific pass through this small community daily. Every day of the year, every day of the war, the people who live there ban together to form the North Platte Canteen where homemade food, entertainment, and recognition is given to soldiers during their brief stop. Staffed and funded entirely by volunteers, by the end of the war, these people have served over 6 million soldiers and have done so by donating their own rationed food supplies and by manning the Canteen from 5:00 A.M. to midnight for over four years, never missing a day.
This is written by Bob Greene, who is a reporter, and the book is written in the style of a reporter. It is full of letters, interviews, pictures, stories, and historical facts. As I read the book, I was very moved by the kindess and sacrifice of these people. Reading this book made me want to be a better person. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is written by Bob Greene, who is a reporter, and the book is written in the style of a reporter. It is full of letters, interviews, pictures, stories, and historical facts. As I read the book, I was very moved by the kindess and sacrifice of these people. Reading this book made me want to be a better person. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 7, 2015
I picked up this book because the place name North Platte seemed familiar to me. Finally, it dawned that we had stayed there overnight on our epic road trip from Crystal Lake, Illinois to San Francisco, California, and back in 2011. We traveled in a loop going through a total of twelve States. According to my blog, we had visited Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska earlier that day in a sweltering 96ºF! Anyway, I digress.
I truly thought this would be an interesting and heartwarming read about the warmth and generosity of human kindness, however, I didn't enjoy the author's style of writing. Instead of becoming immersed in the tale, I was always aware of the author's presence and his point of view.
In addition, it appeared all together too wordy, and reminded me of the 'busy work' we sometimes did at school that kept us 'busy' (and quiet!), and filled up the hours, but didn't really further our learning. It felt over-padded with extraneous information which distracted me from the central story. Sadly, I conclude, that the story itself is a great one, but it gets lost in this particular telling.
I truly thought this would be an interesting and heartwarming read about the warmth and generosity of human kindness, however, I didn't enjoy the author's style of writing. Instead of becoming immersed in the tale, I was always aware of the author's presence and his point of view.
In addition, it appeared all together too wordy, and reminded me of the 'busy work' we sometimes did at school that kept us 'busy' (and quiet!), and filled up the hours, but didn't really further our learning. It felt over-padded with extraneous information which distracted me from the central story. Sadly, I conclude, that the story itself is a great one, but it gets lost in this particular telling.
July 4, 2017
America in all her glory....when people truly cared for each other.
April 20, 2024
From Dick Foth recommendation. Great book about what America used to be. Entertaining read but a bit repetitive at times. The structure of the book could use work.
March 14, 2024
I was born and raised in a small, rural town in Iowa (close to the Nebraska border) so I am attracted to books that open my eyes to what life was like in other eras. I am the daughter of a WWII Army veteran who went off to war, leaving his adoring wife and three charming children at home in their small town on the prairie. He wrote to my mother 3 times each day for the duration (the mail was delivered twice daily back then...it was his hope that she would receive at least one letter each day. I have a trunk filled with his missives from the front (somewhere in France/Germany). Following the war, he was instrumental in starting an Iowa National Guard unit in our hometown. I was raised among his colleagues and later joined the Air Force myself. My brother, sister, spouse, and son also served in the armed forces. With that history, I am, of course, a reader of books such as this one.
Greene's book is quite a tribute to life in that era. I found myself thinking about how our service men and women were treated during the Vietnam era. I was also grateful to read about the people of that small, Nebraska town who gave such a gift to those service members. Their generosity and kindness was a gift to those who served in the armed forces. To many, it might feel like a fairy tale.
Greene's book is quite a tribute to life in that era. I found myself thinking about how our service men and women were treated during the Vietnam era. I was also grateful to read about the people of that small, Nebraska town who gave such a gift to those service members. Their generosity and kindness was a gift to those who served in the armed forces. To many, it might feel like a fairy tale.
January 30, 2016
The North Platte Canteen: who knew it ever existed? This is nice feel-good nonfiction about a remarkable group of ladies who brought their small community together for the servicemen in WWII. Somewhat repetitious but a true account that is uplifting and optimistic. Journalist Bob Greene tells an interesting story showing the extraordinary patriotism of the times. Favorite tongue-in-cheek quote: “The interstates were meant to be the national bypass-the way to avoid taking things slow, to avoid looking the old America in the eye. They were a federally funded averted glance."
December 7, 2020
In 1992, we moved from San Diego to Lincoln, Nebraska and lived there for nearly 25 years (minus a few years when we had a job-related move to Texas). We occasionally traveled along I-80 for getaways in Colorado and South Dakota, as well as soccer tournaments in nearby towns, but other than a quick stop to fill up on gas, I don't recall ever going to North Platte. The gas stations are located right off the interstate, so we didn't drive the the extra mile or two into the town for a meal or any exploring. It wasn't until I heard about Bob Greene's book that I learned about the role this small town played in the lives of so many servicemen during World War II.
I've had a copy of Once Upon a Town on my shelves for far too many years and I finally pulled it down and added it to my stack for this year's Nonfiction November challenge. I'm glad I made the time to read about the wonderful community of volunteers and the lasting affect they had on thousands of soldiers by their kindness and generosity. It's a good read, albeit a little repetitive in nature. By the middle of the book, I felt I'd learned all that the author had to share and I was ready to be finished. There are only so many anecdotes and interviews, and Greene came to rely (over and over again) on his own numerous observations as filler. This is the sort of book that is probably better suited as a lengthy magazine article rather than a full-blown book. I'm not sorry I read it, but maybe in the hands of a writer like Bill Bryson or Erik Larson, I would have enjoyed it better.
I've had a copy of Once Upon a Town on my shelves for far too many years and I finally pulled it down and added it to my stack for this year's Nonfiction November challenge. I'm glad I made the time to read about the wonderful community of volunteers and the lasting affect they had on thousands of soldiers by their kindness and generosity. It's a good read, albeit a little repetitive in nature. By the middle of the book, I felt I'd learned all that the author had to share and I was ready to be finished. There are only so many anecdotes and interviews, and Greene came to rely (over and over again) on his own numerous observations as filler. This is the sort of book that is probably better suited as a lengthy magazine article rather than a full-blown book. I'm not sorry I read it, but maybe in the hands of a writer like Bill Bryson or Erik Larson, I would have enjoyed it better.
April 9, 2012
It was a monumental act of generosity that kept the North Platte Canteen in operation from 1941 to 1945, offering food, drink, and gratitude to the multitude of troop trains carrying young servicemen through Nebraska during WWII. Greene's book is a tribute to those who made it possible - a scrapbook of memories recalled by men and women who are now in their 70s, 80s and older.
Through scores of interviews, he is able to capture again the excitement, the emotions, and the utter innocence of that place and time. Just 10-20 minutes - as men burst from the trains, were welcomed with home cooking and smiles, and then dashed back onboard again - are remembered 60 years later by men who have never forgotten and often dissolve into tears as they try to explain what it meant to them, no more than boys then, far from home and family.
The book is written in a breezy Sunday supplement style, and social historians may desire a bit more objectivity. Oddly, Greene never explains how he located all the former servicemen he interviewed. And finally, it's not all feel good. Greene notes how time has changed North Platte, symbolized in the deserted downtown and the absent train depot, torn down long ago. "Dust in the wind," he muses sadly at the end. But like an old photograph, there is his book to preserve the memory that "once upon a town" it all really did happen.
Through scores of interviews, he is able to capture again the excitement, the emotions, and the utter innocence of that place and time. Just 10-20 minutes - as men burst from the trains, were welcomed with home cooking and smiles, and then dashed back onboard again - are remembered 60 years later by men who have never forgotten and often dissolve into tears as they try to explain what it meant to them, no more than boys then, far from home and family.
The book is written in a breezy Sunday supplement style, and social historians may desire a bit more objectivity. Oddly, Greene never explains how he located all the former servicemen he interviewed. And finally, it's not all feel good. Greene notes how time has changed North Platte, symbolized in the deserted downtown and the absent train depot, torn down long ago. "Dust in the wind," he muses sadly at the end. But like an old photograph, there is his book to preserve the memory that "once upon a town" it all really did happen.
February 25, 2009
A feel-good read that a friend in Belgium sent me after her bookclub read it. Why didn't we know about it here??? The book centers around the small town of North Platte, Iowa, that accomplished an extraordinary feat. The people of this area met every troop train with food and drinks for the entire 6+ years of the WWII. Families saved their sugar rations so they could bake cakes for the soldiers, farmers wives saved their eggs and then took 10-12 dozen boiled eggs to share, beef was donated, cooked, ground up with pickles and mayonnaise and used as a spread for sandwiches. Did you know that there were troop trains that passed through that town every 20 minutes for 6+ years that carried every soldier that crossed the USA going to war and then coming home from war? My 92 year old uncle, Don Brimhall, was one of those soldiers. I sent the book for my aunt to read to him and even though his memory is dimming, he did recognize the story and nodded his head at the unbelievable kindnesses that are recounted in the book. The author went to the town and spent 4 months living in the area collecting remembrances of those who were still alive to recount this very special part of WWII history.
October 19, 2009
This is an amazing true-life account about one Mid Western town and its citizen's efforts to support military troops during the second world war. The account is largely based on memories recalled during personal interviews and by historical newspaper articles.
I found this book to be heartbreaking and and the story was truly touching. The writing did seem to wander a bit, but the author does a good job of weaving together multiple eyewitness accounts with other elements of the story.
While the main mission of the book is to provide a written history about a specific place and event, the author also tries to use the example of the North Platte Canteen to draw a parallel to today's time and place. He seems to find it ironic, and perhaps a bit sad, that nothing like the North Platte Canteen would ever exist today.
In full disclosure I must admit that I am quite familiar with North Platte, although I do not live there. I found it quite easy to visualize the landmarks described in the book.
I found this book to be heartbreaking and and the story was truly touching. The writing did seem to wander a bit, but the author does a good job of weaving together multiple eyewitness accounts with other elements of the story.
While the main mission of the book is to provide a written history about a specific place and event, the author also tries to use the example of the North Platte Canteen to draw a parallel to today's time and place. He seems to find it ironic, and perhaps a bit sad, that nothing like the North Platte Canteen would ever exist today.
In full disclosure I must admit that I am quite familiar with North Platte, although I do not live there. I found it quite easy to visualize the landmarks described in the book.
January 30, 2013
Amazing! This was something I was completely clueless of. I had no idea what soldiers went through in the US before being shipped off to Europe, the Pacific or else where during WW2.
I'm astounded by the sacrifice this community in Nebraska gave. It was a time when Americans were truely proud of their country and showed it through respect by giving their time resources and service to others. And in a time with rationing and all together a lot less. Some farm houses didn't even have electricity yet.
Reading about the love these people showed and gave to "America's sons", is something I can't fathom in today's society. I found myself tearing up and even crying at times in several parts of this book.
It's an impressive patriotic part of US history.
A MUST read!
It would be fun to see it turned into a mini series movie or something like that.
I'm astounded by the sacrifice this community in Nebraska gave. It was a time when Americans were truely proud of their country and showed it through respect by giving their time resources and service to others. And in a time with rationing and all together a lot less. Some farm houses didn't even have electricity yet.
Reading about the love these people showed and gave to "America's sons", is something I can't fathom in today's society. I found myself tearing up and even crying at times in several parts of this book.
It's an impressive patriotic part of US history.
A MUST read!
It would be fun to see it turned into a mini series movie or something like that.
March 30, 2015
You have to admire a town in Nebraska whose townfolk met every troupe train that went through it during WWII. The people were planning to meet the train with their own boys on it, but when that wasn't the case, they went ahead and provided the troupes with treats, coffee, and companionship. That started the tradition of meeting every train because they were ALL their boys.
Bob Greene is a newspaper reporter, and he has a very irritating style of writing. I wanted him to spend more time on the people and their recollections of the Canteen (those parts of the book are the best), but he kept insinuating himself into the story. Irritating.
I wish I could find another book on this subject.
Bob Greene is a newspaper reporter, and he has a very irritating style of writing. I wanted him to spend more time on the people and their recollections of the Canteen (those parts of the book are the best), but he kept insinuating himself into the story. Irritating.
I wish I could find another book on this subject.
August 21, 2020
“Wars are about love.” Wow. You want to really feel good about America and believe in what she can do, read this.
November 7, 2020
Heartwarming, sad, and beautiful. This collection of perspectives surrounding the beloved train depot/ North Platte Canteen during WWII is something greater than one person’s story. It’s America’s story of the Nebraskan’s generous and patriotic servitude towards our soldiers. Six million troops passed through the Canteen and received food & supplies consisting of cakes, sandwiches, eggs, cigarettes, candy, magazines, milk, popcorn balls, and much more. But most of all, they were shown love & kindness. This was no government-funded program, but rather a massive volunteer effort by mothers & daughters started by Rae Wilson. And it was an accident! Stories like Rosalie’s early mornings serving the first troops of the day, Ethel and Virgil’s love letter beginnings & marriage, a B-17 crashing in a cornfield, Jack catching just a moment of touching his dad’s hand while the train passed near Kearney, and Donald finding his cousin as a soldier stepping off the train while selling newspapers...these stories hit home for me as a proud Nebraskan. I teared up reading the hardships/joy these people experienced during such a trying time. Not only did they serve our troops, but they also sacrificed their own money/resources while gov. rations were taking place. Elaine was the mother of a boy who died during the war. She continued serving at the Canteen saying to the others: “I can’t help my son, but I can help someone else’s son.” Soldiers recollecting their brief time in North Platte was sobering as well. Many of them (years later) would break down crying trying to tell of the kindness they were shown at the Canteen during such a dark time. They would even reminisce while overseas with other soldiers about the bounty they enjoyed in North Platte. Can you believe North Platte’s Canteen was their cherished memory while fighting in Europe? This book reflects the American spirit of unity, generosity, servitude, perseverance, sacrifice, love and joy. A story that should not be forgotten.
Honorable mention: I want to thank my Grandpa for giving me this book. I also want to give a special shout out to Hastings (my home town), which was also mentioned in the book as a temporary living place for one of the volunteers.
Honorable mention: I want to thank my Grandpa for giving me this book. I also want to give a special shout out to Hastings (my home town), which was also mentioned in the book as a temporary living place for one of the volunteers.
February 25, 2018
Although I didn't find this book particularly well written, it is a book I would suggest to every friend. I think that it is a book that reminds the reader who we - many of the world's citizenry - once were. It is a story of sacrifice, of patriotism, of loving kindness. It is also a story of the tremendous difference individuals can make in the life/lives of others. I have already recommended the book and have begun the process of sharing my copy with as many friends as I am able.
March 7, 2022
I normally don’t like to rate books that I have to read for school, but this one just stuck with me. I had no idea what North Platte, Nebraska was before I started reading this book, had no idea that this canteen ever existed. There was a quote in it that really stuck out to me, “This was the other side of the war, the one that doesn’t get mentioned in the history books.” Normally books like this don’t me emotional, but learning about this amazing thing that so many people contributed their time too, and realizing that most of the world doesn’t even know it ever existed moved me. I will say it was slightly repetitive, but there were also many unique stories within that helped balance it. I really enjoyed reading this and I feel like our history books need to include things like this, amazing acts of service that I believe the world needs to know about before their memories die out.
February 4, 2025
A clueless journalist filled with whimsy and nostalgia interviews old people about the horniest they’ve ever been. More specifically, being horny at a train stop that allowed hot dudes in uniform to interact with farm girls eager to dance and give them hard boiled eggs. Seriously, nearly every interview in this is a WW2 veteran or former canteen volunteer saying “the charitable nature of the canteen was great but oh my god there were so many fine people to look at or dance with. And I was 17 so uhh you know.” Bob Greene then wanders around North Platte while stroking his chin and says that Walmart and TV and air travel stole this from us.
April 13, 2024
While well written and enjoyable, it loses a star for that journalistic technique known as fudging the facts. For instance, North Platte (NP) hasn't been a small town for 100 years (of course, compared to Chicago, nearly any place is small). And heading west, it's Lexington, Cozad, and then Gothenburg. Because of this fudging, without doing your own research, it's hard to know if every part of it is to be trusted. A few photos would have been wonderful, and they were readily available from the Lincoln County Historical Museum. Understandably, it would have made the book more expensive, and that may be why they weren't included. If you want to read an historically accurate - and chock full of photos - account, find a copy of the book by James J. Reisdorff.
July 17, 2022
Being from Nebraska, I really wanted to like this book. It was just SO repetitive. I definitely get that the canteen left a lasting impression on those who visited, but every story was almost exactly the same.
April 22, 2019
What an uplifting book. North Platte, Nebraska what a shining example of what we all should strive to be-generous, caring and encouraging to others.
May 7, 2024
I like to coordinate what I read with trips I take. I know, I'm a bit peculiar. I usually like to find a book written about or set in the area I am visiting. I had a hard time finding a book for Nebraska. Luckily I found this one on Thrift books. I started reading it in Wyoming so I already knew the gist. While driving through North Platte I had to take a look around. I found a beautiful war memorial to the serviceman, but (as far as I saw) it did not include anything about the canteen. I really enjoyed the central theme of this book. The act of love the people of Nebraska showed for the service men and women is just beautiful. I enjoyed hearing about how it touched different people's lives. That being said, I did not love the writing. I kept getting pulled out of the story by local sporting events, restaurant encounters, and often the author walking around and sharing his internal dialog.. That part I did not care for because it felt unorganized and unnecessary.
The whole time reading this I wondered if my grandfather passed through North Platte on his way overseas. I would look for his face in the pictures and wish I had the opportunity to ask. I sure hope he did. I hope my grandfather met these lovely people and experienced their kindness before confronting war. I am proud he served and I think the sacrifice these people made for our military should be talked about more. In a selfish world these people were loving and kind.
The whole time reading this I wondered if my grandfather passed through North Platte on his way overseas. I would look for his face in the pictures and wish I had the opportunity to ask. I sure hope he did. I hope my grandfather met these lovely people and experienced their kindness before confronting war. I am proud he served and I think the sacrifice these people made for our military should be talked about more. In a selfish world these people were loving and kind.
June 26, 2021
3.5 This was a very heartwarming story about the North Platte Canteen that ran for the duration of WWII on the plains of Nebraska. I have driven by North Platte multiple times and read a plethora of WWII books, so I was surprised I had never heard of this before. It was truly inspiring to read how so many communities came together to give the soldiers on the troop trains a little piece of home in the 10 or 20 minutes they stopped in North Platte. All in all these volunteers served over 6 million people during the war. I love it! I think this is a worthwhile story for everyone to be aware of, but the book does start to feel a little long at places and the writing style was not my favorite. Of course you’ll miss a lot of the memories, but one can get the gist of what the Canteen accomplished by watching a 6 minute video on YouTube. Still though, I am glad I read this.
July 16, 2024
This is a sweet WW2 story about the North Platt Nebraska Canteen that gave out "love" in the form of food and smiles as soldiers passed through by train. The Canteen was serviced by the town of 12,000 and fed over six million servicemen going to war or returning home! Super impressive and uplifting to the soldiers approaching war!! The author visited the town in the early 2000s to tell their story. It just went on for 257 pages and the story could have been told more concisely.
March 23, 2019
So interesting! My dad recommended this book to me and it was worth the read. An interesting piece of history.
February 21, 2024
Great story about the power of a community. It’s a heartfelt story and worth the read.
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