Speaking as one hometown boy to another, William Jeffers told Gen. Miltonberger, “You have made a great record and we expected no less because you are from North Platte. After all,” he added, and not so jokingly, “North Platte is almost the capital of the world.” The crowd applauded Jeffers’ statements enthusiastically. … Mayor [Sidney] McFarland introduced Lt.-Col. Warren Wood of Gering, who was commanding officer of the Third Battalion, 134th Infantry, in Europe, and the next speaker, Lt.-Col. Denver Wilson, commanding officer of the Second Battalion, who was returned to the States after be- ing wounded at the Battle of St.-Lo. Col. Wilson’s talk was simple and direct. “For my comrades here and for those not here, I humbly accept the honors of this day,” he said, “thinking of the war that is still to be won and of the veterans who can no longer physically participate.” … Prior to the ceremonies in the park, the starting of the largest parade ever held in North Platte was announced by a volley of bombs sounded by the North Platte Fire Department. … Others in order included … representatives of the North Platte Canteen … As the parade proceeded throughout the streets of the city, Gen. Miltonberger, riding in an open car, stood and waved to fellow-townsmen and the crowd.
and added to at the Sixth Street Market and turned over the Canteen for serving. Amiel Traub reported some 150 pounds had been distributed. Miltonberger was feted four days after U.S. forces extinguished the last resistance on Okinawa, 400 miles south of Japan’s southwestern “home island” of Kyushu. Allied planning now focused on invading Kyushu in November 1945 and the main island of Honshu in March 1946. Because Japanese leaders intended to resist to the death, these were expected to be the bloodiest opera- tions of the entire two-theater war — barring a more persuasive alternative. Telegraph | July 1, 1945 One of the finest features and largest contributions ever made to the North Platte Canteen is being made today by Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Mattson, farm- ers near Holyoke, Colo., who are furnishing all the food for the day at the Canteen today. Mrs. Mattson started last Tuesday to bake cook- ies and spent Tuesday and Friday baking cakes. She has a blister on her right hand from beating the mixtures, but also the satisfaction of bringing 32 dozen cookies and 32 birthday cakes, an angel food and a loaf cake to the Canteen today. Although the Mattson donations included 90 dozen eggs, Mrs. Mattson said she does not have very many chickens and used most of her own eggs for the cakes. …
Hot food and hot coffee were welcome at the Canteen even at the height of a hot western Nebraska summer.
“Prowler,” Daily Bulletin | June 27, 1945 One of the most sincere tributes paid to General Miltonberger in North Platte Monday was a re- mark made by an overseas veteran on a westbound train at the North Platte Canteen. He inquired if the city wasn’t celebrating the General’s return and was told that the affair was going on right then. “Boy,” he said, “the General is one great guy. I served under him thru France and Germany, and I know.” He later had a note delivered to the hotel for the General by one of the MPs stationed here. “Prowler,” Daily Bulletin | June 28, 1945 If visitors at the North Platte Canteen Tuesday thought they were getting some choice meat sand- wiches, they were right. All beef scraps and left- overs from the Miltonberger barbecue were ground
Though Canteen visitors couldn’t watch the pa- rade, they knew Gen. Miltonberger was there.
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