Today we honor the men and women who have served our country – our brave veterans. America’s history is built on the dedication and service of our military personnel who have put themselves in harms way, far from home and loved ones. They all deserve our thoughts, prayers and thanks for their dedication and sacrifice. On behalf of the Donut Dollies Documentary, we wish to extend our gratitude to our Veterans and the Red Cross Donut Dollies who served them.
Today we honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Please join us in keeping them in our thoughts always.
After most of the film crew headed home to the U.S., Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe, along with the film’s director, Norm Anderson, spent a couple days in Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) filming remembrances of their previous 2 weeks in Vietnam. After visiting the 6 different cities/bases where Dorset and Mary had been stationed 46 years ago, and unfortunately not finding many of the physical locations they once knew, they visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Min City to gain a more direct, physical connection to their experiences in Vietnam.
Thanks to the assistance of the crew’s translator, Dorset and Mary were provided special access to the museum’s exhibits while it was closed. This allowed us to film very special and intimate moments of these women experiencing the history on display, which we believe will make for an important part of our documentary. Our Dollies also viewed the numerous pieces of military equipment on display on the grounds of the museum, including a Bell UH-1 Huey Helicopter, a Boeing CH-47 Chinook Helicopter, a Northrop F-5 Fighter Jet, a D.7E Bulldozer, and several tanks.
Below you’ll find 11 photos in total – All photos credited to the Donut Dollies Documentary Team
On their drive to Pleiku, Donut Dollies Dorset and Mary stopped to get a closer look at a rice paddy. The first photo is of a terraced rice paddy strewn with sunlight and showing the farmer’s shack at the left side of the image. The second photo shows the path running through the lush green of the paddy, and the third photo shows Dorset and Mary off in the distance of the rice paddy.
All photos credited to Angeline Herron
As the first trip back to Vietnam by Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe was nearing its end at the northernmost point, they arrived at Pleiku, which was Mary’s second base assignment over 46 years ago. The first photo is of the Welcome to Pleiku sign, and the second and third photos capture introspective moments of Dorset and Mary as they visit Pleiku Lake.
Photo 1 credited to the Donut Dollies Documentary Team and photos 2 & 3 credited to Angeline Herron
Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset and Mary continued up the coast of Vietnam and arrived in Quy Nhon, which was the location of Mary’s third base assignment. The second photo shows one of the many amazing views the Dollies took in while in Vietnam. The third photo shows a monument on the grounds of the Quy Hoa National Leprosy Dermatology Hospital, which also includes a village for patients.
Upon leaving Tuy Hoa, Bob Johnston, the owner of Bob’s Cafe American, asked Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe to sign the wall in his main dining room. Below you can see each message our Dollies left for posterity.
During their visit to Tuy Hoa, Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset and Mary took in some beautiful sights. The first photo shows a gorgeous coastline view and the second showing the woven bamboo basket boats on the beach. Dorset and Mary had a pleasant surprise when Donut Dollie Wanda Huisman (Cam Ranh 1971-72) made the trip from Nha Trang to Tuy Hoa to meet them. The third photo captures the moment when Dorset and Mary met Wanda, and although their paths never crossed in Vietnam, they were clearly connected by their service as Red Cross Donut Dollies.
Photo 1 credited to the Donut Dollies Documentary Team and photos 2 & 3 credited to Angeline Herron
One evening while in Tuy Hoa, Vietnam, Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset and Mary enjoyed some time with the local children at the oceanside bumper car park. The third photo shows Dorset and Mary, in their vintage Donut Dollies uniforms, at Bob’s Cafe American in Tuy Hoa with a plate of fresh made brownies thanks to the Cafe’s owner and Vietnam Veteran, Bob Johnston. The last photo captures a moment of a Donut Dollie friendship that has spanned the decades.
Photos 1 & 2 credited to Angeline Herron, photos 3 & 4 credited to the Donut Dollies Documentary Team
Red Cross Donut Dollies Dorset and Mary had a couple days in Tuy Hoa, so they took the opportunity to take in the sights and attempt to locate the places they once knew. The first photo is of Cham Tower, and the second is a close-up of an abandoned anti-aircraft bunker. The third photo shows Dorset walking near the perimeter wall and in sight of the Vietnam War era quonset hut aircraft hangars of what was the Tuy Hoa Air Base, which was home of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing from 1966-70. In the fourth photo, Dorset is shown on her quest to find some remnants of the Tuy Hoa Air Base, but unfortunately she discovered that nearly everything had been torn down over the last 46 years.
