Eric Groce
Author
With historic photos and impeccable storytelling, The Canteen chronicles an astonishing moment in American history, when the local families of North Platte, Nebraska, came together to provide love, support, food, and morale to the soldiers who briefly passed through their town. Starting Christmas Day, 1941, when transport trains stopped in North Platte to refill their water tanks, troops poured into the trackside Canteen to find home cooked meals, birthday cakes, hot coffee, cold milk, magazines, postcards, and the warmth of a grateful and loving community. The stops lasted only ten minutes, but the people of North Platte made sure that everyone in their midst received the same Midwestern hospitality, regardless of their rank or race (note: the US military was still segregated at this time). It was a herculean effort that endured for 1,559 consecutive days, never missing a single train and feeding over 6 million men and women of the armed forces. This remarkable story will inspire readers of all ages. It is an incredible account of the resilience and sacrifice made by millions of people during WWII, and how coming together with neighbors and friends can be a powerful force for good. Complete with rarely seen photos and first-person interviews and quotes, The Canteen nourishes those who have the privilege to visit.
The Canteen
“This book is a great reminder of
what America can accomplish
when our nation is totally
united in a great cause.”
Dr. Tom Osborne,
US Congressman and
Hall of Fame Football Coach at the
University of Nebraska
Praise & Reviews
"Using photos, letters, and a multitude of original artifacts, Groce shares this uplifting story of a community coming together in a time of great hardship. With the look and feel of a scrapbook, this piece of history is a unique portrait of the home front during a significant event in American history. A notable, unique addition to nonfiction collections."
School Library Journal review (January 2023)
"In a market oversaturated about books about World War II, The Canteen manages to bring new life to the topic, with its discussion of Victory Gardens and rationing gas feeling especially poignant to contemporary readers. Extensive backmatter gives a timeline, updates on North Platte notables, and resources, source notes, and an index. Whether a history buff or not, there's something new for everyone to learn from, a must have for anyone's history shelves."
Booklife Review - Editor's Pick (Fall 2022).
"We were blessed to have Dr. Groce visit our school and our classrooms, grades 3-6. His presentation really complemented the book and helped bring it to life. He was able to tell some of the stories of the Canteen. He made it very relatable for our students and shared stories about people connected to our school that had contributed to the Canteen effort. He really emphasized the kindness, sacrifice, and compassion that was shown to the soldiers by the Canteen volunteers. The lesson of putting the needs of others ahead of oneself was emphasized again and again. It was obvious to a veteran educator like myself that Dr. Groce knew how to relate to children. His presentation was animated. He did a great job of holding students’ interest. Dr. Groce has a high-energy approach that resonated with our kids. The students (and teachers) thoroughly enjoyed his presentation. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in their students learning about a different facet of WWII and hearing the story of how one community showed great love and compassion to complete strangers. Thank you Dr. Groce for bringing this act of love to life for our students."
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Pam Wood, Principal - McDaid Elementary School North Platte, NE
“A beautiful reminder about how empathy and compassion can bring our communities together to achieve what would be impossible to do apart.”
Dr. Jean J. Ryoo,
UCLA Professor,
School Library Journal panelist, and author of Power On!
