Published January 17, 2016 by

Hello and Happy New Year from the Donut Dollies Documentary team!

2015 was quite an eventful year for our project and team. Through our Kickstarter campaign we successfully raised the funds necessary to film the return of Donut Dollies Dorset Hoogland Anderson and Mary Blanchard Bowe to Vietnam for the first time in 46 years. The trip was very exciting and emotional, and included many moments of rediscovery. It also brought up countless memories of the soldiers Dorset and Mary were proud to serve.

Since our last update, we’ve been hard at work editing the 100+ hours of footage we shot in Vietnam. We’ve also been shooting additional interviews and continuing to learn more about these courageous women. Over the last year we’ve received hundreds of comments and memories from Donut Dollies, Veterans and our Facebook friends, and thanks to their interest and support, it has underscored the importance of making this film.

We’re proud to announce that our project has received its first award! Based on our Kickstarter video, the My Hero International Film Festival awarded us first place in the “Indy Features in Development” category. Donut Dollies Mary and Dorset were also honored with special “My Hero” awards. This is a very exciting accolade from a terrific organization, and hopefully it’ll be the first of many laurels that will come along after we’ve finished the film.

We’ve got a lot of work left to do before then, but as the new year begins, it’s important to reiterate that we never would have gotten this far without your support and encouragement. It’s also a good time to reaffirm that we’re more committed than ever to finishing the film and helping to share the story of The Donut Dollies.

All the best in 2016, and stay tuned for more updates soon.

With gratitude, The Donut Dollies Documentary Team

P.S. – You can view our award winning video here

2015 My Hero International Film Festival Laurel presented to the Donut Dollies Documentary in the "Indy Features in Development” category
2015 My Hero International Film Festival Laurel presented to the Donut Dollies Documentary in the “Indy Features in Development” category

My Hero 2015 Winner Award COMBO

Norm Anderson posing with the award made by Senegalese artist Mamadou Tall Diedhiou, which we received from the 2015 My Hero International Film Festival for 1st place in the "Indy Features in Development” category
Norm Anderson posing with the award made by Senegalese artist Mamadou Tall Diedhiou, which we received from the 2015 My Hero International Film Festival for 1st place in the “Indy Features in Development” category

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AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA Award Winning Film BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollie Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Film Festival Winner HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS My Hero International Film Festival RED CROSS SCHERTZ TX SHERTZ Texas veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Published April 5, 2015 by

‘Donut Dollie’ Dorset Anderson returns to Vietnam — this time with filmmaker son

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AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY HAMPSHIRE HAMPSHIRE COUNTY LABOR OF LOVE MASSACHUSETTS MASSLIVE RED CROSS SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Published February 16, 2015 by

Article on Donut Dollie Dorset Hoogland Anderson appears in 13 newspapers across the U.S.

The story of the Donut Dollies and our documentary have been gaining wider attention through newspapers around the country. Over the last couple weeks we’ve been excited to see articles featured in the Miami, FL Herald; Raleigh, NC News Observer; Bradenton, FL Herald; Macon, GA Telegraph; Beaufort, SC Island Packet; Columbia, SC “The State”; Lexington, KY Herald Leader; Bellingham, WA Herald; Charlotte, NC Observer; Washington, DC Times; San Luis Obispo, CA Tribune; Northampton, MA Daily Hampshire Gazette; and the Westfield, MA News.

As we prepare to film Donut Dollies, Dorset Hoogland Anderson and Mary Blanchard Bowe, as they return to Vietnam for the first time in 46 years, seeing these articles makes us happy to know that the Donut Dollies story is reaching a much wider audience. You’ll see more posts coming in the next 2 weeks and once the Donut Dollies and our film crew arrive in Vietnam in March, we plan on posting photos every couple days. We ask you to return to our Facebook page or website (donutdollies.com) more often so you can view, share and comment on our posts, and join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

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Published February 3, 2015 by

Article on Donut Dollie Dorset Anderson appears in the Washington Times

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AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY BERKSHIRE EAGLE CUMMINGTON DOCUMENTARY DONUT DOLLIES DONUT DOLLY HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS RED CROSS VETERANS VIETNAM VIET ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY HAMPSHIRE COUNTY LABOR OF LOVE MASSACHUSETTS RED CROSS veterans vietnam Vietnam War WASHINGTON TIMES WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Published January 21, 2015 by

Labor of Love – Local woman tells story of her time serving as Donut Dollie for Red Cross

Here’s a great Sunday feature article on Donut Dollie Dorset Anderson and our documentary project.  Paul Hopkins wrote this article for the Berkshire Eagle, one of the larger newspapers in Western Massachusetts.

This article provides an interesting look into why Dorset chose to go to Vietnam and what she experienced during her year of service on behalf of the Red Cross.

Thanks to Paul for his interest in the story of the Donut Dollies and in helping spread the word on what we hope to achieve through our documentary.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Lifestyle/ci_27246324/Donut-Dollies-documentary-a-labor-of-love-for-Cummington-woman

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AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY BERKSHIRE EAGLE CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS RED CROSS veterans vietnam Vietnam War WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Published December 25, 2014 by

1969-Local Red Cross Worker Receives Battalion Emblem

 

Here’s a brief article that was written about Donut Dollie Dorset Hoogland in her hometown newspaper, the Martinsburg Journal, back in 1969. The picture shows her receiving the battalion emblem of the 1st Air Cavalry Division’s 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry from Lieutenant Colonel Todd P. Graham, commander, after performing a Christmas program with other Donut Dollies for the 1st Air Cavalry Skytroopers at Landing Zone Tracy, near Cu Chi.
Anyone remember that program?

 

Dorset Dollie_Martinsburg Journal Article 1969

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1st Air Cavalry 1ST BATTALION 8TH CAVALRY AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA Christmas Cu Chi Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY Landing Zone Tracy RED CROSS Skytroopers vietnam

Published December 25, 2014 by

Remembering The Vietnam War’s Donut Dollies

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!!!”

MaryNam092_Cropped

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AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY memories RED CROSS veterans vietnam Vietnam War

Published December 25, 2014 by

More Memories from our Facebook Fans

 

  • 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.

In The News

AMERICAN RED CROSS OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ARCOA Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY memories RED CROSS veterans vietnam Vietnam War

Published December 20, 2014 by

Film will bring Vietnam War’s ‘Donut Dollies’ into spotlight

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BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE COUNTY CHARLESTON GAZETTE CUMMINGTON Documentary Donut Dollies DONUT DOLLY HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS veterans vietnam Vietnam War WEST VIRGINIA WESTERN MA WESTERN MASS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Published December 18, 2014 by

Vietnam’s Donut Dollies — Unsung, They Served, Too

Here’s a  great recent article on PBS’s Next Avenue website, by journalist, writer and Vietnam veteran Doug Bradley that talks about the Donut Dollies, our documentary and our reasons for doing it.

We really appreciate Doug’s support and the fact that he was able to publish the article while our Kickstarter campaign was still going on, which definitely helped more folks hear about us and get involved.

http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/vietnams-donut-dollies-unsung-they-served-too

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