FReeper Canteen ~ Donut Dollies ~ February 12, 2007

Linked in thread | 2/11/07

[StarCMC]

 

The Freeper Canteen honors

Donut Dollies

(Thank you, BIGLOOK!!)

 

During the Vietnam War, Red Cross workers provide services to U.S. military personnel and assist Vietnamese refugees (1962-1974) In 1962, the American Red Cross sent its first paid field staff to Vietnam to assist the growing number of servicemen at various bases and hospitals. At the height of its involvement in 1968, 480 field directors, hospital personnel, and recreation assistants served throughout Southeast Asia. Red Cross workers, who provided 1.9 million services to U.S. military personnel, shared the hardships and privations of war with the soldiers. Five Red Cross staff members gave their lives, and many others were injured as they helped servicemen resolve personal problems or get home when emergency leave was granted due to death or serious illness in their immediate family.

 

Bound by its charter to provide welfare services to the able-bodied troops on duty, the American Red Cross engaged in efforts to sustain the morale of the troops in Vietnam, just as it had during the Korean War and previous conflicts. In response to a request by the military, the Red Cross sent teams of young female college graduates to Southeast Asia to conduct audience-participation recreation programs for men stationed in isolated sections of the region. For example, the recreation worker pictured above checks a GI’s blindfold during a game at Fire Base Jamie, one of several front-line areas visited regularly by the American Red Cross.

 

A monthly average of 280,500 servicemen took part in recreation programs at 20 major military commands. Officials estimate that the clubmobile workers, who traveled by jeep, truck, and helicopter, logged over 2,125,000 miles during the program’s 7-year history. Trained Red Cross personnel also engaged in therapeutic recreation, which was geared to patients’ individual rehabilitation needs.

 

In 1976, despite protests from commanding officers, the recreation program was drastically reduced in a cost-reduction action that removed professional recreation personnel from military hospitals.

 Link here!

 

The women who served in the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program that we refer to as "Donut Dollies" were  civilians.  We volunteered to go to war and, for the most part, could choose where we were stationed (not the unit, but the country) and when we left. Regarding the name, Donut Dolly.  We didn't make or serve donuts--too hot!  In fact, there were no donut machines in Vietnam and most of don't recall ever having seen any donuts during our entire tour.

Here's a little history about the name.  It was the GIs in Korea (in the 1950's) who gave the Red Cross Recreation workers the nickname, "Donut Dolly."  The women had donut machines and could make up to 20,000 donuts a day when the troop ships came in.  As you can see they earned that name!   We just inherited it.

Who is this Dollie in CuChi, Vietnam?

Washington, DC - Training Classbookmark this member invite this member to be a friend From album Donut Dollies by member 1ltken
.....Submitted by Betty Denney, Red Cross Donut Dollie, Korea 1967/68

Check out more at this excellent site ~ Link here!

 

'Doughnut Dolly' serving in Iraq
35 years and still going strong

By Spc. Blanka Stratford
CFLCC PAO

CAMP ANACONDA, Iraq (March 19, 2004) - During the Vietnam War, the American Red Cross provided aide to U.S. servicemembers as well as Vietnamese refugees. At the height of its involvement in 1968, the Red Cross sent approximately 480
field directors, hospital personnel, and recreation assistants to support the growing number of servicemen at various bases and hospitals.

Virginia Wren, now serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was one of these people. Wren was a 7th grade teacher in 1968 when she decided to take a leap of chance and go to an employment agency, asking for public service work and travel. They offered her Girl Scouts or the Red Cross. While Wren was in Vietnam, the Red Cross also lost one woman named Hannah Crews.

The closure, said Wren, came in 1993, when the Women Veterans Parade Group had the Women Veterans of Vietnam memorial in Washington D.C. Hannah's father came to meet the Doughnut Dollies, helping them through unshed tears. Immediately after Vietnam, Wren went to the Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, hospital to take care of fellow veterans. She did hospital service from the early to mid-70s, then spent most of the 80's working for the Red Cross in Germany.

From 1991 to 1993, she served in the first Persian Gulf War. Following the Gulf War, she arrived in Landstuhl, Germany, six days before the Sarajevo bombing. She stayed in Germany until 1997, and then served in Korea and Japan until 1999. "One of the happiest moments in my life occurred right after I arrived in Landstuhl," she said. "I ran into a soldier at the main intersection who recognized me from the 47th Field Hospital in Bahrain. He came up to me and said, 'you were the one who gave me my first birth announcement, and this is my son." Wren said she was absolutely delighted.

Currently, Wren's permanent station is at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, N. Carolina. She is scheduled to stay in Iraq until June 2004 and will then leave for the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal, having completed more than 35 years of Red Cross service. "I plan on staying with the Red Cross as long as it remains fun and I can pass the physical," said Wren.

 

Thank you to the troops, their families, and all who support them!  You are our heroes!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

[Soaring Feather]

[StarCMC]

Thank BIGLOOK for today's Canteen Topic!

Donut Dollies!

[StarCMC]

FIRST!

[SevenofNine]

There is report off BBC wire claim that Iran sending any weapons via Iraq that may be popular thing terrorists are doing scoring Iranian made weapons

And Newsweek confirm for first time Vice President going testify in trial this time Dick Cheney turn on witness stand testify for defense on Scooter Libby case he going reveal ALL

Dick cheney smack chat MSN media MAYBE????

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks for today's thread. Great topic.

[swmobuffalo]

Evening!

[StarCMC]

It was BIGLOOK's idea. Next week I'll be posting one that SandRat suggested.

[StarCMC]

SECOND!

[Soaring Feather]

Great -good to have fresh input for Canteen Threads.

[StarCMC]

THIRD!

[rockinqsranch]

I remember the Doughnut Dollies from my tour in S. Korea. Always been a doughnut freak. U.S. Army, 55th Military Police Co., Uijongbu.

Thank you to all the troops for your service to our Nation.

[SevenofNine]

Anybody who went to Cathoic church or school would tell you THE church keep gooddd records well report off UK Telegraph claim that school that Osmarba Barek went into into Indoesnia claim Senior Mrs Barek did register dear ole son Osmara as Muslum can you say stealth caindate

[SevenofNine]

Thanks to my news briefing ROFL LMAO

[Soaring Feather]

Good evening, Seven.

[SevenofNine]

Hey SF where is Tomkow LMAO OH TOMKOWWW look what I score on YOU TUBE LMAO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-LiO86QtlI

Talk about Sinatra and his Chicago family ROFL

[SevenofNine]

BTW I did read Sunday LA Times today about how internet news forum change rules of the news game that true I don't need Sunday LA times tell me that LMAO

Put this way only on the internet and FR you could score news piece from Drudge to BBC to Xinurea to tass AM I RIGHT

AM I WRONG

[Soaring Feather]

Nope you are not wrong. :)


I saw the original Sinatra hearing, LOL.

[SevenofNine]

LMAO OH really ROFL

So do you think Frank knew Sammy ROFL LMAO

You know what I getting goof on somebody send me that they saying HEY Seven your head of the famly in SO Cal is weasel HE Was he snitch on the Mafia ROFL

[swmobuffalo]

Third's not bad considering I'm sicker than a dog tonite. Fever, cough and runny nose.