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Chopper Books

Donut Dollies in Vietnam: Baby-Blue Dresses and OD Green

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Description

The young women who served in South Vietnam with the Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program were known informally as Red Cross recreation workers. To the American men who served during the Vietnam war they were simply Donut Dollies. Ask any Donut Dollie why she was in Vietnam and she would tell you that she was there because the men were there. Ranging from large bases such as Cam Ranh Bay to forward Landing Zones and firebases, their job was to provide GIs with a brief respite from the war through games, Kool-aid, or just their presence. In Donut Dollies in Vietnam: Baby-Blue Dresses & OD Green, Nancy Smoyer, who served as a Donut Dollie during 1967-68, writes a poignant memoir of her Vietnam experience, both during and after the Vietnam war. Based on Nancy’s photographs and letters and tapes home, as well as emails written to veteran groups since 1993, she pulls together material from others to share the emotions and events she and other Donut Dollies experienced. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chopper Books; First Edition (May 18, 2017)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0692878009


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 02


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.57 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #1,490,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,757 in Vietnam War History (Books) #12,693 in Asian History (Books)


#2,757 in Vietnam War History (Books):


#12,693 in Asian History (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Important Memoir of a Year in Vietnam and its Aftermath
Many people have a touchstone moment, which divides a life into before and after. It is only in retrospect that they can point to it and say “This was It.” Nancy Smoyer had such a moment in Vietnam in 1967. She counts her year-long experience there as such, but one moment in particular that summed it all up. That year has informed the rest of her life, and her contribution to the well being of the men who were boys she met over there continues to this day. Anxious to serve in whatever capacity she could, Nancy Smoyer made the decision to join the Red Cross recreational workers known as Donut Dollies. Despite her gentle upbringing, her decision was based on the feeling that if the men had to be over there, she needed to play a part herself. In those days, the draft was in force and the men didn’t have a choice, whereas, she did. Basically a non-political person, Nancy’s motivations were purely to be there for the men. In addition, this was decades and several wars before women would be able to serve in combat, so the Red Cross provided her with the opportunity she craved. Now 50 years later, she has published her memoir based on recollections and letters, of that experience and on the strong bonds forged during that year that have endured into this century. She reunites with the enlisted men she met then, regularly travels to volunteer at the Memorial Wall in Washington. Their objective was to provide a respite from the pressure cooker of war by playing games (mostly of their own invention), talking, basically acting as a sounding board for homesick GIs, in other words, boosting morale. She had her ups and downs mood wise like anybody, but her overall “I’ll try anything” personality was usually optimistic, and whether it was flying in open helicopters or eating C Rations off overturned buckets decorated with flowers, she was mostly upbeat. She indicates that despite the difficulties of establishing friendships due to the necessary abrupt departures and troop movements, she regarded them as individuals and not faceless cannon fodder. The fact that her younger brother Billy, special by any scale, became one of that war’s victims, is handled with compassion and pain, but a great deal of cathartic hope too. Generous with her memories, Nancy tells her story through letters, reminisces, emails and photographs. This book is a special addition to the collection of literature about Vietnam. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2017 by KasaC
    • Wonderful opportunity to gain understanding
Nancy Smoyer has done a great job of presenting her personal thoughts and experiences while sharing the writings and messages of others who served in Viet Nam. As a Donut Dollie in Viet Nam, she was college educated and decided that she could serve our troops and our country by heading off to a war zone. This book captures her personal experiences, not only through her present day view, but through segments of letters and tapes that were sent home. Her personal reflection allows us to experience the dedication, commitment, fear, anger, and every other emotion of a young woman who served in Viet Nam. Through her writing we gain perspective of some of the emotions of all who served. It also allows us to get a glimpse of the feelings that are so strong today. I appreciate that Nancy’s book presented the complicated experiences, challenges and relationships that contribute to an experience that is often summed up by using the term, “Viet Nam”. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2017 by Suz Colorado
    • Heartfelt and Compelling
Nancy has written a heartfelt and compelling account of her selfless efforts to help the men and women who served in Vietnam, from her time as a donut dolly in a combat zone in 1968-69, to her service over the decades to help veterans and their families, and her love for them shines through these pages. Donut Dollies is an important addition to the literature of “our war.” — Peter Prichard, MACV, 1968-69 ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023 by Peter S. Prichard
    • Historical
It's responsibility for us to give credit where due.
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024 by Carlos
    • There It Is
My wife & I met Nancy at The Wall this year on Memorial Day & Veterans Day where we talked a bit. I hadn’t a clue of the Red Cross presence in Vietnam before this. The last time she asked if I knew what they were called (I didn’t, Donut Dollies) , mentioning that she had written a book about her experience & jotted down her name. The book really captures the era, using as a springboard letters & tapes home, then complementing them with notes from her fellow DDs, including poems. The text is organized chronologically, episodically by sections & she annotates them from her perspective in later years, particularly as they pertain to discussions & the many support groups she has been involved with. Though I did not serve In Country - I was a Vietnam era veteran in the Navy - many of my friends did. The book captures the sentiment of those tumultuous times well & the personal price she paid as well as the rewards. In a phrase, it comes across as an honest account. We had an expression in those days, when someone got it it right, “There it is.” That was my take: she has. She mentions the books & movies about Vietnam that evoke a similar response in this reader. There are particular references that struck a chord with me that I will mention the next time I see her. Fate chose her as a chronicler of Vietnam & its aftermath. For those who it affected or have more than an passing interest in Vietnam, you will do well in reading this account. All proceeds from sales go directly to support Semper Fi, a highly rated nonprofit. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2021 by DramaUrge
    • Good memories!
Bought as gift for a Vietnam vet - it brought tearful but good memories. Glad I purchased
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023 by Amazon Customer
    • The Vietnam War was more than just the battlefields.
Maybe I'm prejudiced, because I was one of the wearers of those Baby-Blue Dresses. But I think that Nancy Smoyer has done an excellent job of describing what our lives in Vietnam were like. Of course, it was different, for each of us, no two had identical experiences. But this book will give the reader, whether they served in Vietnam or not, an idea of what we saw, did, lived through. And Nancy has continued to support the Vietnam Veterans to an extent that most of us have note. That, in itself, is a terrific story. For those who are interested in more of the history of the Vietnam War than just the battles, this is an excellent telling of a piece of the whole story. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2017 by vn dd
    • Boring!
I was very disappointed in this book. It is boring and just a recital of dates and names of places! Totally uninteresting in any way!
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024 by Daisy

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