In our 65th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Lorna tells how in Korea her uniform were fatigues and combat boots versus the dresses the Donut Dollies wore in Vietnam and how her daily personal goal was to make one soldier smile. 

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 Lorna Collins Pierce…

What prompted you to join the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program and want to go to Korea?

I joined because I was interested in doing something besides teaching, and the idea of travel was irresistible. (Although I did end up teaching at the university level later). 

When and where were you stationed in Korea?  Did you go by a nickname?  

I was in Korea 1960-61. We wore fatigue uniforms and combat boots daily.  I found it interesting to see that the DDs in Vietnam wore skirts.  I was stationed at Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu between Seoul and the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), I Corps; then 7th Division Artillery.  I didn’t go by a nickname in Korea. 

What was a routine day like in Korea?

A routine day was gathering props and doughnuts, jump in a truck and visit several small units.  My goal every day was to pick out one soldier and make him smile.

As seen in the photo below, this music event was held in a mess hall.  We had song sheets, so it must have been one of the programs we organized.  All the daily events were in mess halls.

Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?

I had no close calls.

Were you ever injured while in Korea?

I was not injured.

What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?

We did not visit hospitals in Korea.

How was the transition returning home to the United States?

The transition to being in the states was easy, nothing remarkable.

What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?

The women who served were there to do a job, make life a little more pleasant for the soldiers for an hour or so every few weeks. 

How do you feel Veterans think of your time having served with them?  Have any Veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?

The veterans I knew appreciated us and thanked us.

What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time serving in Korea?

No response provided.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 64 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL AND 6 EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE 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)

In our 64th edition of the Donut Dollie Detail we continue our focus on the Donut Dollies, but with this edition we share the memories of a Vietnam veteran who served on the Cam Ranh Bay base. Jim Mummah was stationed at CRB during the preparation, construction and grand opening of the Red Cross Recreation Center and shared his photos and memories with us. We hope you’ll enjoy seeing the Donut Dollies from a different perspective, that of a man who is appreciative of their service.

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.  

Here are the memories from Vietnam veteran Jim Mummah of the Cam Ranh Bay Donut Dollies…

“I was in the Air Force at Cam Ranh Bay and I was present for the grand opening of the new Red Cross Recreation Center that opened in late 1968 or early 1969 on the Air Force West Side, better known as Herky Hill.  I hope they bring fond memories for the ladies pictured.”

These photos show the site preparation and construction of the Cam Ranh Bay Recreation Center.  “At first it was just a prepared flat spot, and we all wondered what would be built there.” Not long after, we learned that the Donut Dollies would be operating the new Recreation Center.

“As I mentioned above, the Air Force West Side was called ‘Herky Hill’.  ‘Herky’ is a shortened nickname for the Hercules aircraft, the C-130.  The hill is pictured in the photo below with the water tank in the background.  In the foreground of this picture is the ‘hooch’ I lived in.  I was on the 2nd floor at the far end.  This picture was taken from just about where the RC Center was built.  Any of the Dollies at this center would recognize this view.”

Here are photos taken at the grand opening of the Cam Ranh Bay Red Cross Recreation Center.

“This photo is me preparing to go on a mission into the Highlands.  I remember that mission all too well, as it turned really bad that evening and we lost 6 men from a 13-man team.  The team was comprised of 2 Air Force and 11 Army men.”

“About the time the Recreation Center was built I was gone on missions into the Highlands much of the time, so I didn’t get to spend much time in the center.  I do recall talking with one of the ladies several times, but being old, I cannot recall her name.  She is not pictured in my photos.  A humorous note about the RC Center opening… prior to that the “uniform” the men wore in our area was mostly flip flops and underwear.  After the ladies came to the hill, we chose to wear shorts or pants.”

“Realizing the service and sacrifice of the SRAO ladies is what made me feel that these ladies meant so much more than donuts.  But it is true that the Donut Dollies name is cuter and sounds better. Thanks to each and every one of you who served in Vietnam.  You were our heroes.”

If anyone can identify any of the unnamed Donut Dollies, it would be appreciated.  

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 5 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 63 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)

In our 63rd edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Barbara tells how her interest for travel led her to join the SRAO program, that she believed she had 9 lives while in-country and that the lack of trees in Korea made for some challenging times when going to visit the men in the field.

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 Barbara Massey McGinity…

What prompted you to join the SRAO and want to go to Korea?

I ended up in South Korea with the Red Cross simply because I wanted to travel and the placement officer at my college handed me a pamphlet and said, “Here, you might be interested in this, I know you want to travel.”

Next thing you know, I’m in St. Louis for an all day interview.  I thought they had units in Europe, which is where I wanted to go.  They had me wait for 30 minutes and when they returned, they said, “would you like to go to Korea or Vietnam.”  As my brother was draft age and in the Lottery, I chose Korea.

When and where were you stationed in Korea?   Did you go by a nickname?  

When I was in Korea from 1967-68, I was first stationed at Camp Casey, 7th Division in Dongducheon (aka Tongduchŏn).  From there I went to Camp Humphreys near Anjeong-ri and Pyeongtaek, which was a travel unit (aka clubmobile), I was Program Director and then Unit Head.  Then I went to Osan Air Base, which was also a travel unit.  I did not go by a nick name.

What was a routine day like in Korea? 

At Camp Casey we mostly did our programs on the post since it was so large.  We did go to Camp Kaiser, which was above the 38th parallel, where men were being killed and injured.  We flew by helicopter.  When we first arrived and went on travel runs, I was terrified.  There were only 8 of us girls and I was not used to men my age.  I shook like a leaf.  Later it was fine.

Travel units were fun and adventurous.  We had to find our own rides, whether by truck, train or helicopter.  We got stranded in the snow, drove through creek beds, etc., whatever it took.  The men were great for the most part and grateful we were there.  Sometimes if we were on a small communications site at the top of a mountain, we would just talk with the men.  We went to missile sites, air bases and lots of units, which sometimes would take 5-8 hours to get to.  We would stay over night.

Sometimes it was freezing cold and the Red Cross would not allow us to wear pants, so we used 2 sets of stockings.  I remember one trip, when I had gone to straighten out a unit who had treated our girls disrespectfully.  On the way back the men sat in the warm cab while we were in the back freezing and having to go to the bathroom soooo badly!  There were no, and I mean no trees in Korea, so there was no privacy.  We had to wait until we got to the next unit on our run.  Miserable!  Actually, the M*A*S*H* movie (1970) was a lot like it was for us through the year.  I laughed through the whole movie and remembered different incidences that were similar.

Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?

As far as accidents go, I guess I had 9 lives.  I was in a minor truck accident where I was sure I was going to be hurt, but wasn’t.  One night, my room in our living quarters caught fire and filled with smoke.  Donut Dollie Karen Short rescued me at 2 AM when she saw smoke coming from the foot of my door.  If not for her, I would have died of smoke inhalation. 

Plus, while on a travel run up by the DMZ (demilitarized zone) we got lost on our way to Panmunjom (aka Panmunjeom) after the midnight curfew.  We were stopped by Korean soldiers and there was a huge tank in the bushes aimed at us.

The USS Pueblo was captured on January 23, 1968 while I was in Korea and the entire country went on alert.  Also, there were 30 infiltrators between where I was stationed and Seoul.

Were you ever injured while in Korea?

No.

What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?

(No response)

How was the transition returning home to the United States?  

I stayed an extra month.  Coming home was strange.  I knew people were giving soldiers a hard time when they returned to the states.  I came home through Hawaii, so I didn’t end up at McChord Air Force Base.  Once I got home, I found that everything was so expensive.  It felt strange.  

What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served? 

Most people have no clue what it was like then.  I would like them to know how much I appreciated being able to remind the men in Korea, who felt forgotten, that they were remembered.  We represented the girl next door.  It was an honor to have been there.  I was proud to have served the military and worked for the Red Cross.  It is the one thing that has impacted my entire life.

How do you feel the veterans think of your time serving with them now? Have any veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?

The Veterans who know about my time in Korea thank me for my service.  They also say that I can stand to be recognized whenever Veterans are asked to stand at a public event.  Until a Veteran gave me his approval, I never did.  Now I stand proudly.

What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time in serving in Korea?

At the Kunsan Air Base, I met and spent the evening talking with Col. Chuck Yeager, the first pilot who broke the sound barrier.  We were both from West Virginia and he was a hero of mine, so that was a big thrill.

I found my letters from July, 1967 through August, 1968.  It is good to have the reminder, but much of it I don’t remember even when I read it.  I still regret not going to Vietnam after 6 months in Korea when I was asked to go, but apparently according to my letters home I did think it through.  I have a lot of nostalgia about that time in my life more than any other.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 62 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL AND 4 EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURES 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)

In our 62nd edition of the Donut Dollie Detail, Susan tells how her choice to serve in Southeast Asia was prompted by completing her master’s degree, how Cam Ranh Bay was just sand on top of sand and that upon her return to the states, a protester spit on her Red Cross uniform while calling her profane names, similar to what the returning men experienced.

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 Susan Harden Lynch…

What prompted you to join the SRAO and want to go to Korea and Vietnam?

I had just finished my master’s degree in history with Southeast Asia as minor area of study.  I was looking for a chance for adventure and travel.  I was a Red Cross water safety instructor and first aid instructor, so SRAO seemed like a wonderful fit.  It was. 

When and where were you stationed in Korea and Vietnam? Did you go by a nickname? 

I went to Korea in 1965.  My first duty station was Camp Casey in Tongduchŏn (aka Dongducheon) with the 7^th Infantry division.  Later I was promoted and stationed at Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu.  

When Vietnam was just opening for the Red Cross’ SRAO program (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) in 1966, I volunteered to go.  I was sent to Cam Ranh Bay to open a new Recreation Center along with Jody Ahrold Reynolds.  Jody and I were in the same training class.  We were joined by Cathy O’Connor who had been a Dollie in Korea previously and Joan “Dee” Fowler Hirsch who was new, but had USO experience.  I also did short assignments with the 101^st Airborne and the 1^st Air Cavalry.  I was known as Susan during my SRAO days.  

What was a routine day like in Korea and Vietnam?  

In Korea we ran a Clubmobile.  This meant that four of us were on the road or in the air each day in pairs doing skits, shows, games and the like in mess halls or unit area parade fields.  Our fifth Dollie remained at the Quonset hut office to develop programs and do paperwork.  The teams rotated members each day.  Weekends were free.  

In Vietnam, Cam Ranh Bay was sand on top of sand.  To walk or ride anywhere meant sand in your shoes, uniform, eyes and hair.  We opened the new Recreation Center and we worked 10 am to 10 pm every day in split shifts with two of us on duty in the recreation center at all times.  We would have to drain our boots and shoes of sand before entering the rec center.  We also did hospital visits and helicoptered to remote unit visits.  Rare days off were spent at the beach.  Days off usually came every 18 days.  

Did you ever have any “close calls” either on base or in any vehicles?

My team mate and I attempted to fly to a missile site in Chuncheon (aka Chunchŏn), South Korea during the winter in a storm.  A severe downdraft hit the plane and our pilot somehow managed to fly us out of it.  We returned to base and found tree leaves in the wheel struts. 

Were you ever injured while in Korea or Vietnam?

No.  I did spend time in a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) in Korea and a Base Hospital in Vietnam as a patient, but nothing related to injury. 

What was it like to visit the soldiers in the hospitals?

At Camp Red Cloud in Korea, we visited soldiers in the MASH.   The soldiers were around female troops, American civil service women and Red Cross women.  While happy to see us, we were not much of a draw.   In Vietnam, wehad an Army and an Air Force hospital to visit.  The soldiers were young, hungry to talk to a female, amazed we were there and they loved our visits as did we. 

How was the transition returning home to the United States?  

In 1966 the country was in great turmoil over the Vietnam war.  My arrival at San Francisco International Airport was not pleasant.  A protester spit on my Red Cross uniform while calling me profane names.  I believe this happened because I had a MACV shoulder patch on my uniform.  When I got home, I found no one was interested in hearing about my time overseas.  I remained in Red Cross employment for a year and was sent on speaking and SRAO recruiting trips.   I think that helped my transition, as I was able to talk about my experiences.  

What would you like people to remember and understand most about the women who served?

We were an integral part of keeping soldiers grounded and in raising morale.  How bad could it be—there were women there.  We were a group of intelligent, adventurous women who deeply cared about the troops and we loved our work. 

How do you feel the Veterans think of your time serving with them now? Have any veterans expressed their feelings to you directly?

The troops loved us and I believe those feelings continue today.  I joined the Army Reserve after Vietnam and the men and women under my command who were Korea or Vietnam Veterans spoke of their love of the Donut Dollies and the huge morale boost we provided.  Those that I meet today say the same.  

What are your fondest or most interesting memories of your time in serving in Korea and Vietnam?

I learned my life passion was in serving others, be it my country, individuals or my community.  I continue to do so to this day.  My SRAO service was a life defining time for me.  I laughed, cried, smiled, hugged, loved and was enriched by it all.  I would not trade any of it.  

In Korea we were able to get to know the Korean people and travel all over the country.  I still have Korean friends from that time. 

One of my funny memories in Vietnam was of a dog we were asked to keep.  Pets were not allowed.  The troops felt if we had the dog, she would not be taken away.  She loved to ride in jeeps and would jump into any jeep going by.  Since every unit in the brigade “owned” her, her jeep riding was not thought to be a problem.  Then one day General Westmorland, MACV Commander, walked into the rec center with the dog in a make-shift leash comprised of his web belt.  We all felt we were “toast.”  He sternly asked if the dog was ours.  Everyone in the rec center inhaled.  I explained we were her chaperones, that she belonged to the entire brigade.  He considered that for a while, smiled and asked me to teach her not to ride in general’s jeeps and walked out.  Exhale. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 61 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE DONUT DOLLIE DETAIL AND 3 EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURES 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)