Rating: 
Summary: A Different Time...
Review: "Once Upon a Town" is a book that badly needed to be written. My parents who both served in World War II, years ago,told me the story about the North Platte Canteen. This canteen, organized in a little town in Nebraska, made a point of serving food and drink at no charge to every serviceman and servicewoman who passed through town on troop trains during World War II (1941-1945). Soldiers and sailors all over the country spoke in awe about the wonderful food and treatment they got from the townspeople of North Platte, Nebraska. Many soldiers struck up penpal correspondence with townspeople they met. A number of women in the North Platte area ended up marrying soldiers when they returned from the war. Bob Greene takes a "Studs Terkel approach" to this subject and much of the book consists of narratives of older people who were present at the time. One thing that really stands out is the unbelievable effort that the people in North Platte (and surrounding areas) made to run the canteen. Only a few thousand people lived in the area. Yet, millions of soldiers passed through the town. Nevertheless, very soldier was served food and drink. Many people contributed their ration coupons, personal savings, and a huge amount of unpaid labor to see that the canteen was always running. These people will forever remain in the hearts of the soldiers and sailors who received their warm hospitality Greene also relates the changes that have come to North Platte since the war. Sadly, many have not been for the good. A town that used to see 32 passenger trains a day pass through it, now sees none at all. The railroad station and area where the canteen operated was torn down by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1973. All that remains is a small historical marker commemorating the canteen. It strikes me that North Platte has suffered the way many small towns in America have. Agriculture has declined. Industry and technology tends to base itself in large urban areas. This is a "feel good" book. As I read this, I was reminded of the adage that when it comes to saving our world all of us must "think globally and act locally". This is precisely what the people of North Platte, Nebraska did during World War II. Any serviceman who passed through there will tell you that it made an enormous difference too.
Rating: 
Summary: Priceless Piece of Americana
Review: A touching story of how one town did more than its patriotic duty by feeding and consoling thousands of troops, and, in doing so, created an American legend that lives on today in the hearts of veterans. A wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Midwestern Character on Every Page
Review: Bob Greene captures the spirit of community and shared purpose endemic to the Midwestern United States. Mr. Greene is from Ohio and worked as a columnist at the Chicago Tribune. I too was raised in Michigan and Ohio, lived and worked in Chicago and travelled throughout the MidWest. I have lived in Boston for 20 years now and miss the sense of community of the Midwest captured in this book. (see also the book - "Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam). Mr. Greene was fortunate to interview so many veterans of World War II. Many World War II veterans are passing away each day now and soon none will be around to interview. The nostalgia I felt while reading this book was not just nostalgia for a simpler time, for a World War cannot be a simpler time; but, for a time when sacrifice was shared among many and our communities watched over us. ajdjr73@earthlink.net
Rating:
Summary: A Town Lost in Time?
Review: Bob Greene is a gifted writer who wrote a great book about a remarkable town that did extraordinary things in some of the most trying times in our nation's history. The miracle of the North Platte Canteen is a story about little-known wartime heroics, filled with many first-hand personal accounts and recollections from some of our diminishing remaining national treasures-our WWII veterans. This book should be read by all, especially those not old enough to have experienced WWII America. This book describes and explains Greene's love affair with the North Platte, Nebraska railroad canteen and the people whose lives were positively influenced by what happened there between Christmas Day, 1941 and April 1, 1946. The residents of that small town, and neighboring towns, took it upon themselves to provide food, love, and support to the millions of servicemen riding in the endless, cramped WWII troop transport trains that stopped briefly in North Platte. Greene captured the volunteer canteen workers' incredible spirit of selfless sacrifice, and the everlasting gratitude of the mostly drafted young men who briefly stopped at North Platte on their way to war. Although most stops lasted maybe ten minutes, their memories of their canteen experiences have lasted all their lives. As Greene noted, "He started to cry softly in mid-sentence. I would have attributed it to the stress of being about to go into surgery, except that it was happening regularly when I spoke with the men who had come through North Platte on the trains. The volunteers from the canteen, while emotional, usually remained composed. But the soldiers they had welcomed...as often as not, they would weep at some point during our conversations as they recalled the experience." The memory of any place that brings tears to the eyes of men who have seen and experienced combat is a very special memory of a very special place. The story of the North Platte Canteen is a story of a long ago and largely forgotten America when times were slower and people seemed more morally balanced and values-centered. However, according to a January 31, 2003 "Washington Times" article, the staff at a North Platte motel revived the canteen tradition by providing a friendly dinner "with a bit of hospitality for dessert" for over 500 North Dakota National Guard troops who stopped there after a long day on the road on their way to the Persian Gulf in preparation for war with Iraq. Read this book and learn all about this very special tradition.
Rating:
Summary: A Town Lost in Time?
Review: Bob Greene is a gifted writer who wrote a great book about a remarkable town that did extraordinary things in some of the most trying times in our nation's history. The miracle of the North Platte Canteen is a story about little-known wartime heroics, filled with many first-hand personal accounts and recollections from some of our diminishing remaining national treasures-our WWII veterans. This book should be read by all, especially those not old enough to have experienced WWII America. This book describes and explains Greene's love affair with the North Platte, Nebraska railroad canteen and the people whose lives were positively influenced by what happened there between Christmas Day, 1941 and April 1, 1946. The residents of that small town, and neighboring towns, took it upon themselves to provide food, love, and support to the millions of servicemen riding in the endless, cramped WWII troop transport trains that stopped briefly in North Platte. Greene captured the volunteer canteen workers' incredible spirit of selfless sacrifice, and the everlasting gratitude of the mostly drafted young men who briefly stopped at North Platte on their way to war. Although most stops lasted maybe ten minutes, their memories of their canteen experiences have lasted all their lives. As Greene noted, "He started to cry softly in mid-sentence. I would have attributed it to the stress of being about to go into surgery, except that it was happening regularly when I spoke with the men who had come through North Platte on the trains. The volunteers from the canteen, while emotional, usually remained composed. But the soldiers they had welcomed...as often as not, they would weep at some point during our conversations as they recalled the experience." The memory of any place that brings tears to the eyes of men who have seen and experienced combat is a very special memory of a very special place. The story of the North Platte Canteen is a story of a long ago and largely forgotten America when times were slower and people seemed more morally balanced and values-centered. However, according to a January 31, 2003 "Washington Times" article, the staff at a North Platte motel revived the canteen tradition by providing a friendly dinner "with a bit of hospitality for dessert" for over 500 North Dakota National Guard troops who stopped there after a long day on the road on their way to the Persian Gulf in preparation for war with Iraq. Read this book and learn all about this very special tradition.
Rating:
Summary: A Gem: History + Heart
Review: Don't be mis-led by the brown-on-brown cover and the uninformative title. This book is a small gem -- a rare combination of heart-warming story and solid history. North Platte, Nebraska, is truly middle-of-nowhere. In the 1940's, however, thousands of people came through North Platte on cross-country trains. And during World War II, more than six million GI's came through North Platte on troop trains. And here's the miracle.During the war, this tiny town transformed its modest depot into a canteen for soldiers, sailors and airmen passing through on the trains. With no government aid (President Roosevelt sent five dollars), people from the town met every train with baskets of home-made food, farm produce, good coffee and milk. They were "on duty" 24/7, as we would say today.
Train movements were supposed to be secret, but after awhile the railroad staff would spread the word. GI's, mostly teenagers dazed by their new world, remembered North Platte for the rest of their lives. Of course, most of the servers were women, and that was a gentler time. One local group made popcorn balls, with tiny pieces of paper holding names of local girls who could write to the men. Many friendships and at least one marriage resulted.
North Platte was a small miracle. The town became a legend among servicemen overseas. And it was truly a miracle born of its own time. It couldn't happen now, one of the aging residents said. Nowadays everyone would stay home and watch the war on television.
World War II buffs, admirers of Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation, and nostalgia fans would welcome this book as a holiday gift.
Rating:
Summary: Memories of Small Town America
Review: Having grown up in a small town, this book really hit home about how things have changed.... and not always for the better. The story of Noth Platte is remarkable simply based on the huge number of soldiers who passed through the Canteen when compared to the tiny size of the town's (and surrounding area's) population. Their generosity reflects the way things used to be - when we weren't so busy worrying about ourselves that we failed to see the needs of others. This is a great book that will bring back memories for many adults, and should be a required reading for teens when learning about the sacrifices made during WWII.
Rating:
Summary: The Heartland
Review: I think that "Once Upon a Town" is a well written and long overdue story. It was a time in America when everything was so bad, yet this small town rose up and made everything so great for all the troops that came through. With everything going on today it is nice to read about people pulling together and supporting each other, even if they didnt agree with the actions being taken.I am from North Platte, so this is touches very close to home, I had family members in the war, and also who helped at the canteen. I am from a younger generation, where most people my age have never seen anything like that. It was nice to read about the past, and for me to realize that the community really hasnt changed that much.I am in the military and everytime i go back i can still see the pride and caring nature of the people who live there. The military is still a huge part of the community. For me this book proves that in an everchanging world of race, relgion, and political beliefs, there are places out there that arent afraid to stand up and sho support for their country, their troops, their friends, their family.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Tribute To The American Spirit
Review: I was familiar with the story of the North Platte Canteen through my father's own memories (he was one of the six million servicemen who stopped there) and a great feature Charles Kuralt did as part of his "On The Road" series. So I looked forward to this book with eagerness, and was not disappointed. Greene tells the story of the canteen, from the standpoint of both the volunteers who came from all over that part of Nebraska to make the mircale happen; and from the view of the surprised and grateful servicemen. It's a remarkable story that needed to be told, as Greene observed poignantly, before all the participants were gone. At another level, though, the book is a meditation on how the US in general, and small town America in particular, has changed in the decades since the canteen ceased operations. Greene doesn't hammer you with his opinions, but makes it clear that while some things have evolved for the better, we also seem to have lost something priceless. Can it ever be recaptured? I hope you'll read this book and contemplate that question.
Rating:
Summary: Humanity at its best
Review: Mr. Greene did us all a great favor by tracking down this story and writing this book. There is no adequate way to thank the soldiers of WWII for what they did for us, but North Platte came the closest to an adequate thank you.
Mr. Green tells of the resourcefulness of the canteen volunteers in providing food--food not available at army camps, food only available at home--for 6 million soldiers who came through North Platte, Nebraska on the troop trains. Mr. Green interviewed the soldiers and the volunteers. It is such an inspiration and who knows what wonderful events this example of humanity at its best might inspire. Maybe this book should be required reading in our schools.
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