World War II Prairie Invasion
by Gloria Clark

As a result of America’s entrance into World War II on December 7, 1941, Alliance became the recipient of a military base.  Within a few months, this prairie town situated on the northwest edge of the Nebraska Sandhills doubled in size.  Workers hastily constructed housing for 12,000 to 15,000 troops who would call the Alliance Army Air Base home prior to their departure to the European theater of operations.  The town’s residents converted garages, attics, basements, front porches, and any spare space into temporary housing for the construction workers and soldiers.  Read and discover what went on at the base and how Alliance coped during the war years.