Telegraph | Jan. 31, 1945 Cpl. Frank E. Deardruff returned to the North Platte Canteen a “well-traveled” plate which he has been carrying with him for some time. When Cpl. Deardruff received the plate, several months ago, it was topped with a birthday cake for a wounded soldier on a hospital train on which Cpl. Deardruff was an intern. Today the plate is back where it started from, with the following inscription written on the back: “This plate came from the North Platte Canteen, went to Cape Edward, Mass., back to San Francisco, Calif., through 12 states and Canada — Cpl. Frank E. Deardruff, Hospital Train.” The war’s last calendar year repeatedly brought notoriety to the Canteen, starting with young Gene Slattery. (His award below was for youths outside 4-H clubs; Omaha-based Ak-Sar-Ben separately honored a 4-H member.) Daily Bulletin | Feb. 1, 1945 John Alexander, general manager of Radio Station KODY, announces today that eleven-year-old John Eugene Slattery of North Platte has been ad- judged the outstanding “Good Neighbor” among Nebraska’s thousands of young men and women. KODY entered young Slattery’s name in the Good Neighbor award competition, sponsored by Ak-Sar-Ben. In winning the award, Slattery will receive a $50 War Bond, a special citation and a Good Neighbor emblem from Ak-Sar-Ben.
A Jan. 10 audit committee report had showed the Canteen had $7,787.69 in the bank. Winter weather was imposing its usual staffing challenges, but Canteen workers — who long had included African-American and Jewish groups — continued to be as integrated as the troops they served. Telegraph | Jan. 30, 1945 The North Platte Mexican Ladies, aided by many volunteers, served at the Canteen Sunday. Donations of the Mexican women included $53.35 cash on supplies, eggs, cookies, cream, birthday cakes, sugar, coffee, salad dressing, bread and cakes. The Canteen expected to be short of help both Sunday and Monday, but the volunteers who gave up their own time to help relieved the situation, and officers-of-the-day today expressed their ap- preciation to them.
Canteen workers scoop food for soldiers.
According to A.A. Lowman, chairman of Ak- Sar-Ben, the award was based upon “unselfish and patriotic deeds beyond the field of personal gain or welfare, thus exemplifying the Good Neighbor Spirit in Nebraska.” The broadcast noted below aired over the 306- station Armed Forces Radio Service, The Daily Bulletin reported. Telegraph | Feb. 3, 1945 A short wave broadcast for Nebraska men overseas has been prepared by radio station KODY to give the boys direct news from home. The broadcast is part of the government program “Let’s Go To Town,” in which 140 towns are taking part. The program, which will be on the air at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, February 4th, will open with the [North Platte] Senior high school quartet,
With one troop train’s worth of customers served and on their way, Canteen workers clean up and get ready for the next.
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