The Donut Dollies: 627 Women who Also Served in Vietnam
Armed with nothing but their powder blue dresses, flat shoes, and beautiful smiles, 627 young American women went to the front lines of Vietnam to bring smiles to the troops. These are their stories.
I was in South Vietnam stationed at the25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. While I only saw Donut Dollies once on the airfield I do know they visited our company on a regular basis and appreciate by everyone they they came into contact with. I only saw them once as flight missions were usually pretty early. I'm glad they finally got the appreciation the so justly deserve. Thank You for posting this!
I remember you mentioning that your dad was in Vietnam but didn't realize he was at Cu Chi and the 25Th ID which in my opinion was the best damn Infantry Division in Vietnam period. I got there in early spring of 67 and stayed 18 months. Came back to the same company and did close to one year leaving in March of 70. Was really pissed when I found out the company was the lead flight in to Cambodia as that invisible border line was a real bad point to us. I flew both tours with the 116th Assault Helicopter company as a door gunner on a Huey Gunship. Great days for a West Tennessee boy given a $250,000.00 helicopter and all the ammo you can shoot plus pay you to do it. One other thing... A while back you posted a story about ole "Big Stick" Buford Pusser. If you want to know about the real "Big Stick" Sheriff just let me know. I met Bufford several times and did several welding jobs for the production company. I tried to figure out how to email you but had no luck finding an email address. Let me know if you are interested. It is a long story that you will find interesting. I Like Your Style Sir! George
He was with the Cav as an enlisted man during his first tour, then returned in 1970 as a Warrant Officer running an M-88 tank retriever with the 25th at Cu Chi. k59lane@yahoo.com is my email address.
I didn't realize that your father was a two tour man. I always appreciated 2nd tour volunteers, My dad was probably a little older. He was a command pilot of a B-17 flying out of Grafton, England during WW2. On his birthday 21st birthday while forming up one of the big raids consisting in hundreds of B-17s he was involved in a midair collision that sheared of most of his right wing forcing everyone to bailout over occupied Belgium. All of his crew survived and eventually made it back to their base. I will send you the rest of this story later as I'm working on something else right now and need it get it finished. Carry On Sir!
He was a career soldier, retiring after 20 years in 1977. With his first tour in 1965 so early in the war, it was a given that he'd be going back. Take your time on the story.
The Dollies were a cool drink of emotional water. They helped more than they knew. The three Dollies who lost their lives while on their tour should have their names on the wall.
Never saw a donut dolly but they sound like great folks. I read this earlier and almost responded but didn't. I've been out bush hoggin and it's playing on my mind. I don't know that I've ever told anyone this. In 69 I went to the USO at Freedom Hill. I'd heard they could help you call home on satellite or some such thing. Must have been six or eight pretty girls there too. I sat in a reception type area and waited to be talked to. None of them pretty girls came out of the other room. Granted I was right from the bush and didn't quite look like most of the soldiers in there. A corporal walked over to me and ask if I was waiting for one of those girls to talk to me? I said, yeah. He said, they aint gonna talk to you. That's officer material. They are getting 500 dollars a night. I thought him full of shit so sat there a long time. What I saw were officers ass grabbing and laughing with them. None of them so much as gave me a look or a hearty fuck you so I left. I saw about four USO shows at my company rear. I reckon DaNang people would have called my rear, The Bush! The only USO bands I saw were Australian and Filipino. Never saw an American group. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
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Thanks for your support of the troops ladies..
ReplyDeleteJD
I was in South Vietnam stationed at the25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. While I only saw Donut Dollies once on the airfield I do know they visited our company on a regular basis and appreciate by everyone they they came into contact with. I only saw them once as flight missions were usually pretty early. I'm glad they finally got the appreciation the so justly deserve. Thank You for posting this!
ReplyDeleteWhat year? My dad was in the 25th ID at Cu Chi in 1970 for his second tour.
DeleteI remember you mentioning that your dad was in Vietnam but didn't realize he was at
DeleteCu Chi and the 25Th ID which in my opinion was the best damn Infantry Division in Vietnam period. I got there in early spring of 67 and stayed 18 months. Came back to the same company and did close to one year leaving in March of 70. Was really pissed when I found out the company was the lead flight in to Cambodia as that invisible border line was a real bad point to us. I flew both tours with the 116th Assault Helicopter company as a door gunner on a Huey Gunship. Great days for a West Tennessee boy given a $250,000.00 helicopter and all the ammo you can shoot plus pay you to do it. One other thing... A while back you posted a story about ole "Big Stick"
Buford Pusser. If you want to know about the real "Big Stick" Sheriff just let me know. I met Bufford several times and did several welding jobs for the production company. I
tried to figure out how to email you but had no luck finding an email address. Let me know if you are interested. It is a long story that you will find interesting. I Like Your Style Sir!
George
He was with the Cav as an enlisted man during his first tour, then returned in 1970 as a Warrant Officer running an M-88 tank retriever with the 25th at Cu Chi.
Deletek59lane@yahoo.com is my email address.
I didn't realize that your father was a two tour man. I always appreciated 2nd tour volunteers, My dad was probably a little older. He was a command pilot of a B-17 flying out of Grafton, England during WW2. On his birthday 21st birthday while forming up one of the big raids consisting in hundreds of B-17s he was involved in a midair collision that sheared of most of his right wing forcing everyone to bailout over occupied Belgium. All of his crew survived and eventually made it back to their base.
DeleteI will send you the rest of this story later as I'm working on something else right now and need it get it finished. Carry On Sir!
He was a career soldier, retiring after 20 years in 1977. With his first tour in 1965 so early in the war, it was a given that he'd be going back.
DeleteTake your time on the story.
The Dollies were a cool drink of emotional water. They helped more than they knew. The three Dollies who lost their lives while on their tour should have their names on the wall.
ReplyDeleteNever saw a donut dolly but they sound like great folks. I read this earlier and almost responded but didn't. I've been out bush hoggin and it's playing on my mind. I don't know that I've ever told anyone this. In 69 I went to the USO at Freedom Hill. I'd heard they could help you call home on satellite or some such thing. Must have been six or eight pretty girls there too. I sat in a reception type area and waited to be talked to. None of them pretty girls came out of the other room. Granted I was right from the bush and didn't quite look like most of the soldiers in there. A corporal walked over to me and ask if I was waiting for one of those girls to talk to me? I said, yeah. He said, they aint gonna talk to you. That's officer material. They are getting 500 dollars a night. I thought him full of shit so sat there a long time. What I saw were officers ass grabbing and laughing with them. None of them so much as gave me a look or a hearty fuck you so I left. I saw about four USO shows at my company rear. I reckon DaNang people would have called my rear, The Bush! The only USO bands I saw were Australian and Filipino. Never saw an American group. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
ReplyDelete