"Nebraska Stories | Kearney Goes To War". Kearney, Nebraska’s little-known role in Nebraska’s contribution to World War II. During World War II, thousands of people came to Kearney for training before leaving for combat in Europe and the Pacific. The Kearney Army Airfield, a nearly forgotten airfield built in 1942, served as the base for this war effort. Kearney was forever changed by the influx of military personnel and played an important role in Nebraska’s contribution to the war effort.