This memorial is on the SE corner of I-80 and whichever road leads to The Golden Spike Tower at Bailey Yard. For many men in the service, the stop at the North Platte canteen was the highlight of their trip. How did the ladies provide sandwiches and desserts with rationing? John
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If you want to know the whole story about the North Platte Canteen pick up a copy of Bob Greene's book about the canteen titled: "Once Upon A Town." It's a wonderful read about how important the canteen was as trains crossed the country in both directions carrying thousands of troops off to war from both coasts.
I can attest to Bob Greene’s book being excellent. By the way, when you mail-order stuff from the Golden Spike gift shop out there, they couldn’t be nicer.
To the end of his days, Dad remembered both North Platte andDennison. He’d had some bad experiences with exorbitant meal prices and powdered eggs when they dropped LST 710 off in San Diego (she re-emerges as the USS Accomac troop transporter) and the memory of huge tables full of real food stuck with him as did the kindness. “No, really, take all you want. Let me sack up some extra apples and cookies for later. Norfolk is a long way away.”
I recall a discussion in this forum some years ago about the canteen. It contained several useful links to information about it.
This was before the platform changed. So I don’t if it is archived.
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