Absolutely terrific book on a subject near and dear to my heart. My husbands father was drafted to serve in WWII, and took this exact train route to get to the SW Pacific. Given the time frame, we are certain that he passed through this little town, and experienced their collective kindness. This is a very well written account of an important, little known, massive effort by many wonderful folks.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book tells an amazing story of the townspeople of North Platt, Nebraska during WWII. With the assistance of others in nearby towns (some a couple of hours or more away) They made it their mission to meet every train, every day (over twenty trains each day)every year of WWII. They served them banquets of food and drinks and sent them off with more to have on the way. You have to read it. It will touch your heart and make you cry. Grown men who were interviewed for the book would cry fifty years later as they recalled the warmth and caring these townspeople gave to millions of military who served during this time and continued as they returned home on the trains even after the war was over. While the town no longer has a single passenger train running through it, it boasts the largest railroad yard in the world where freight trains come through and switch off cars going to various destinations. A truly wonderful story. You will be recommending it to others. A quick easy read. It was not a book I wanted to check out from a library. For me, it is a treasure to keep and share. A "feel good" story, we don't have enough of them.Read full review
I bought the book to learn more about the North Platte Canteen. I had heard bits and pieces about the Canteen and was interested in finding out more. It was informative from what the author learned from the current towns people and what he got from the interviews from the ladys that had worked there and the many military men who had stopped at the canteen. There was a lot of reserch to find the men who had been at the canteen. I thought it was a very good and informative book.
A highly interesting book about a town that showed what's good and decent about the U.S..
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book was on my "intend to read" list since it first came out. I saw Bob Greene interviewed at that time. My Dad was in WW II and probably went through North Platte, Nebraska and may have had contact with these people. This is the most heart-warming book I have read in a long time. I bought it on Kindle, read it, and then bought the hard cover book so I can loan it to people (and get it back). This is the story of a group of people, in an area of a state, who gave, not knowing for how long it would be, and never asked for anything in return. When it was over, these people went back to their lives. Other areas of the country could have done what these people did, but these people did it. Maybe others did what these people did, but no one wrote about it.
After seeing a PBS documentary on the North Platte Canteen, I decided that I would like to know more about it. The story of how the people in North Platte and over a hundred small communities in the area fed over 6,000,000 soldiers during WWII is a fascinating story. These people met all of the troop trains stopping in North Platte, Nebraska and fed thousands of soldiers, using their own food rations and money to feed all of the soldiers coming through their little town of 12,000 people. Bob Greene interviewed a number of the troops who had come through North Platte and relayed their stories. The impact of the kindness shown to these troops left a lasting impression on many of them. This is a story worth knowing.
Thank you
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
At first the title threw me but after a bit, I knew WHY the title. If you are a true American and if you enjoy a true story about the Goodness of American. at least during WWII, this book is for you, as it was/is for me. There wasn't one night while reading this book that I didn't well up and get misty, it's that kind of book. I am afraid the USA that Mr Greene writes about is almost gone, history, as the War that serves as background for the book is! We all suffer because the innate goodness of America slips beneath the covers of time.
I really want the one with photographs
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this book to replace one my parents lended to someone. They loved the story and wanted to read it again. It is a delightful and heartwarming book.
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