Traveling
Tuesday: WWII in the Cornhusker State
Twice the size of Ireland, and half against the size
of England, the state of Nebraska encompasses the prairies of the Great Plains,
the towering dunes of the Sandhills, and the rock formations of its panhandle.
In 1867 Nebraska became the 37th state and given its anglicized name
from an Otoe (Native American) word meaning “flat water.”
Nebraska’s distance from both U.S. coasts, and its
vast expanse of unpopulated land made it an ideal location for defense
manufacturing facilities. The state was a major producer of aircraft and
munitions as well as other war materiel. The largest manufacturer in Nebraska
was the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant located west of Grand Island. The facility
manufactured 90-, 220-, 260-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound bombs and employed over
four thousand workers at its peak. The company was so large, a small town
sprang up around the plant to accommodate the employees. The plant ultimately
grew to include 645 buildings with fifteen miles of electric distribution lines
and twelve miles of sewer lines.
Twenty-three prisoner-of-war camps dotted the
landscape and primarily housed Italians and Germans taken during North African
campaigns. The main camps were located in Scotts Bluff, Atlanta, and Fort
Robinson, housing more than 12,000 prisoners. Inmates were used to fill jobs,
especially those in the agricultural industry.
Military bases were also numerous in the state,
training thousands of soldiers, pilots, and air crew. Located in the North
Platte train depot, the North Platte Canteen provided food, magazines, and
entertainment to over 3,000 soldiers every day.
Fort Robinson was home to the War Dog Training Center.
A sprawling kennel area housed more than 1,300 canines who were trained as
guard, scout, messenger, and sled dogs. Training last eight to twelve weeks
(depending on how quickly the dog learned), and accounted for more than half of
the 10,000 dogs used by the Army.
As with other states, civilians got involved with
rationing, scrap drives, bond rallies, and volunteering in one of the many
relief or support organizations.
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With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off
countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then
she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage
of convenience.
Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking
forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the
less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride
his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside
down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in
risking romance again.
Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle,
Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run
out before his wounded heart can find room for her?
Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and
Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the
struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at
war.
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