Mischke, H.H. [Lila] DuTemple, A.H. [Lydia] Jensen, Mike [Rose] Loncar, Vern [Opal] Smith, Charles D. [Jessie] Hutchens, Julius [Florence] Forstedt. The platform and train work is in the capable hands of Miss Jeanne Barraclough, Miss Violet Walker, Portia Lee Lawson, Mrs. Ethyl Comer, Mrs. Max [Marjorie Barraclough] Riley, Mrs. Roy [Kathryn] Foust, Miss Harriett Speight, Miss Marjorie Cox, Miss Rena Wilson, Miss Berneice DuTemple and Mrs. Hershel [Dorothy] Watterson. Telegraph | June 12, 1942 The Cohagen transfer company also drew thanks when they moved and put in operation a large ice box which will enable the Canteen to keep the candy, milk and other perishable things donated. Rae, Rena and Denver Wilson already had ap- peared in the North Platte papers many times. Now Telegraph readers learned more about their father. Telegraph | June 15, 1942 George Wilson, “Dad” to all the ladies of the Canteen, is another of the citizens of North Platte who day after day takes his place on the honor roll by seeing that the Canteen is always in shipshape condition. He cleans and scrubs the floors, helps in the kitchen and handles all the work too heavy for the ladies in charge. “Dad” is always on hand from early morning
Canteen visitors pose with an unidentified “platform girl” in this photo taken by Milton Cornelius on July 30, 1942.
until late at night, helping with the hundreds of things that need be done. The U.S. Navy had broken Japan’s winning streak in the May 7–8 Battle of the Coral Sea and sunk four carriers in the pivotal June 4 Battle of Midway. Those battles, however, cost the Navy two of its four carriers (though others
were being built rapidly). The Canteen would serve survivors of both lost ships, beginning with those from the USS Lexington, which capsized in the aftermath of the Coral Sea battle. (Fifty-nine years later, a reunion of Lexington survivors sent a giant card to North Platte in memory of this visit, The Telegraph reported on June 26, 2001.)
42 CANTEEN: AS IT HAPPENED
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