Posted on Mar 19, 2023
The Untold Truth Of The Vietnam War's 'Donut Dollies' - Grunge
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The American Red Cross was there on the front lines beginning in WWI
The ranks of Donut Dollies grew substantially during the Vietnam War, with 627 women volunteering under the name to put themselves in harm's way. They would serve a year at a time, according to the Red Cross. The program's height was in 1969, and it's estimated that each month, the women of the SRAO volunteer group helped close to 300,000 servicemen. Even when the means of boosting morale changed between wars, the spirit of bringing joy in small ways remained.
The ranks of Donut Dollies grew substantially during the Vietnam War, with 627 women volunteering under the name to put themselves in harm's way. They would serve a year at a time, according to the Red Cross. The program's height was in 1969, and it's estimated that each month, the women of the SRAO volunteer group helped close to 300,000 servicemen. Even when the means of boosting morale changed between wars, the spirit of bringing joy in small ways remained.
The Untold Truth Of The Vietnam War's 'Donut Dollies' - Grunge
Posted from grunge.com
Vietnam
Vietnam War
American Red Cross
Morale
American History
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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I remember once they showed up with canned hams to make ham and cheese sandwichs. Best morale boost ever.
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They were the antithesis of living in a war theater; a clean, smiling reminder of what was left behind and what was awaiting our return. They could have come asking for peaches and pound cake from our Cs and made life better.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
LtCOL Quinter, I havent thought about Peaches and pound cake in the C's for years. How about the ressie bars that we made with 2 crackers and peanut butter and those awful tropical hershey bars from our C's It was as close to a Ressie cup that we had in the bush.
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https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/info-2021/donut-dollies-vietnam-war.html
More stories from the women who served
CMSgt Marcus Falleaf Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SFC William Farrell Maj Robert Thornton Sgt (Join to see) LTC David Brown CWO4 Terrence Clark MSgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Bernard Walko MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Cpl Vic Burk MSgt Dale Johnson SSG Michael Noll PO1 Jeff Chandler SPC Jon O. SGT Jim Arnold SPC Michael Terrell SPC Gary C. PV2 Scott Mollette
More stories from the women who served
CMSgt Marcus Falleaf Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SFC William Farrell Maj Robert Thornton Sgt (Join to see) LTC David Brown CWO4 Terrence Clark MSgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SFC Bernard Walko MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Cpl Vic Burk MSgt Dale Johnson SSG Michael Noll PO1 Jeff Chandler SPC Jon O. SGT Jim Arnold SPC Michael Terrell SPC Gary C. PV2 Scott Mollette
‘Donut Dollies’ Served U.S. Troops in Vietnam
American Red Cross workers nicknamed the “Donut Dollies” went to Vietnam to help with morale during the war. They shared their stories with AARP.
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PO1 Robert Ryan
Read the Book "A piece of my Heart" written by a Red Cross Women who was in Vietnam.
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PO1 Robert Ryan
Read the book 'A Piece of my Heart" written by Woman who was with the Red Cross in Vietnam.
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