“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
— John 15:13A heartwarming WWII historical from award-winning author Cara Putman:
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Nebraska schoolteacher Audrey Stone wants to support the war effort in any way she can. When her community starts a canteen at the train station, Audrey spends nearly every spare moment there, offering food and kindness to the soldiers passing through. She never expected to fall for a local boy…or face the challenges of budding love in the face of war.
Rancher Willard Johnson admires Audrey’s passionate nature, but when his brother is killed in action, he feels he must avenge by enlisting himself. His father insists he stay, but Willard knows he must go. Reality intrudes, and he never expected the jealousy he experiences when he sees those in uniform.
Can Willard’s budding relationship with Audrey weather the storms of war? Or will one of the other soldiers at the canteen steal her heart?
Author’s Notes for Canteen Dreams
My family moved to North Platte when I was 14, but I didn’t really learn about the Canteen until much later. From the first time I heard some of the stories I was captivated by the sacrifice so many people made during the war for others.
During a time of intense rationing, individuals, families, and entire communities, put the needs of soldiers who would just pass through once ahead of their own needs. Especially in post 9/11 days, I’ve often wondered how we would respond if a similar crisis asserted itself.
If after reading the book, you’d like to learn more about the Canteen, I can recommend several resources.
First, find Bob Greene’s book Once Upon a Town. He does a great job capturing the stories and feel of North Platte and the Canteen. Then Nebraska Public Television and PBS have a wonderful documentary on the subject called The Canteen Spirit. Finally, this website is a wonderful resource. It has wonderful postcards, photos, and stories about the Canteen.
There’s also this website.
There are so many homefront stories just like this one. I would love to hear those you know. Email me your stories.
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