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Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen Audiobook
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(3.04) - 682 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
During World War II, American soldiers from every city and walk of life rolled through North Platte, Nebraska on troop trains, en route to Europe and the Pacific. The tiny town transformed its modest railroad depot into the North Platte Canteen -- a place where soldiers could enjoy coffee, music, home-cooked food, magazines, and friendly conversation during a stopover that lasted only a few minutes. It provided homesick military personnel with the encouragement they needed to help them through the difficult times ahead. Every day of the war, the Canteen -- staffed and funded entirely by local volunteers from the community of twelve thousand -- was open from 5 a.m. until the last troop train of the day pulled away after midnight. By war's end they provided welcoming words, friendship, and baskets of food to more than six million GIs.
Based on interviews with North Platte residents and the GIs who once passed through, Bob Greene unearths and reveals a classic, lost-in-the-mists-of-time American story of a grateful country honoring its brave and dedicated sons.
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"4.5 stars for this one. The book is a super fast, easy read. It reads like a magazine article. I loved all the stories that were told from both the GI perspective and the citizen's point of view. The reason it's not getting 5 stars from me is that between the stories, the author sometimes writes segues that just don't make sense to the flow of the book. They almost seemed forced. But I still recommend this book...especially if you are like me and love WWII stories!"
— Mandy (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Greene’s writing reminds me of the wartime reporting by Ernie Pyle, who seldom wrote about generals or big shots but preferred to dignify the enlisted men in his columns and books…I salute the author for preserving this story of another time in another America.”
— Chicago Tribune Book Review -
“The quintessential American story. A small town opens its arms to young soldiers on their way to fight WWII.”
— Aaron Brown, CNN’s NewsNight with Aaron Brown -
“Meticulous research and storytelling…History that documents the selflessness and brotherhood that sometimes seems gone with the distant past.”
— Associated Press -
“Poignant and heartfelt.”
— Lincoln Journal Star -
“A tale of small-town generosity in a time of war.”
— Omaha World-Herald -
“Greene’s sketches of change tap a universal feeling: the bittersweet melancholy involved in recalling times past, the poignant ache—more than mere nostalgia—that accompanies our awareness that we are all creatures of time who ‘can’t go home again’…Standing at the intersection of history and memory, [Greene] tells us about it beautifully.”
— Providence Journal -
“A lovely book—one that may make your eyes glisten. What an astonishing achievement the Canteen was.”
— Hartford Courant -
“We can thank Bob Greene and the folks who, long years ago, gave freely and cheerfully of what they had—a smile, a dance, an egg salad sandwich. They did it not for medals but because it was something they could do.”
— North Platte Telegraph -
“Moving…Greene’s skill makes this homage not just a time capsule but a work that will strike a resonating chord in those seeking to remember the generosity and selflessness of many when faced with adversity and peril.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A lively, affectionate look at small-town America…In a literature overflowing with melodramatic, and often overblown, accounts by the likes of Brokaw and Ambrose, this pleasingly modest and meaningful account of life on the homefront deserves the widest audience.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Once Upon a Town Listener Reviews
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" I like the story behind the book, but felt like the writing was monotonous and the same story could have been told in half the number of pages. "
— Christine, 2/6/2014 -
" Inspiring story and the author told it in a unique way, flipping from past to present. "
— Lyric, 1/30/2014 -
" A great book to read if you are from Nebraska or have an interest in WWII. These ladies that ran the canteen were very self-less. We could all learn from them. "
— Susan, 1/17/2014 -
" This is one of my absolute all-time favorite true stories. Every page is proof the people working together can make a miraculous difference in the world. "
— Kathy, 1/11/2014 -
" I really enjoyed reading about the North Platte Canteen. Who knew it ever existed? It's fun to read about random small towns that I've driven though in Nebraska. The testimonials of how one town touched so many soldier's hearts are very touching. "
— Patti, 1/5/2014 -
" Touching true story about the unbelievable sacrifices made by North Platte during WWII. I had no idea there was ever such a thing as the North Platte Canteen. True Midwestern values on full display. "
— Mark, 12/26/2013 -
" This was a cool piece of history that you just don't hear about, and should know about. There is a lot of goodness in this world, even though it seems that focusing on the bad is easier. While a terrible war was going on, something awesome was also happening. It was a quick read, slightly repetitive for my taste, and it was history, so depending on how you do with that... That being said, I would love to have been a part of something like this. "
— Tawn, 12/23/2013 -
" Excellent book! Everyone should read! Especially now, during a recession! Makes you value the simple acts of kindness. "
— Danell, 12/15/2013 -
" This book is a very wholesome book that shows the American public in its finest form. It is a very good read for high school students to demonstrate a community working together to honor those men and women who fight for out country. "
— Joanne, 9/11/2013 -
" An amazing true story about community, commitment and compassion. Would that such a spirit of goodness still exist today. "
— J, 8/28/2013 -
" A great book about a small town that came together during WWII to feed the troops as they were passing through and let them know how much they were appreciated. "
— Luann, 8/16/2013 -
" I only read about 1/2 the book, but it seemed to drag on and on. I really like the premise of the book, but it entertained too many tangents. I didn't really like his writing style and didn't feel inclined to finish it. "
— Jeniece, 7/24/2013 -
" I liked this book but it was very repetitious. The subject matter is very interesting, but maybe this should have been a Sunday newspaper feature series and not a book. "
— Cathy, 6/10/2013 -
" America at it's best! I love the way the author brought us home to North Platte, Nebraska and into the hearts of the people who made this incredible story happen. I love this kind of history! "
— Stacee, 4/15/2013 -
" To be honest, I didn't finish it. The reality that the story is based on is wonderful. A true hidden gem. But the execution of translating that reality into a book was unimpressive--worse than that, it was distracting. "
— Jessie, 3/17/2013 -
" The townspeople of North Platte fed the soldiers who came through on the troop trains during WWII "
— Colleen, 12/24/2012 -
" It's amazing how one small town can create such good will with so many people. The stories from the cantee workers and the WWII vets are amazing, heartfelt, and emotional. "
— Stephanie, 10/26/2012 -
" Didn't finish. Too slow for my mood right now. I'm sure it's a nice story otherwise. "
— Kim, 7/2/2012 -
" This is an incredible story! The book itself was a little too long, but its message was great. "
— Nancy, 5/31/2012 -
" Fantastic true story of America's past. "
— Paul, 10/8/2011 -
" A nice story, yet highly repetitive. Could have been half the length. "
— Stephen, 9/3/2011 -
" I loved this story about what the city of North Platte did for soldiers during the war. I felt, though,that the book dragged on too much and could have been shorter. "
— Cynthia, 6/10/2011 -
" America at its best! Reminded me of my mother going to the Hollywood Canteen during WWII, and she LOVED it! "
— Nan, 1/15/2011 -
" Incredible story - told for too long, but still......read it & weep at the magnificence of these people & those times. "
— Marilyn, 1/5/2011 -
" Nice feel good story. I didn't like how it felt like just a bit of random stories about the Canteen. I would have preferred some kind of defined progression, but not bad for non-fiction. "
— Jennifer, 1/2/2011 -
" Nice book to read around the holidays -- Americans showing acts of kindness to WWII soldiers. "
— Kim, 12/7/2010 -
" This is one of my absolute all-time favorite true stories. Every page is proof the people working together can make a miraculous difference in the world. "
— Kathy, 10/5/2010 -
" An amazing story of the American spirit as exemplified by the people of Norh Platte, Nebraska. A must read for everyone. "
— Dayle, 9/19/2010 -
" about the troop trains during WW II in North Platte, NE. i enjoyed it, but people in thier 70s would really enjoy it. "
— Mrs., 3/18/2010 -
" I really enjoyed reading about the North Platte Canteen. Who knew it ever existed? It's fun to read about random small towns that I've driven though in Nebraska. The testimonials of how one town touched so many soldier's hearts are very touching. "
— Patti, 1/26/2010 -
" Didn't finish. Too slow for my mood right now. I'm sure it's a nice story otherwise. "
— Kim, 1/23/2010 -
" I've read this book twice. Excellent and inspiring. "
— Margaret, 1/13/2010
About Bob Greene
Bob Greene has filled a shelf with two dozen books, including his 1993 novel All Summer Long, while appearing as a broadcast journalist on Nightline and writing for the Chicago Tribune and magazines like Life.