In our thirteenth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share a collection of memorabilia from the personal archive of Donut Dollie Eloise Spell Corley.  Eloise served from 1968 – 69 at Da Nang, Cam Ranh Bay Army & II Field Force at Long Binh in Vietnam.

As with many Donut Dollies in Vietnam, Eloise used a boonie hat to display unit pins and name tags that she received during and after her time in-country.  Typically we’ve seen such collections on drab olive green boonie hats, but this is the first one we’ve seen in Donut Dollie uniform blue.

You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

In our twelfth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to present our first filmed version with Donut Dollie Dorset Hoogland Anderson.  She is one of the two Donut Dollies featured in the Donut Dollies Documentary as they returned to Vietnam for the first time 46-years.  Dorset was stationed in Nha Trang, Cu Chi and Tuy Hoa from July, 1968 – July, 1969.  You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

During her visit to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association in Tampa last week, Dorset showed us this dress and explained that it was custom made for her in Vietnam, featuring embroidered versions of her name and American Red Cross.  Also, you’ll see on the arms five bright, colorful stripes, which makes this dress stand out.  We’re not sure if other Donut Dollies have similar dresses, but if any do, we hope they’ll share photos of them with us.

We thank Dorset for being the starting point of the Donut Dollies Documentary, as she is the mother of our film’s director, Norm Anderson Amandi.  She has shared so much of herself with us and her ball of energy personality has kept our team pushing forward through to the completion of this important project.

In our eleventh installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share another piece of memorabilia from the personal archive of Donut Dollie Emily Strange (July 23, 1946 – July 12, 2016).  Emily served from 1968 – 69 with the 9th Infantry Division and Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam. 

You can see more of Emily’s materials throughout the bonus features included with the purchase of the Donut Dollies documentary.  You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

This is a sheet titled “Uniform Accessories for Vietnam” that was handed out to the incoming class of Donut Dollie candidates.  This sheet was included in the training materials distributed to the women of the January 21-31, 1969 training class under the title of SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) Service Induction and Orientation to the American National Red Cross.  As you’ll see, there were specific requirements for what could be worn from head to toe.    

Following their training in Washington, D.C., the candidates who chose to follow through with the program were flown to Saigon for a couple more weeks of in-country training and then dispatched to one of seventeen military bases.  It’s understandable that the components of their uniforms would have been appropriate wear in the Red Cross Recreation Centers and on base.  But sometimes it is hard to fathom that these were the same uniforms that they wore riding in Jeeps, trucks, and Huey and Loach helicopters to see our troops out on the firebases.  

We are so thankful to Emily Strange’s sister, Peggy Michel, for having the foresight to keep Emily’s Donut Dollie archive and for sharing these materials with us.  This collection included photos, slides, training materials, personal writings, poems, and audio recordings.  We look forward to sharing more of Emily’s memorabilia to help tell the story of the Donut Dollie’s service in Vietnam. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 10 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 65 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)

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In our tenth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share another piece of memorabilia from the personal archive of Donut Dollie Emily Strange (July 23, 1946 – July 12, 2016).  Emily served from 1968 – 69 with the 9th Infantry Division and Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam. 

You can see more of Emily’s materials throughout the bonus features included with the purchase of the Donut Dollies documentary.  You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

This is a Safe-conduct pass that was airdropped over enemy territory as a means to encourage defection of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers to the South Vietnamese and allied forces.  As you’ll see, the front and back of this item note “Safe-conduct pass to be honored by all Vietnamese government agencies and allied forces.”  The front features the flag of South Vietnam and is surrounded by the flags of the allied force members, including the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand.

We are so thankful to Emily Strange’s sister, Peggy Michel, for having the foresight to keep Emily’s Donut Dollie archive and for sharing these materials with us.  This collection included photos, slides, training materials, personal writings, poems, and audio recordings.  We look forward to sharing more of Emily’s memorabilia to help tell the story of the Donut Dollie’s service in Vietnam. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 9 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 65 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)

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In our ninth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share a memorabilia display from the personal archive of Suzanne Shoemaker Fortune (November 15, 1948 – September 17, 2016).  Suzanne served In Vietnam from 1970 – 71. 

You can see additional photos of Suzanne’s time in Vietnam in the bonus features included with the purchase of the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

In this memory collage of Suzanne’s time in Vietnam, you can see many items that meant a lot to her.  At the top center is an artistic photo of Suzanne with a tangle of barbed wire superimposed over her image, to the right is the red boonie hat that many Donut Dollies enjoyed wearing in-country.  The booklet marked 1971 is her American Express Military Banking passbook, along with a couple pair of dog tags and a peace sign necklace.  Plus, there’s over 25 pins she received from units she visited, which are affixed to the flap of a Claymore Mine bag.

As you’ll read below in Suzanne’s obituary, like many of her Donut Dollie sisters she chose to make a career in the military.  Suzanne had a distinguished 24-year career in the United States Air Force and retired in 1997 as a full Colonel.  

We thank Michael Fortune (Suzanne’s husband) and Emily Strange’s sister, Peggy Michel, for allowing us to share these materials.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 8 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 65 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)

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In our eighth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share another piece of memorabilia from the personal archive of Donut Dollie Emily Strange (July 23, 1946 – July 12, 2016).  Emily served from 1968 – 69 with the 9th Infantry Division and Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam. 

This is a set of Military Payment Certificates (series 661) that Emily brought home from her tour in Vietnam.  As you’ll see on the back of the 5-cent thru 50-cent MPCs and the front and back of the 1-dollar MPC is the following statement – “For use only in United States Military Establishments – By United States authorized personnel in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.”

We are so thankful to Emily Strange’s sister, Peggy Michel, for having the foresight to keep Emily’s Donut Dollie archive and for sharing these materials with us.  This collection included photos, slides, training materials, personal writings, poems, and audio recordings.  We look forward to sharing more of Emily’s memorabilia to help tell the story of the Donut Dollie’s service in Vietnam. 

You can see more of Emily’s materials throughout the bonus features included with the purchase of the Donut Dollies documentary.  You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 7 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 65 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)

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We’ve been honored over the last few years to feature the personal stories of Donut Dollies who served in Korea and Vietnam.  The response to each edition of the Donut Dollie Detail has been overwhelmingly positive and have brought back memories to numerous veterans and Donut Dollies, and shared stories that may have gone unknown.  

We enjoy providing the platform to share these stories and today we are reaching out to the Donut Dollie community to expand their involvement.   Below you’ll find our list of 10-questions, which you can fill in with your own memories (no need to retype the question, just list your responses as #1 – 10).  In addition to that, we would need at least 4 in-country photos that help illustrate your experiences.  You can send your responses, photos and any questions to us at memories@donutdollies.com  

If you are a family member of a Donut Dollie who is no longer with us and have photos and details that can help share their story of service, we would be interested in creating a tribute feature to honor them.  

Here’s the list of the 65 Donut Dollies we have featured so far (through your favorite search engine, search by a Donut Dollie’s name and “Donut Dollie Detail” to go direct to their feature to read their story or go to https://www.donutdollies.com/category/donut-dollie-detail and scroll through all of the features): 

Agnes Fortune (Vietnam 1968-69)

Barbara Massey McGinity (Korea 1967-68)

Barbara McDaniel Stephens (Vietnam 1969-70)

Bobbie Lischak Trotter (Vietnam 1970-71)

Cathie Snyder Rubins (Korea 1972-73)

Cathy Knutson Brown (Vietnam 1968-69)

Cecelia “Betty” Burgess Grandison (Vietnam 1968)

Darlene Sellers Cooper (Vietnam 1968-69)

Diane Anderson Hunt (Korea 1971-72)

Diane Diggs Byrd (Vietnam 1968)

Diane Johnson Tucker (Vietnam 1970-71)

Diane Love Crocker (Vietnam 1966-67)

Diane Schmidt Curley (Vietnam 1968-69)

Dorothy White Patterson (Vietnam 1967-68)

Dorset Hoogland Anderson (Vietnam 1968-69)

Eileen O’Neill (Vietnam 1971-72)

Ellen Cadden Nagy (Vietnam 1970-71)

Evelyn Safford Jacobs (Vietnam 1970-71)

Gloria Glover Gates (Korea & Vietnam 1967-68)

Jackie Lively Norris (Vietnam 1967-68)

Jan Small Woods (Vietnam 1966-67)

Jeanne “Sam” Bokina Christie (Vietnam 1967-68)

Jenny Young (Vietnam 1968-69)

Jewell Griggs Miller (Korea 1959-60 – full Red Cross assignments 1958-1965)

Jody Ahrold Reynolds (Korea & Vietnam 1965-66 – tribute edition)

Joyce MacConnachie Kirk (Vietnam 1967-68)

Judy Harper (Vietnam 1970-71)

Judy Nichols Tayloe (Vietnam 1969-70)

Justine Lee (Lewis) Moyer (Vietnam 1968-69)

Karel Dierks Robertson (Vietnam 1971-72)

Karen Kent (Vietnam 1970-71)

Kit Sparrow Cotton (Vietnam 1969-70)

Linda Meinders Webb (Vietnam 1969-70)

Linda Sullivan Schulte (Vietnam 1968-69)

Linette “Linnie” Stone (Vietnam 1966-67)

Lorna Collins Pierce (Korea 1960-61)

Lou Breen Rundle (Vietnam 1971-72)

Maggie Connor Dutilly (Vietnam 1971-72)

Margo Smith Timberlake (Vietnam 1970-71)

Marilyn Schmokel Dent (Vietnam 1967-68)

Marrilee Shannon (Vietnam 1969-70)

Mary Blanchard Bowe (Vietnam 1968-69)

Mary de la Forest-Evans (Vietnam 1968-69)

Nancy Calcese (Korea & Vietnam 1969-70 & 1971-72)

Nancy Caracciolo Warner (Vietnam 1969-70)

Nancy Olsen Hewitt (Vietnam 1970-71 & 1971-72)

Sharon (Vander Ven) Cummings (Vietnam 1966-67)

Pat McDaniel Nease (Vietnam 1966-67)

Pat Toombs Green (Korea 1962-64)

Paula Wright Haley (Vietnam 1968-69)

Peggy Lynd Kelly (Vietnam 1969-70)

Penni Evans (Vietnam 1970-71)

René Johnson (Vietnam 1969-70)

Rose Karlo Gantner (Vietnam 1966-67 & 1969-70)

Roseann Krikston Johnson (Vietnam 1969-70)

Sara Porter Smith (Vietnam 1970-71)

Sheila Otto Rosenberg (Vietnam 1966-67)

Sherry Giles Cozzalio Taylor (Vietnam 1968-69)

Susan Baiamonte Conklin (Vietnam 1968-69)

Susan Harden Lynch (Korea & Vietnam 1965-66)

Susan Heinzelman Ladnier (Vietnam 1967-68)

Teri Fisk Hermans (Vietnam 1969-70)

Terre Deegan-Young (Vietnam 1970-71)

Terry Lee Harmon (Vietnam 1970-71)

Virginia “Ginny” Kirsch (Vietnam 1970 – tribute edition for the Donut Dollie murdered in-country)

and Jim Mummah (veteran 1968-69 – provided photos of Donut Dollies at the grand opening of the Cam Ranh Bay Recreation Center)

We look forward to featuring your story!

*****

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

When and where were you stationed in Korea and/or Vietnam?  Did you go by a nickname?  How would you like your name listed in your feature?

What was a routine day like in Korea and/or Vietnam?

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

Were you ever injured while in Korea and/or Vietnam?

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

How was the transition returning home to the United States?

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

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

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

In our seventh installment of Memorabilia Monday, we are honored to share another piece of memorabilia from the personal archive of Donut Dollie Emily Strange (July 23, 1946 – July 12, 2016).  Emily served from 1968 – 69 with the 9th Infantry Division and Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam. 

This is the program for the Change of Command of the 9th Infantry Division at Dong Tam on April 2, 1969.  This event signified the Change of Command from Major General Julian J. Ewell, U.S. Army to Major General Harris W. Hollis, U.S. Army.  Also providing remarks at this event was General Creighton W. Abrams, U.S. Army, the namesake of the M1 Abrams Tank.  This event program features up-to-the-moment service details of Major Generals Ewell and Hollis, as well as a detailed history of the 9th Infantry Division’s entry into Vietnam.

We are so thankful to Emily Strange’s sister, Peggy Michel, for having the foresight to keep Emily’s Donut Dollie archive and for sharing these materials with us.  This collection included photos, slides, training materials, personal writings, poems, and audio recordings.  We look forward to sharing more of Emily’s memorabilia to help tell the story of the Donut Dollie’s service in Vietnam. 

You can see more of Emily’s materials throughout the bonus features included with the purchase of the Donut Dollies documentary.  You can learn more about the Donut Dollies and how to purchase the Donut Dollies documentary at www.donutdollies.com

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 6 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 65 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)

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In our sixth installment of Memorabilia Monday, we present a Clubmobile run schedule from the Pleiku Sub Area Command dated November 1, 1968.  This amazing piece of SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) history comes from the archive of Donut Dollie Ann Keister Brumback who served in Vietnam from March 11, 1968 – March 21, 1969.

This is the only run schedule that has been shared with us and it helps illuminate how hard these women worked to boost the morale of the men, seven days a week.  As you’ll see, there are three columns listing the daily runs for each Donut Dollie team, which typically consisted of 2-3 women, depending on the size of the group they would be visiting on base and in the field.  In looking over this run schedule, it appears that these Donut Dollies made about 40 such runs during this week.  

You’ll also see that for the 21 segments of daily duties listed, there were only 3 segments listed as “off”.  In the column marked “Run III/Office”, you’ll notice that 4 of the 7 days are noted as “office”, which we’ve been told were the times that the assigned Donut Dollies were to create the “programs” (trivia, games, etc.) that they would take into the field to help take the men’s minds off the war for an hour or so.

We thank Ann Keister Brumback for her service and for sharing this important piece of memorabilia with us.  

PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE 5 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF OUR MEMORABILIA MONDAY FEATURE AND 64 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)