We are planning to create a visual montage featuring photos of Donut Dollies who served in Korea and/or Vietnam. What we are seeking are posed training class photos taken in Washington, DC, plus group photos and solo close-up photos of Donut Dollies taken in-country. You can share these photos with us at memories@donutdollies.com In the email, we would appreciate it if you could provide any information of in-country location or people shown in the photo (no pressure if you’re unsure of the details). To provide the best visual quality for each photo, it would be best to scan the photo(s) at 300dpi (dots per inch) or higher. If you have any questions on how to achieve this, please email us.
To clarify a point that recently came to us from a Donut Dollie, we do not claim copyright to any of the Donut Dollie photos that are shared with us and the ownership remains with the person providing the photo. Our goal has always been to share the experiences of the Donut Dollies in an effort to preserve them for posterity and the benefit of women, veterans, educators, historians and the public. We look forward to receiving your photos and please feel free to share this request with your Donut Dollie sisters.
P.S. – We would appreciate hearing from any Donut Dollie who might still have training materials from their DC or Saigon training classes.
In our 55th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Kit tells how the opportunity to see what the Vietnam War was all about motivated her to sign up for a one year tour in Vietnam, how she feels that the Donut Dollies did make a difference through their service supporting the troops and that she believes she is the only Donut Dollie who got married to a fighter pilot in-country, at the end of her tour.
Please share the Donut Dollie Detail with family, friends and veterans you may know, and make sure to like/follow us on Facebook to learn when the next edition is posted.
Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Kit Sparrow Cotton…
Donut Dollie Kit Sparrow Cotton
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
After graduating from college with a degree in International Studies, the only prospect of a job was working in a basement for the CIA. A one-year job working overseas to see for myself what the Vietnam War was like just fit the bill. My dad was a general in the Army, so I knew his stand on the war, but all the people my age were vehemently against it, so I signed up! And the funny thing was that it was my mother who spotted the Red Cross ad in the Washington Post!
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I arrived at my first base in Tuy Hoa in July, 1969 and was there until November, 1969. I then transferred to Camp Enari in Pleiku and was there until March, 1970. My last base was Cam Ranh Army from March – July, 1970. I didn’t go by a nickname and was known as Kit.
Donut Dollie Kit Sparrow Cotton playing music on a portable piano at a firebase near Camp Enari (Pleiku) in December, 1969
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
That was one of the highlights of our jobs, in that you never knew what the next day held in store. My favorite days were the ones when we went out to the firebases by whatever means of transportation was available (helicopters, deuce and a halfs, Jeeps). We would have our program ready to go, but sometimes the men had just returned from the field, and by the look in their eyes, you could tell they just wanted to talk. When we didn’t go out, we worked in the recreation centers, filling the Kool-Aid dispensers, visiting with the men or playing games (cards, ping pong) with the men or designing our next program. Sometimes we would “test” our upcoming programs with the men, and sometimes we would occasionally do entertainment, such as fashion shows or sing-alongs (I played the piano).
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
Sometimes while in route to a firebase, there one we were scheduled to go to was under attack, and we would be diverted to another firebase.
Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
I got mono, but that’s not “battle worthy”!
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
I don’t remember visiting soldiers in hospitals.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
I believe I am the only Donut Dollie who – at the end of my tour – got married in Saigon. Let me backtrack: during my first assignment in Tuy Hoa, I met a fighter pilot named John Cotton. We started dating, and when the Red Cross in Saigon found out that we were pretty serious, I was moved to Camp Enari in Pleiku, which was my favorite assignment. But my new locale couldn’t keep John away, and he would go up into the tower at Tuy Hoa and contact a chopper flying over saying, “Would you mind taking a fighter pilot up to Pleiku?” When I was transferred to Cam Ranh Army, it was easier for John to come see me, because he could catch C-130s, as well as choppers. It seemed as if every time I turned around, there was John, and I was so happy to see him!
I should mention that my Dad had an office in Saigon, and he came over to visit and check out John. Our original intention was to travel around the world and then get married in the States. But, my Dad, in his authoritative voice said, “No daughter of mine is going to travel around the world with a man to whom she is not wed!” So, in a way, he forced our hand in marriage.
We had arrived in-country about the same time, and when John was ready to DEROS (Date Estimated Return From Overseas) to his next assignment in Lakenheath, England, he asked me to marry him. And what a procedure that was! We had to follow the same rules as the GIs did if they wanted to marry a Vietnamese woman. And that entailed many trips down to Saigon – which neither the Red Cross nor John’s squadron commander appreciated! The first time we had to pick an area in Saigon where we wanted to be wed. We met with the staff of a councilman, who said that we had to post our intentions in various areas in his district, so that if anyone had any objection, they could voice it. That entailed another trip to Saigon with papers that we had written in English saying that we wanted to be married. For an afternoon, we taped these papers to walls, nailed them to telephone poles, posted them on billboards, etc. We went down another time thinking we would be married, but that did not pan out.
Finally, each of us had a witness (mine was a fellow Donut Dollie, and we still keep in touch) and we went down to Saigon. We sat and chatted at a table covered with a red and white checkered linoleum table cloth, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, these massive wooden doors opened, and we were ushered into a dark mahogany library with books from floor to ceiling. All at once, our grins turned to a solemn countenance as we faced our councilman, who was wearing a red sash and seated behind a massive desk. The ceremony consisted mainly of paperwork – all in French (which I speak) – and John and I signed on the dotted line. When we walked out of the office, I was Mrs. John L. Cotton!
From there we immediately went to the Red Cross office, where I turned in my Red Cross pin and papers and was no longer their responsibility. I was now under the umbrella of protection of my husband and the United States Air Force.
Donut Dollies Linda Webb (seated) and Margi Ness, Kit Sparrow Cotton and Judy Probert (L-R) at a firebase near Camp Enari (Pleiku) in December, 1969
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
That we came from all different walks of life, wanting to contribute and make a difference – no matter how small – to the war effort and to our soldiers (and I use the term “our” with reverence and respect) who were fighting and dying for a cause that they didn’t understand.
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How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
I think that they smile – both in their minds and on their faces – when they meet us Donut Dollies. And yes, I have been hugged and blessed with the words, “Welcome back!” from veterans, as I utter those same words back to them.
Donut Dollies Linda Meinders Webb, Judy Probert, Margi Ness and Kit Sparrow Cotton (L-R) visiting with an unnamed 4th Infantry soldier at a firebase near Camp Enari (Pleiku) in December, 1969
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
Feeling as if we DID make a difference to the “youngsters” sent into battle.
Making some of the best friends among my Donut Dollie sisters, who can relate and share memories that the rest of the world will never be able to understand.
Learning a new value system – what is really important, and what can be discarded.
Bringing home the best souvenir of the war = my husband. We will have been married for 50 years on July 6th.
P.S. – In the three photos above that the Donut Dollies appear in red dresses, which were their Christmas outfits, Linda Meinders Webb explains “I bought the material and had them made in Hong Kong, so they were original for us, but not approved by American Red Cross.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 54 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE, JUST SCROLL DOWN TO READ EACH (AT THE BOTTOM, YOU’LL SEE A LINK TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE OF DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL FEATURES)
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In our 54th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Dorothy tells that a high school friend brought the SRAO program to her attention, how on one programming run she learned after the fact that the Donut Dollies and the Huey crew had been flying at a dangerously high altitude and that she still gets asked to do speaking engagements to share her experiences of serving in Vietnam.
Please share the Donut Dollie Detail with family, friends and veterans you may know, and make sure to like/follow us on Facebook to learn when the next edition is posted.
Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Dorothy White Patterson…
Donut Dollie Dorothy White Patterson working in the Donut Dollie’s office
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
I was visiting with one of my best friends from high school, Jan Petersen, and she told me she had just signed up with the Red Cross to go to Vietnam. I thought it sounded really interesting, so I decided to look into it. At the time, I was teaching in Pontiac, Illinois and was headed for a conference in St. Louis, which happened to be the headquarters of the Red Cross for our region, so I got in touch with them while I was there. They sent the paperwork to my hotel, I filled it out and the rest is history!
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I was in Cam Ranh from July, 1967 – January, 1968 and I was there for the Tet Offensive. I was at An Khe from January, 1968 until I came home in July, 1968. While at An Khe, I spent one week TDY (temporary duty assignment) in Nha Trang. I did go by the nickname of Dot.
Donut Dollie Dorothy White Patterson (on right) visiting with the soldiers
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
At Cam Ranh we had two recreation centers, we divided our time between the two bases, manning a center in each area. Cam Ranh was a supply base with transportation units and a supply depot where goods were unloaded, stored, and delivered around the country where needed. Cam Ranh Bay had beautiful beaches, so a couple of us spent most of our free time at the enlisted men’s beach relaxing and visiting with the lifeguards. We spent our days putting together programs (games) that we could take with us on our runs. We did lots of socializing activities outside the center —- cookouts, picnics, playing cards, singing around a little campfire.
The other recreation center we served was north of Cam Ranh Airbase, which was called a replacement center, because the newly arrived men were housed there until they were assigned a location in-country. Right after the Tet Offensive, many guys were sent to Vietnam. All the housing facilities at the replacement center were filled – and it was days or even weeks before many of them were given an in-country assignment. They were given no supplies (toothpaste, brushes, soap, etc) because they hadn’t been given a permanent assignment, so we helped the guys by providing them some of the basics. We may have raided the PX!
While the men were housed at the replacement center, they hung out at our recreation center and enjoyed coffee, Kool-Aid and the company of the Donut Dollies. It was almost identical to our center at the main base with tables for card playing, pool tables and areas for relaxing. We also would fly out once a week to Da Lat, and then by boat out to an island (can’t remember the name of it) that housed some members of the Vietnam Navy, as well as some of our Navy men who were stationed there to train them.
While at An Khe, we made many, many helicopter trips to fire support bases for mail runs, hot meal runs, as well as our “program” runs. An Khe was the base for the 1st Cav and the 173rd Airborne, but when I arrived there most of the Cav had moved up north to be closer to the action and the 173rd had taken over the base. There were still all the chopper hangers and bunkers, but just a few choppers remained.
At An Khe our center was called “The Happy Hooch”. My friend Jan and I became very close with the 173rd LRRPs (Long-range reconnaissance patrol). They were so anxious to sit around, visit and relax before leaving on their very dangerous missions.
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
There were never any major “close calls” that we were aware of. We did get stranded one night at a fire-support base because bad weather set in and our helicopter could not take off. It was quite an experience — they had to empty an entire barrack for the two of us Donut Dollies, and give us an escort to go to and from the latrine. Another time we were in a Jeep (leaving An Khe to drive over a mountain to Qui Nhon) and had to wear our helmets and flak jackets for the one and only time we were there. We found out that a convoy had been attacked the previous day and some Korean officers had been killed. Luckily no incident occurred on our trip! Also, one time we were returning to Cam Ranh in a Huey and we were freezing. The guys in the chopper gave us their coats to wrap up in. When we landed we heard the pilot tell someone on the ground that it was a good thing we were too naive to know they were flying at a dangerously high altitude, because there was ground fire below us.
Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
While at An Khe, I did fall and break my elbow, but it wasn’t war related! The Vietnamese had been digging a ditch right outside the back door of The Happy Hooch, our recreation center, for weeks. One night we were locking up and when I was leaving the center, unbeknownst to me the workers had gotten a spurt of energy that day and finished the ditch. I tripped over a hill of dirt that was running the length of the ditch and broke my elbow stopping my fall. I wore a cast for a few weeks, but everything turned out fine.
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
We really did not visit soldiers in hospitals, except for a few men we personally knew who were hospitalized with malaria or some other illness.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
I arrived home in late July, 1968 and returned to my teaching position by mid-August, so I really didn’t have any transition problems. I gave many, many presentations to various organizations in my local area about my experiences in Vietnam and was also asked to give a talk just a couple of years ago to a group studying Vietnam. In fact, I have been called upon to give two talks in the past year.
Donut Dollie Dorothy White Patterson (seated on left) and a Donut Dollie sister visiting with a soldier behind the wheel of construction equipment
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
That we were hard-working and sincere individuals. We were anxious to do our part to help the morale of the troops and make life a bit easier for them.
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
I have seen many comments on Facebook and other places from Veterans who expressed their gratitude for the Donut Dollies being there. I have also received many personal expressions of gratitude.
Donut Dollie Dorothy White Patterson (third from left) and her Donut Dollie sisters visiting with soldiers
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
1) The expressions on the faces of men at fire support bases when we got off the chopper.
2) The many hours spent visiting with the men in our recreation centers, which was a place that allowed them to air their fears and anxieties.
3) Seeing the Bob Hope Show and seeing how much the troops enjoyed their time watching him.
4) What a beautiful country it was!
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 53 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE, JUST SCROLL DOWN TO READ EACH (AT THE BOTTOM, YOU’LL SEE A LINK TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE OF DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL FEATURES)
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In our 53rd edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Darlene tells how she joined the Red Cross as a hospital recreation worker that led to her to sign up to go to Vietnam, how sometimes she was dropped into insecure areas and how the soldiers enjoyed seeing American girls.
Please share the Donut Dollie Detail with family, friends and veterans you may know, and make sure to like/follow us on Facebook to learn when the next edition is posted.
Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Darlene Sellers Cooper…
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
My family was not military, except for an uncle who was killed in WWII. Other than that, my family knew nothing about the military! Many of my friends were going to Vietnam and I wanted to be a part of it! I applied to the military and was accepted as a 2nd Lt in the Army, but wasn’t sure about the commitment. I found out about the SRAO program and I was hired by the American Red Cross as a Recreation Worker in the hospitals at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX and Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, TX. After 18 months of hospital service, I chose to go to Vietnam for one year as part of the SRAO program.
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I arrived in Vietnam in July of 1968 and was stationed for 4 months at Cam Ranh Bay, then for the next 4 months I was stationed at Long Binh with the II Field Force, and in my last 4 months in Vietnam, I was with the 4th Infantry in Pleiku. I was known as Darlene in Vietnam and did not have a nickname.
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
Our daily schedule began early in the morning. We traveled by helicopter or Jeep and sometimes walked to our designated area to provide programs for the men. These programs included board games, puzzles, cards and other paper games. We spent the afternoons with our staff evaluating our day and develop new programs or readjust programs to fit the needs of the soldiers.
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
No! But there were times that we were “dropped” into an insecure area for only a short time! Several times we had to put on our “vests and helmets” and go into the bunkers, because of the incoming rounds!
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Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
No!
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
It was sad, but also rewarding to be able to help or just talk. The men were very glad to see us!
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
It was an adjustment, as the world had moved on and I hadn’t! I did have an easier time coming home, thanks to the support of my family and friends! Plus, I continued working with the American Red Cross in military hospitals surrounded by people that knew what I had gone through. I needed to be a part of the military family!
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
That we were there for the troops! Our main goal was to put a smile on their faces! Many of the soldiers only wanted to take pictures of us, with them. They wanted to send the pictures home to their mothers, so they wouldn’t worry so much, seeing American girls with them!
I would like for my family and friends to know that I did what I thought was right at a time when so many people did not support our men and the military!
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
The veterans that knew us are always appreciative of our service! My second husband is a Vietnam veteran. He served as a pilot in the Air Force for 23 years. We have lots of friends that are veterans and they are appreciative of the Donut Dollie’s service.
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
The beautiful country. The soldiers, never complaining, always grateful for what they had. The soldier’s love and worrying about their families at home!
No matter how rough the terrain was or what little the soldiers had, they would always say that they had it great, compared to the guys in the next group!
When we were traveling on top of tanks and passing by troops of weary men, one would see us (we always traveled in pairs) point and yell “round eyes”! Then the whole troop would wave and yell!!
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Closing thoughts…
I was the only “Dollie” that married a soldier, who was later killed during his 2nd tour in Vietnam. We had met at Fort Leonard Wood (MO) after our tours in Vietnam. I resigned from the Red Cross and followed him through helicopter training. We had a son! His dad was shot down during a helicopter mission when he was 7 months old.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 52 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE, JUST SCROLL DOWN TO READ EACH (AT THE BOTTOM, YOU’LL SEE A LINK TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE OF DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL FEATURES)
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This Friday we will post the 53rd edition of the Donut Dollie Detail. This feature provides a platform for Donut Dollies to share their memories of serving in the Korean and/or Vietnam Wars. Each feature includes answers to 10-questions and 4 in-country photos provided by a Donut Dollie. The Donut Dollie Detail has been well received by veterans, Donut Dollies and the public, as well as becoming a great educational tool for those interested in military and women’s history, including many from around the world, some who are Donut Dollie historical reenactors.
If you are a Donut Dollie, we would be honored to create an edition of the Donut Dollie Detail just for you. The first step is to answer the 10-questions listed below and send it to us at memories@donutdollies.com Secondly, we ask that you scan and email at least 4 in-country photos (at 300dpi or higher, please ask if help is needed), which include photos such as one of yourself, programming to the men, DD group photos and any that you feel would tell a story. Once received, we’ll review everything, determine if any clarifications are needed and then schedule the posting of your feature here on www.facebook.com/thedonutdollies and at www.donutdollies.com/category/donut-dollie-detail Once posted, you’ll have the opportunity to share your feature with family and friends, and through reading and responding to the comments received, you could reconnect with a Donut Dollie sister who you served with or a veteran who remembers you from the recreation center or a firebase run.
We hope you will be interested in taking part in the Donut Dollie Detail, and we look forward to sharing your story. We thank you for your service!
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE
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What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Korea/Vietnam?
When and where were you stationed in Korea/Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname? How would you like your name listed in your feature?
What was a routine day like in Korea/Vietnam?
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
Were you ever injured while in Korea/Vietnam?
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Korea/Vietnam?
In our 52nd edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Justine tells how she was inspired by her mother’s service as a radio operator in WWII, how she encountered a soldier in the hospital who was injured in a very unexpected way, and she shares over a dozen interesting memories from her time serving in Vietnam.
Please share the Donut Dollie Detail with family, friends and veterans you may know, and make sure to like/follow us on Facebook to learn when the next edition is posted.
Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Justine Lee (Lewis) Moyer…
Donut Dollie Justine Lee (Lewis) Moyer
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
After graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education, I was not quite ready to begin teaching. At that time, the thought of being in a classroom all day just did not “feel” right.
Believe it or not, as I was browsing the want ads, I saw that an employment agency in San Francisco was recruiting women for a job with the American Red Cross. I flew there for an interview and was accepted for the position.
I figured if I were a male, I probably would have been drafted and sent to Vietnam. Joining the SRAO was an alternative to being drafted and a way to do my part.
In a way, I was also following in my Mother’s footsteps. During WWII she was in the second Naval training class of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), and served as a radio operator.
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I was stationed in Nha Trang from June 1968 to January 1969 and Pleiku from January 1969 to July 1969. I’ve always gone by Justine.
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
Nothing was “routine” as a Donut Dollie, not even the roof over my head! In Nha Trang I lived in a spacious French villa, right off the South China Sea and visited the beautiful beach as time permitted. In the Pleiku highlands I lived in a house built by the Civil Engineers and learned all about “the rainy season”, and while on TDY (temporary duty) in Phu Bai, I slept in a MASH tent and got to visit the Imperial City of Hue.
Each day unfolded in a different way. I either (wo-)manned the SANDS Recreation Center in Nha Trang, remained on base to create another mobile program (game), designed those crazy short-timer calendars, helicoptered out to take our program and at times the mail to the fire bases, Kool-Aided the flight line or visited the units on base.
Donut Dollie Justine eating chicken in the SANDS recreation center, Nha Trang
Meals were mostly eaten in the chow hall, but out in the field we often dished up the food. It was a great opportunity to joke, smile, and boost morale as all the guys eventually came through the line.
At the close of the day, after unwinding with friends, the duty officer came to make certain we were all safely home, and that the guys had all skedaddled!
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
The very first time I was out, in the middle of our programming, a really loud siren went off. Immediately everyone ran off in a different direction while I stood there like a deer in the headlights. It didn’t take long to realize that “incoming” was raining down on the base. Thankfully one of the airmen ran back to get me, grabbed my arm and dragged me to the nearest shelter. It could have been a close call, and it taught me to be more aware of my surroundings from then on.
Another time we were awakened in the middle of the night, and huddled in our shelter as the alarm sounded. Cortina, our dog, came flying in for cover and whimpering in fear. I can still hear the sand shifting in the sandbags (that were packed around the huge culvert pipe) as the shrapnel hit. I later discovered that the man who became my husband, was crossing the open field between compounds and dodging those very rockets!
Donut Dollie Justine covered with Pleiku’s red dirt after the jeep ride to Wooly Bully
I also remember riding to Wooly Bully (an asphalt plant) in a Jeep, through very red, dusty, Pleiku dirt. I was seated comfortably on the left rear fender, behind the driver. The road was a washboard roller coaster. All of a sudden the left side of the vehicle flipped up to what felt like almost a 45 degree angle. I am certain time stood still. I was so scared that I was not thinking clearly. I wanted to get up and get out! My Donut Dollie partner, seated on the right fender almost fell out, but she kept her wits about her. She calmed me down and slowly moved towards me. Wham! Down went the Jeep!
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Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
I was never injured while in Vietnam, but I did suffer a serious case of food poisoning after eating with a local Vietnamese family. I could picture the meat that I often saw hanging outdoors in the market stalls during the heat of the day… no refrigeration, flies everywhere, BUT it would have been a terrible insult to refuse the generous offer of a meal from a poor family.
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
I had the opportunity to visit the hospital one time that I never forgot. It was right after a number of soldiers had been medevaced from an active fire base. There were bloody bandages everywhere. I approached the bed of a soldier with his leg and foot swathed in bandages. I assumed he was there as a result of a fire fight. I was so wrong! “No M’am”, he said. “ I was mauled by a (Indochinese) tiger!” Imagine being drafted to fight a “hostile action” and being attacked not by the enemy, but by a tiger!
Donut Dollies Tophie Clarke (L) and Justine Kool-Aiding on the Pleiku flight line
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
When I returned home I had a difficult time accepting how materialistic we Americans had become, I’m not certain whether the people were driven by a need to have “more” or whether I had changed and was satisfied with less. It was challenging to transition from thinking “Wow, lucky me, I got a ride into town in an old deuce and a half (truck)”, to seeing two cars in many driveways. In Vietnam it was a treat if I ever got to see a show on television. In the states many families had two TV’s and lots of programs to choose from!
I was proud of the time I spent in Vietnam. After 13 months in country, I think I understood the horrors of war and the fear that young men might experience in being drafted to fight, BUT the constant stateside reports of draft dodgers escaping to Canada really disturbed me. Years later when draft dodgers were pardoned, I still felt some resentment.
Donut Dollie Justine Lee (Lewis) Moyer in Nha Trang
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
The women who served in the SRAO program of the American Red Cross were college graduates recruited from all over the United States. The gals I met were smart, creative, adventurous, brave and patriotic. We majored in different areas of study, had different personalities, different appearances and different beliefs, but we all made the same choice. We put potential careers on hold and answered a call to serve our country by providing the military with a break from the chaos of war and a reminder of their loved ones back home.
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
Although I know many veterans who served in Vietnam, my service has not really been discussed at any length. When people do find out they are generally surprised and somewhat amazed. On Veteran’s Day a year or so ago we visited the Veteran’s Memorial here in Sacramento, CA. My husband and I were overheard as we were each locating the places we served on a big bronze map. A curious stranger asked me why I was there, so I shared my story. Then he thanked me for my service! That really felt good after all these years!
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
My memories are numerous! Here they are, in no particular order:
The piercing blue eyes of soldiers looking at me through red dirt covered faces
The many men who stood alongside me, extending their arms over my head, smiling at a memory and saying, “I bet you are about 5ft 2in tall!”
My answer to the inevitable question, “Where are you from?” Trying to connect to as many men as I could, I would say, “Born in Berkeley, California, raised in New York City, living in Tempe, Arizona.”
Donut Dollies Justine (L) with Jan Feye in Nha Trang toting the infamous programming bag
The supportive gals in blue, holding the other end of the olive drab program bag that we carried everywhere
The marvelous laughter of the men competing against each other during a program game
Snoopy on the short-timer calendars that we provided to the men
The sound of a helicopter… I still look up when I hear one. Sitting next to a door gunner, looking down at the beautiful blue South China Sea on one side, and the ghostly (Agent Orange) deforested landscape on the other
Spooky (Puff the Magic Dragon), the AC-47 gunship (airplane) firing at night with tracers that lit up the sky
Mama-san scrubbing my soapy blue uniform on the cement with a sturdy bristle brush
Beautiful girls dressed in a traditional Ao Dai
The blackened teeth of Betel Nut chewing natives
Amerasian and Eurasian children begging, and scavenging on trash piles
Water Buffalo munching away in the beautiful green rice paddies
The coveted brass bracelet that was earned by drinking rice wine
Experiencing the mix of other cultures… Vietnamese, Montagnards, British, Canadian, Filipino, South Korean, Australian, Thai, Indian, Pakistani and New Zealanders
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In our 51st edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Judy tells how her mother sent her a local newspaper article about the Red Cross SRAO program that led to her going to Vietnam, how her 22nd birthday was rather memorable and shares her memories of Hannah Crews, one of the three Donut Dollies who lost their lives while serving in Vietnam.
Please share the Donut Dollie Detail with family, friends and veterans you may know, and make sure to like/follow us on Facebook to learn when the next edition is posted.
Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Judy Nichols Tayloe…
Judy Nichols Tayloe flying in a helicopter above Vietnam
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
I always chuckle at this question because it was really my mother’s doing that I ended up in Vietnam. I was just about to graduate from college with a degree in Psychology and had no idea what my career path would look like after graduation. One of my goals was to travel, so I wanted that to be part of my career. In a telephone conversation one day with my mother, we discussed different options and ideas. A day or two later, Mother called to share an article from our local newspaper about a Red Cross SRAO program. She mailed me the article. It really interested me, so I called the Red Cross, asked for an application, completed the application, and was accepted. I graduated college in May of 1969, and by early July of 1969, I was in Washington, DC at the Red Cross Headquarters for training, then Saigon for more training and then my first assignment in Bien Hoa.
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I was stationed at Bien Hoa Army Base, July 1969 to January 1970, and Cam Ranh Bay, January 1970 to February 1970. I left Vietnam in my 8th month in country to marry a GI I had met while in Bien Hoa. That union never materialized, and in retrospect, given the opportunity to choose again (with my head instead of my heart), I would have stayed in Vietnam until my year was completed. As it turned out though, I scored an exciting career in the airline industry, fulfilled my dream of travel, married for love and raised a beautiful family. In Vietnam I went by Judy.
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
Exhausting and never routine! Nine Donut Dollies were housed on the Bien Hoa Army Base in a Quonset hut with one bathroom. Sometimes we had water, though rarely hot, and sometimes we had power, and sometimes the refrigerator worked. And, we had roaches! What we lacked in amenities, we made up for in enthusiasm! We were a tight knit group of unbridled creativity!
Judy Nichols Tayloe serving up Kool-Aid to a mechanic at the Bien Hoa Air Force Base
When I first arrived in Bien Hoa, we were a mobile unit doing clubmobile runs and Kool-Aid runs on the Army and Air Force Bases. Also traveling via helicopter, Jeep, truck or whatever transportation we could find, to landing zones and firebases to give an hour long program for the guys as a diversion from their usual work day.
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The men at Cam Ranh Bay raising “The Round Eyes Are Here” flag
In addition, two or three girls from our unit would travel each week and stay one to three nights in Phu Loi to share our programs with the guys. We loved that run, and the guys were always so glad to see us!
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At times we were assigned a temporary duty assignment (TDY). One week, I was assigned to Phan Rang (near Cam Ranh Bay) to help in the recreation center. I fell into the lap of luxury… 4 girl unit, nice, two bedroom trailer with carpet and air conditioning! Bien Hoa had limited AC in our Quonset hut in the main living area, so that was a welcome touch!
In addition to our clubmobile runs, a recreation center was being built for us on the Army Base, so we were involved in getting that ready to open by September. It opened on September 8, 1969, complete with pool table, ping pong table, game room, TV room and reading room. It was such a welcome respite for the guys, and we made sure there were plenty of activities for them to do and participate in. Our days were filled to the brim with runs to fire bases, preparing our programs, spending time with the guys at the recreation center, writing letters home, trying to make a MARS call home (ham radio), trying to cool off, hanging out with friends or just taking a nap!
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
Two things come to mind:
• I was brand new in country… only a few days. It was the middle of the night and I was sound asleep. Suddenly, the air raid siren that announced incoming fire started blaring. I scrambled to put on my flak jacket, helmet, boots, and made my way to the bunker with the other girls. I positioned myself in the back of the bunker and proceeded to cry. No one else seemed phased that we were sitting in a bunker in a war zone with flak jackets and helmets. It just seemed to me that tears and fear were appropriate at that time! We all escaped unharmed, thank goodness.
• It was my 22nd birthday, and I was working at the recreation center. There were several guys in there helping me celebrate my special day. It was getting late and we were making preparations to close the center for the night. All of a sudden, someone threw a tear gas canister into the center. There was a mad scramble to get away from that tear gas as you can imagine. I’ll never forget that birthday and the guys who were so protective over us and helped us through that experience.
The late Hannah Crews (center, dark hair), having a laugh with her Donut Dollie sisters
Because she cannot speak for herself, I want to be the voice of Hannah Crews, a Donut Dollie who lost her life at Bien Hoa. Hannah and I were on duty together in the recreation center on the night of September 26, 1969 (I may be off a little on that date). Hannah was riding home that night, fell out of a jeep and suffered a head injury. She was immediately taken to 20th Preventive Med at Bien Hoa where her head wound was stitched up. She stayed overnight for observation. During the night, she suffered a seizure, was transported to the 24th Evac Hospital in Long Binh where she deteriorated, eventually lapsing into a coma, and succumbed to that injury on October 1, 1969. I want to make sure that whomever reads this will know about her.
As soon as I arrived in Bien Hoa, Hannah and I established a close friendship. We were both from the same region of North Carolina, were raised with similar values, and had the same slow Southern drawl. The “little southern firecracker” was tiny at 4 ft 11 inches, with a charming personality, lovely smile, and infectious laughter. The guys and girls loved her. In the “fondest memories” question (last question), I share a favorite memory of a clubmobile run that Hannah and I experienced. I grieve for her still to this day. Rest in Peace, Hannah.
Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
Yes, In a very odd way. In Bien Hoa, we had a dog, Dinky, and a cat, Baby Cross. In November of 1969, I took R&R to Bangkok, Thailand for a few days. While there I did some Christmas shopping and walked into the military post office to ship some goods home. As soon as I gave my name, all activity stopped. I was then shown a notice in the Pacific Stars and Stripes Newspaper… “Judy Nichols – call Red Cross”. The gist of the notice was that the cat we owned at Bien Hoa had died of suspected rabies and I was to go to the nearest medical facility to begin the rabies shot series as a precautionary measure. So, I took 5 shots in Bangkok and completed the remaining 9 shots in Bien Hoa. As it turned out, Baby Cross tested negative for rabies!
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
The 24th Evac Hospital was in Long Binh, which was about 7 miles from Bien Hoa. I recall going there only once. By the time we saw the men, they were clean and bandaged and really just needed a kind and encouraging word from someone from home. Many of them were seriously injured and would be returning home soon enough. I hope we were of some help and gave them words of encouragement to keep going.
While on a TDY to Phan Rang, I visited a Vietnamese Hospital whose patients were ARVN’s (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) and civilians. There were separate wards for surgery, OB, charity, wealthy, pediatrics and general practice. Vietnamese and American doctors worked together to treat the sick and babies were delivered by midwives. Patients were nursed and fed by their families.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
I hopped a military transport from Saigon to, I think, San Francisco. In San Francisco, the ticket agents thought I was military because I got a military airline rate to Greensboro, NC. My mother sold air travel insurance at the Greensboro, NC airport and she was on duty the day I arrived home. I had not told her when to expect me, so it was a total surprise! There were a lot of tears that day.
The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus was in Greensboro, and my daddy took me to the circus. I had been home only a couple of days. Mama made me a new outfit for the occasion… a red jumper and a striped blouse of many colors… I just think they were so glad to have me home, that any occasion to have an outing was a big deal. I went along with the plan since I didn’t want to disappoint my parents who had been my rock during my time in Vietnam. Anyway, who doesn’t love a circus!
Soon after arriving home, I did a presentation at a Red Cross Chapter in a nearby town and an interview with our hometown newspaper about my experiences. Overall, I think people were afraid to ask questions about what I experienced, and to be perfectly honest, it was hard to describe in words just what it was like to have been in Vietnam and now back in “the world”. The Vietnam War was not a popular subject at that time, so mostly I stayed silent.
Judy Nichols Tayloe with 2 GIs
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
We were young, brave, reliable, responsible, courteous, creative, loving, kindhearted, scared, inexperienced, hardworking, clueless, homesick, adventurous, tired, lost, bewildered, happy, sad, in love, and indestructible. We wanted to be there, and we loved the GI’s with all our hearts! We got so physically and mentally tired from our work, but we never tired of the men. It was the best experience of our lives!
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How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
The dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on Veterans Day 1993 in Washington, DC was a turning point for me. It was also the first and only reunion of SRAO girls that I had attended. Both men and women vets and civilians serving in Vietnam experienced the degradation of an unwelcome homecoming. There were many Vietnam Vets at that occasion, and until that time, they had not been recognized or accepted. Neither had the women. It was following that celebration that I felt free to speak proudly about my service in Vietnam.
Now I feel free to express my experiences and am thanked for serving. I was recently given a Vietnam Veteran Combat ballcap. It is a prized possession.
Judy Nichols Tayloe (center, with broom) and her Donut Dollie sisters at the Bien Hoa recreation center on Halloween
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
I had been in Bien Hoa for less than a month when Hannah Crews and I were given the privilege of introducing our SRAO program to some “new in country” guys who were taking Combat Leadership Courses (CLC). They would take this course and then be dispersed to various locations throughout Vietnam. Normally, we programmed to small groups… usually 4 to 50 max. Lo and behold, there were 200 men in this class! There was a stage, a microphone, and 200 faces staring at us. We were so nervous, but what saved the day was that Hannah and I both were from the South… North Carolina… and we both had that Southern drawl. The guys loved us as soon as we opened our mouths and they responded so positively that the nerves just melted away! Who knew?
The exhilaration of seeing boys that I knew from home is a favorite memory. At Bien Hoa, I experienced 3 “hometown boy” reunions, 2 on Bien Hoa Army base, and 1 on Bien Hoa Air Force Base. What a thrill!
There was a Vietnamese orphanage very near Bien Hoa, which we visited on occasion and also had the children visit our recreation center for special programs. But most of all, the memories of the guys, young and vulnerable, most drafted into an unpopular war, who loved us, provided for us, protected us, doted on us, will remain with me forever!
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In our 50th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail we pay tribute to Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds. Sadly, she passed away on June 3, 2019. We are grateful that Jody had shared her story with us and we were finally able to locate photos from the archive of the late Joan “Dee” Fowler Hirsch, who served with Jody, to create a complete feature.
In her own words, Jody tells how President Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired her to serve in Korea and Vietnam, how she was one of the few Donut Dollies who started in Korea and were then asked to transfer to Vietnam, and how she tried to be a friend to the “boys” who were serving in Vietnam.
Please join us in honoring and remembering Red Cross Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds…
Red Cross Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Korea and then Vietnam?
As a young woman in the 1960’s, I heeded John F. Kennedy’s words “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” I took the Peace Corp test and stated I wanted to go to Asia or Africa, two very big continents. I was accepted in the program and they assigned me to Ecuador – I declined. Shortly thereafter I heard about the Red Cross job – Asia it was – and the pay was better. I was a Political Science major, also Secondary Education and World History. The place was timely for my interest and skills.
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Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds at the Cam Ranh Bay Recreation Center
When and where were you stationed in Korea and Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
After a 2 week training program with the American Red Cross at their National Headquarters in Washington, DC in June of ’65, I left (with 30 women) for Korea. I was stationed at Munsoni, Korea – near the DMZ – when I arrived it was the 1st Cavalry Division – their colors were in the process of moving to South Vietnam, the buildup had begun. My unit was now the 2nd Division. In late October of ’65, I was transferred to Taegu Pusan – I was promoted to Program Director – a $50 a month pay raise – whee! I volunteered to go to Vietnam in Nov/Dec of that year. I did an ITT – an inter theater transfer to South Vietnam in January of ’66. I was stationed at Cam Ranh Bay and did several TDY’s (temporary duty) – one to the 1st Cav Division – and I can’t remember the name of the other – very small base.
My name is Joanne, but I go by Jody.
Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds enjoying some rare free time
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
Our Clubmobile was open from 10 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. There were 4 of us for the first few months. There always had to be two of us on duty. The days were long – not much free time. When we did get a ½ day we would go to the beach (beautiful beaches in Vietnam), always a GI and jeep would find us to help us out. At night if we were not working we would go to the Army’s Officer’s Club or down to the Air Force Club for an adult beverage or two. The USO came several times – Danny Kaye – Bob Hope – we would serve lunch or dinner to the GI’s in their mess hall. We probably went to the NCO’s mess halls – I can’t remember – occasionally they would show a movie on the back wall of a building and we would sit on blankets on the sand (lots of sand). We would visit the Army Hospital and Air Force Hospital. At first, we would visit the village orphanage, but then the village became off limits.
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
There was shelling at two of my TDY stations – we were in the bunkers with helmets – I am sure I was frightened – a long time ago!
Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
No
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
There were two hospitals at Cam Ranh, one at the Army end, one at the Air Force end. We didn’t go often, we were too busy with our units. The real tough cases didn’t come to CRB – they were medevaced. We saw the ones with mental issues – we just talked to them, held their hand.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
Judy Cayce and I spent 6 months coming home thru Southeast Asia, Australia, etc., so we had plenty of time to reflect on what had transpired. I remember the night we sailed out of the Singapore Harbor – taking our last look at Asia (for a while) and how pensive and reflective we both were. It had been a memorable year – after all the war was still going on – we really didn’t want to leave, but we knew we needed to.
When I arrived home, I got a job with the Des Moines Public Schools as a substitute teacher. I would often take my slides and tell the Junior & Senior High students of my journey. I then got a call from the American Red Cross and they hired me as a case worker for SMF (Service to Military Families), SMV (Service to Military and Veterans) and Disaster Services. The Red Cross sent me around Iowa to speak.
Donut Dollie Jody Ahrold Reynolds serving the men on the chow line
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
My youngest brother was the age of most of the boys I worked with (18-19). They probably had not heard of Vietnam until they arrived. They knew nothing about the US policy of containment and what war was really like (nor did I) and many were scared and bewildered. I tried to be their sister, next door neighbor or a friend.
Donut Dollies marching to the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial statue in Washington, DC (1993)
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
On November 11, 1993, Judy Cayce, Joan “Dee” Fowler Hirsch and I went to the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, DC. Many Donut Dollies and veterans from the different branches of the military gathered by unit in front of the Smithsonian and walked the National Mall to the dedication. It was a large parade with lots of spectators – many men ran up to our group as we walked and thanked us with tears in their eyes – we were shocked and touched. All of the GI’s that I have met over the years can never thank us enough. It is a connection – they get it and I get it!
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
Living something that you can never imagine unless you had been there – I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
We wish to thank the following people for their assistance in making this feature possible: Jody Ahrold Reynolds, Stan Reynolds, Joan “Dee” Fowler Hirsch, Patricia Schweers and Karen Bishop.
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In our 49th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Nancy tells how after serving just over a year in Korea the Red Cross asked her to serve a year in Vietnam, how she was the LAST Donut Dollie to leave Vietnam and how honored she and her Donut Dollies sisters felt by the audience response they received at a Bob Hope show in Vietnam.
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Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Nancy Calcese…
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Korea and then Vietnam?
Honestly, I graduated and needed a job. The Red Cross was interviewing on campus. I was not a risk taker, and to this day I can’t believe I went to Korea and Vietnam. Neither can the people who know me best!
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When and where were you stationed in Korea and Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I was in Korea July ’69 – September ’70 at 2nd Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Division, and Camp Red Cloud. In 1971 the Red Cross Headquarters called and asked me to go to Vietnam as an Assistant Director, where I was from May ’71 – May ’72. I was stationed in Saigon, but traveled from Tuesday through Friday every week from Quang Tri to Binh Thuy. I think there were 7 SRAO units in country at that time.
Camp Payne (Korea) – Wearing an Army field jacket for protection from the cold and rain, Nancy passes out donuts before starting her recreation program.
What was a routine day like in Korea?
In Korea, a routine day consisted of either working on creating our recreation programs in the office or traveling in pairs via jeep, truck or helicopter to deliver those programs to units of men numbering from 10 – 200.
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What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
There were no routine days for me as an Assistant Director in Vietnam. Each week I went to a different unit, visited with the “girls”, went on runs with them to various units, met with the military command to make sure they were getting the appropriate support, etc. I spent a great deal of time waiting for transportation (hours at a time) to and from Saigon where I lived, and the various units. I don’t remember the time period, but I once recorded 81 hours of flight time in 9 types of aircraft, and 98 hours of waiting time. No nickname, I was always known as Nancy.
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
No. The military was very careful to monitor our safety.
Were you ever injured while in Korea or Vietnam?
No, but in Korea, I was hospitalized for a week with mononucleosis and secondary hepatitis.
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
It was very humbling and moving. Sometimes uplifting, sometimes very sad. The visits validated the Red Cross program and what we were all doing over there.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
When I returned from Korea, I assumed a hospital social worker position. The transition was very difficult. In Korea, my task was to provide a joyful distraction. As a social worker, my task was to deliver death notices, problem solve, and counsel. The difference was stark.
Relative to Vietnam, at that time in my life, I was apolitical and Vietnam was just a very difficult job. When I came home, people were interested in my experiences, but at the same time against the war. The difficult part was that no one could relate to my experience and I couldn’t adequately convey what it was like. My brother was a Vietnam war protester and thought that in my role, I had “contributed to the war.” That was difficult.
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
I was in 2 very different roles in the SRAO, and in 2 very different countries. So my views were different as well. Having said that, I think all women who joined the SRAO were very caring, courageous and smart. We were just trying to make life a little more bearable for the servicemen, representing sisters, wives, mothers and daughters. We were all serving our country.
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
In my experience, the term “Donut Dollie” has always brought a smile to the faces of vets. I think they admired that we volunteered to be there and greatly appreciated what we did, and respected us.
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Korea and Vietnam?
I was the LAST Donut Dollie to leave Vietnam. I closed the program in May, 1972. As an Assistant Director, my job was extremely difficult. I traveled weekly to different sites, had to enforce rules and regulations that were often ignored, and experienced difficult living and travel conditions.
My fondest Vietnam memory was of a Bob Hope show. Five or six of us Donut Dollies had seats high up in the bleachers. Someone arranged for us to sit closer on the floor of the arena. As we walked down from above, word spread that the Donut Dollies were there and as everyone saw our uniforms, the entire audience stood up and applauded and cheered. It gave us all chills.
Being in Vietnam as an authority figure at 24 years of age was extremely difficult. But, I believe that my years in Vietnam and Korea shaped my successful career in Human Resources. It gave me the skills and confidence to accomplish much in my life and I’m very grateful for both experiences. They really shaped my life.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 48 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE, JUST SCROLL DOWN TO READ EACH (AT THE BOTTOM, YOU’LL SEE A LINK TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE OF DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL FEATURES)
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In our 48th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Karen tells how being a teacher right out of college wasn’t exciting enough – so she applied to be a Donut Dollie, that she may have been the only Donut Dollie to have dinner with her father while they were both in Vietnam and how she and her Donut Dollie partner ended up rock & roll dancing for South Vietnamese kids.
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Please meet Red Cross Donut Dollie Karen Kent…
What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Vietnam?
I was teaching high school math during my first year out of college. I wasn’t enjoying it very much because this was in Atlanta during the civil rights era. I wanted an adventure, so explored living on a kibbutz or joining the Peace Corps. I was the sponsor of the high school Red Cross club and read the monthly magazines. One article described the SRAO program and I knew that was what I wanted to do. My father was a career military officer and had been in Vietnam already as a MACV infantry adviser in the Delta. I wanted to better understand both the war and the antiwar movement. My dad was extremely proud of me going to Vietnam.
When and where were you stationed in Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname?
I was in Vietnam from 1970-71 and was stationed in the northern part of the country (I Corps) from June 1970 to early December 1970 at Camp Eagle with the 101st Airborne Division and six months in Chu Lai with the Americal Division from mid-December 1970 to June 1971. At both places, we lived in trailers with a bunker in the middle of the trailers. Camp Eagle took their job of protecting us very seriously – there was a fence around the trailers and a guard at the gate 24/7. At Chu Lai, it was much looser – no fence and no guard, but we were close to the Commanding Generals’ residence, so it seemed safe.
I had no nickname in Vietnam.
What was a routine day like in Vietnam?
Most of the work at Chu Lai and Camp Eagle was done on firebases. Most of the firebases were on mountain tops. Vietnam is a beautiful country and I loved flying in Huey helicopters with the doors off and seeing the coastline, the rivers and the mountains. We would do 2-3 programs on a firebase, often setting up our gear on sandbags surrounding the artillery. Then, if time permitted, we’d walk around and talk to the guys individually or serve them a meal so we could see more men. Occasionally, we’d attend a memorial service for infantry guys who had died or a church service.
The helicopters that dropped us off were also taking/picking up guys in the field, so if there was a lot of field activity, we’d be delayed getting off the firebase. Luckily, I never had to spend the night on a firebase! The guys were so bored that they loved seeing us arrive and we always got a good turnout. We also went to very small communication bases where there would only be 2-4 men. We’d sit and talk, rather than do the activities. I particularly enjoyed that. I think this experience led me to becoming a mental health therapist, which I did for 40 years.
Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?
I was standing on the steps of my trailer in Chu Lai watching bombs hit the airfield about a mile away. Fortunately, being young and naïve, I wasn’t frightened. When the siren went off telling us to go to the bunkers, we would run a block to the commanding officer’s bunker, because our bunker had rats! Also, I was on a firebase when explosions started going off. The guy nearest me threw me to the ground and threw himself on top of me. Then they found out it was an engineering unit clearing land with explosives and they forgot to warn the guys on the firebase. But it was very sweet that the guy just automatically acted to protect me.
Were you ever injured while in Vietnam?
I was sitting in a truck with the door open and my foot in the door area waiting for our helicopter to pick us up. When it landed, the air from the helicopter slammed the door shut on my foot. The men helped me into the copter and flew me to the nearest medical hospital. They were going to put me on a stretcher, but I was too embarrassed (not sure why), so two men carried me between them. Because the pilot radioed ahead that a Donut Dollie was being brought in, there were a ton of people waiting just to see us. The old-fashioned type of cast was put on my foot for 6 weeks. It was too difficult to get in and out of the copters, so I had to do activities on base the whole time. I really missed the flying and the firebases.
What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?
I only visited a hospital maybe three times, since most of our work was on the firebases. I did spend a couple of weeks myself in a MASH-style hospital when they thought I had malaria. They debated where to place my bed. The doctors decided not to put me in a unit where the men were healthy enough to want to talk to me, so they placed me at the end of the room on the recovery unit and surrounded my bed with screens. Most of the men there had been in surgery and were coming out of anesthesia. I even heard them interrogating North Vietnamese while they were groggy. Not a good environment for recovery!!
My dad had just come into country for his second tour. They allowed him to come from Saigon to Chu Lai to visit me for two days. It was really unbelievably good seeing him, but it was also the most homesick I have ever been in my life. After he left, I told the doctor that if he would release me to the Donut Dollie trailers, I would follow his directions exactly. I had just been at Chu Lai briefly when this happened, so I wasn’t close to the other women yet. That’s where I met Terre Deegan Young (see end of paragraph), who visited me every day and helped tremendously when I moved back to the trailer. I was in bed another two weeks. Terre and I remain friends to this day. The diagnosis was changed to “undiagnosed fever”, but they think it was severe food poisoning, because a third of the unit I served Christmas dinner to on a firebase also got the same illness.
You can read Terre Deegan Young’s own Donut Dollie Detail feature here.
How was the transition returning home to the United States?
My family lived in Hawaii at the time, so that’s where I returned. My mother picked me up at the airport and took me to a music concert in the crater of Diamond Head. I spent the day with my younger sister there. I was absolutely blown away. It wasn’t a good thing to do my first day home. I had trouble seeing everyone happy and carefree, when I had been in Vietnam 48 hours earlier with men who might not even return home.
I can’t tell you the number of friends who said “Someday you’ll have to tell me about your experience”, but none ever followed up. No one wanted to hear it. I stayed in Hawaii and worked in a book store for about six months waiting for two friends to get out of Vietnam. Then five of us met up in Germany, bought a cheap van, and spent six months living in the van and roaming Europe. All five of us (3 helicopter pilots, Terre, and I) processed our experiences as we traveled. It was a real healing time and allowed me to move on with life.
What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?
We weren’t prostitutes! The men were kind and protective of us. When I was unit director, a lieutenant propositioned one of the women I worked with. I called his boss, who had him meet us at the Officers Club and he bought us a bottle of champagne. He was very embarrassed and contrite and knew he had blown it completely. Propositions were very, very rare in Vietnam. If any man even cussed in front of us, another man would say “Hey, there are ladies present!” and there would be an apology.
I would ache at the end of each day from smiling constantly. We were always “on”, because that is what the men needed. I grew up rapidly during my tour. I started the year as a shy, quiet person and ended the year as an outgoing, confident person. During all the challenges in my life since then, I’d tell myself “If I could handle Vietnam, I can manage this!” and it worked for me. Vietnam was a very difficult, but powerful year.
How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them? Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?
My experience with Veterans since Vietnam has been powerful. They are grateful that we were there, because we represented “home” to them. I’ve had no negative experiences. My dad would introduce me to his military buddies, as the daughter who went to Nam.
What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Vietnam?
I had been in country for less than a month and a guy on a firebase was walking us to the helicopter. He turned to me and said “I’m going home next week and I’ve been wanting to do this for a year”. He dipped me back and passionately kissed me. Said “thanks” and walked away. The whole group of men burst into applause as I stood there stunned.
We accidentally ended up at a ceremony where the Americans were turning over responsibility to the South Vietnamese. After the ceremony, the South Vietnamese started playing music and asked me and the other Donut Dollie to dance by ourselves. The only dancing we knew was rock and roll, so we just started dancing. Soon, kids joined in. It was a very strange experience, but we knew we couldn’t say no.
I met my dad for dinner in Saigon when I was going on R&R. He had his arm around my shoulder as we walked to the Officer’s Club. I noticed men staring at us and finally asked my dad what was going on. He grinned and said “They think you’re my girlfriend”. Of course! No one would imagine a father/daughter together in Vietnam.
I got a call late one night from a male friend of mine with another Division. I could tell he was slightly drunk. He said “None of the guys here believe I know an American woman in Vietnam”. Would you tell them it’s true?” I gladly talked to several guys letting them know that yes, it was true.
After I left the country, this friend got medevacked to the Philippines. Years later we met up in Santa Cruz, CA. He told me that he believed my visit to him in the military hospital in the Philippines saved his life. I had not visited him, but I could never tell him the truth, because what he believed was so powerful.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 47 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL THAT CAN BE SEEN HERE, JUST SCROLL DOWN TO READ EACH (AT THE BOTTOM, YOU’LL SEE A LINK TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE OF DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL FEATURES)
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