North Platte Canteen, The Best America There Ever Was SANTA MONICA, CA (KCRW) - They came from across America, millions of soldiers on their way to World War II, and the people of North Platte, Nebraska opened their hearts to every one of them. Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene has captured this love story between a country and its sons in his just-published Once Upon A Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen. Read an excerpt. © Copyright 2012, KCRW