Telegraph | June 10, 1945 In a coast-to-coast NBC broadcast originating in the KODY studios, Alex Dreier paid tribute to the towns and organizations who support the North Platte Canteen. … “Many servicemen will think of North Platte as the capital of Nebraska because of the hospi- tality and kindness shown them as they passed through this city, some of them on their way overseas,” he said. North Platte had followed their Guardsmen in the 134th Infantry and their hometown commander, Butler Miltonberger, since their December 1940 activation. Once in Europe, the 134th — whose motto was “All hell can’t stop us” — rolled 1,600 miles from Normandy into Germany, winning four Distinguished Unit Citations while engaged in frequent combat right up to V-E Day. Miltonberger accompanied Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower “stateside” after the German sur- render. He wanted to see home. Denver Wilson would greet him. And North Platte planned a hero’s welcome. Daily Bulletin | June 22, 1945 Upwards of 20,000 visitors are expected to view the homecoming celebration in North Platte for Brig. General B.B. Miltonberger on Monday afternoon. … The street department is charged with the duty of preparing the Cody Park grounds for the
thousands of expected visitors … arrangements had been made with the King Fong Cafe and the North Platte Canteen to brew the coffee and have it ready for serving at six o’clock Monday. … [The parade route] will be direct from Second and Dewey [streets] to Jeffers and thence to the park. William Jeffers and Gov. Dwight Griswold were in the audience for Miltonberger’s address at Cody Park. Telegraph | June 27, 1945 Gen. Miltonberger spoke hesitantly as he began his address. “My heart is full,” he said, “and I am all choked up. But I accept this tremendous welcome, not for myself, but for those men of the 134th Infantry Regiment.” …
Female and male Canteen workers serve African- American and white service members in this and the following two photos.
The soldier said he has been fighting in Germany and Belgium. “The first thing I thought of when I landed on the coast was coming to [the] North Platte Canteen and seeing you ladies,” he said. Handing Mrs. Eshom a cash contribution, he added, “You’ve been carrying on fine here. I know, because I’ve heard so much of the Canteen in Europe.” A short time later, a sailor walked up to Mrs. A.H. [Lydia] Jensen and Mrs. Charles [Celia] Groves and handed them a dollar. “This is for car- rying on the good work during the two years since I visited here before going overseas,” he said. The sailor said he remembered them because they were serving that day two years ago.
This photo shows well how crowded the Canteen serving room could get during a typical 10- to 20-minute troop train stop.
For the fifth time in 18 months, the Canteen’s story was heard over national airwaves.
98 CANTEEN: AS IT HAPPENED
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