During the Vietnam War, the “Donut Dollies” were young American women volunteers with the Red Cross who traveled thousands of miles to bring a slice of home to American troops.
They organized games, quizzes, and conversations, strummed guitars, and offered smiles and cheer to boost morale. The Dollies ventured into dangerous zones, often under fire, to remind soldiers of the world back home. Tragically, three lost their lives.
The Donut Dollies tradition dates back to World War II, where Red Cross women operated clubmobiles, mobile kitchens on trucks to serve fresh donuts, coffee, and entertainment to troops in rear areas.
In the Korean War, they ramped up efforts, producing up to 20,000 donuts a day for arriving soldiers in Pusan.
God Bless these women for volunteering their time to bring a slice home to our service members.
It’s been mentioned that Donut Dollies charged a nickel for coffee and donuts to US soldiers in WWII. True, but there’s more to the story.
It was a morale thing. Donuts and coffee were free to US soldiers. Because the British and other countries charged for these items, their soldiers complained so much that it caused a morale problem for the allies.
The Secretary of War ordered nickel for coffee and donuts. The Red Cross resisted but then charged.
In combat areas, soldiers didn’t carry around pockets full of nickels. Some accounts mention soldiers using “chits” (small tokens or scrip purchased earlier with cash).
In true frontline or isolated visits, Dollies frequently gave out donuts and coffee for free anyway.
The small fee was symbolic and not a moneymaker, but it caused decades of veteran resentment toward the Red Cross, even though it wasn’t their idea. Some Dollies carried a roll of nickels to “repay” complaining vets years later.
For Korea and Nam, it went back to being free. If you want to blame someone, blame crying British, Australian, and other Allied troops, not the Donut Dollies.
