North Platte Canteen Research Paper

Creating the North Platte Canteen in Nebraska was not a well thought out idea, but came about as a result of misinformation on the part of North Platte locals who had hoped to see the Nebraska National Guard but instead met the Kansas National Guard (12). In 1941, The Union Pacific railroad depot located along Front Street became the North Platte Canteen that welcomed troops departing the United States for the World War (5). Relatives of the Nebraska National Guard’s Company heard the news that the troop would be passing through North Platte briefly; Numbering about five hundred, family members set out to welcome their relatives (12, 13). The locals became disappointed upon realizing that the soldiers that disembarked from the train were from the Kansas National Guard (13). However, the North Platte residents decided to …show more content…
Miss Wilson’s letter to The Daily Bulletin detailed the reaction of the troops when presented with the gifts, and also the comments made by an officer who reported that the troop had never received such welcome from any other transit station in the country (15). The North Platte Station opened every day by 5.00am every day and closed midnight after the last batch of the troop might have arrived (6). Lavon Fairly Kemper, who was among the first five volunteers at the canteen, mentioned that they usually get information about the schedule and arrival time for the train from the railroad workers who spoke in coded language to the North Platte Canteen members (30). Elaine Wright, who also volunteered at the North Platte Canteen, had a husband who worked for the railroad and shared information with the volunteers about the train arrival times