While in Nha Trang, Mary and Dorset spoke with a friendly local women in their attempt to locate the villa where the Donut Dollies lived. As this trip is about locating history, they found that sometimes what you’re searching for isn’t on a map, but locked deep within memories. Our journey of discovery continues…
AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Dorset Hoogland Anderson HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HELICOPTER Huey Mary Blanchard Bowe MASSACHUSETTS memories Nha Trang RED CROSS Schertz Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
With the first couple days of filming completed, here’s a first look at Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe on their first trip to Vietnam in 46 years. The first photo shows these longtime friends in Nha Trang and the second shows Mary meeting the local wildlife in Dong Ba Thin. The last photo shows Norm on his birthday as he receives his birthday cake from his mother (these mother and son smiles are priceless). In case you were wondering, happy birthday translates to chúc mừng sinh nhật in Vietnamese. Please check back to see more photos as this once-on-a-lifetime trip continues through Cam Ranh, Cu Chi, Nha Trang, Pleiku, Qui Nhon and Tuy Hoa.
AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Dong Ba Thin Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Dorset Hoogland Anderson HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HELICOPTER Huey Mary Blanchard Bowe MASSACHUSETTS memories Nha Trang RED CROSS Schertz Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
We’re sharing this photo, because it clearly captures a special moment for everyone in the photo. It was taken somewhere in or around Cu Chi in 1968 – 1969, with Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Julie (Pence) Van Matre, and the soldier appears to have the name patch of “Cole”. What’s interesting about this photo, is that on the left side of the background appears to be a damaged bridge with a group of soldiers looking on from the other side at this Donut Dollie photo-op.
AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY Cu Chi CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Dorset Hoogland Anderson HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HELICOPTER Huey Julie Pence Van Matre MASSACHUSETTS memories RED CROSS Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Later today, Norm Anderson, the director of the Donut Dollies Documentary will arrive in Saigon/Ho Chi Min City with two Red Cross Donut Dollies, Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe to begin filming their return to Vietnam for the first time in over 46 years. Along with a film crew including Jess Hill (Producer), Joe Cicio (Cameraman) and Angeline Herron (Camerawoman), they will be filming in Cam Ranh, Cu Chi, Nha Trang, Pleiku, Qui Nhon and Tuy Hoa. The mission of this trip is to document the memories of two of the 627 college graduates who volunteered through the American Red Cross to serve our brave soldiers during the Vietnam War.
AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Dorset Hoogland Anderson HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HELICOPTER Huey Mary Blanchard Bowe MASSACHUSETTS memories RED CROSS Schertz Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
In just a couple days, Norm Anderson and his crew will begin filming the return of two Red Cross Donut Dollies, Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Mary (Blanchard) Bowe, as they return to Vietnam for the first time in over 46 years. These women, along with 625 other college graduates volunteered through the American Red Cross to serve our brave soldiers during the Vietnam War.
AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Dorset Hoogland Anderson HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HELICOPTER Huey Mary Blanchard Bowe MASSACHUSETTS memories RED CROSS Schertz Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
We’re sharing this photo, because it clearly captures a special moment for everyone in the photo. It was taken somewhere in or around Tuy Hoa, Vietnam in 1969, and features Donut Dollies Dorset (Hoogland) Anderson and Linda (Sullivan) Schulte. We’ll appreciate your help.
Click on the photo to enlarge
Earlier this year we set up a Facebook page to help spread the word about our documentary, and it turns out that many Vietnam Veterans have been sharing their memories of the Donut Dollies and thanking them for their service. In less than six months, we received nearly 4,000 likes and hundreds of great comments. Below are just a few.
Please feel free to post and share memories, photos and other memorabilia here on DonutDollies.com, too!
- “It was a real treat to get a donut and a cup of coffee from an American Girl (R-E). They were angels in the middle of hell doing a kind deed for us, they were exceptional ladies.”
- “Thank you all for your selflessness–you made a huge difference for us all.”
- “Oh man, we’d be in the camp and the loudspeaker from the orderly room (think: MASH) would announce “attention in the compound (repeat) the Donut Dollies are here. Unless, what you were doing was essential, you stopped everything and ran to the mess hall, to see The Donut Dollies.”
- “I remember the Donut Dollies with the GREATEST Love and Admiration as I experienced their love both in the field and in my Hospital. THANK U ALL 4 what U did. It is greatly appreciated.”
- “You were all angels … going places that those in the rear wouldn’t dare… Thanks for the smiles, games and friendship… I’ll always hold you in the highest esteem.”
- “I am so happy to see this Donut Dollies project being put together so their story will not disappear in our history. Now I wish I could have been there with them for they are my Heroes !! God Bless Them and Your work to preserve their courage and love to share their lives for our Vietnam Troops.”
- “God blessed you lovely young gals with Grace and strength! Thank you!”
- “Those ladies offered us a little sanity in an insane time and place!”
- “I always felt great when they came around to see us, they always spent time with us grunt enlisted men, they had alot of nerve to show up in some of the places they went…”
- “These Donut Dollies would boost the moral every where they went! I always thought they came to visit just to make us smile so much!! God Bless them!!!”
- They made a lot of troopers Happy , by just being there and talking to “US” and making you feel Special. No matter who you were. HOOAH.
- I knew, cherished and loved the Dollies at Tuy Hoa, RVN. Unlike the war, they won our hearts and minds. I’m so glad there’s documentary tribute to them. It’s long overdue.
- Thank GOD for The Donut Dollies
- Thank you all for your selflessness–you made a huge difference for us all.
We started a Facebook page for The Donut Dollies back in May, and have been very excited to see it evolve into a place for folks to share memories and photos of Donut Dollies. To date, we have over 4000 likes, with more folks checking us out every day!
Hopefully DonutDollies.com and the Facebook site will continue to grow and become a place for folks to connect, recollect and learn about The Donut Dollies.
Check out The Donut Dollies on Facebook, and please “like” us and share our page!
https://www.facebook.com/thedonutdollies