Falls County Historical Society and American Legion Post 31 present Donut Dollies

Nov. 11, 2023, is the official day marked to celebrate the end of World War l (WW1).  

On Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., in the year 1918, the armistice was signed to stop the “War to end all Wars.” This was so named because of the new and deadly types of warfare that was introduced during WWI such as nerve gas.  

After several attempts to change the holiday day, the U.S. Congress declared that the official holiday was to be Nov. 11. This year the observance day was changed to Friday, November 10 to comply with federal holidays.  

The Falls County Historical Commission has made the decision to honor our nation’s veterans on the official holiday as it has always been, Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in the Falls County Courthouse, third floor District courtroom.  

The program this year is entitled “Donut Dollies of Vietnam.” During World War II the American Red Cross enlisted numerous teams of female volunteers to operate clubmobiles equipped with a kitchen area,  stove for heating water for coffee and a built in donut-making machine.  These clubmobiles travelled with the rear echelon units, but each day the teams ventured out to different operating areas to visit Soldiers, play Victrola records, pass out sundry items, and serve hot coffee and fresh made donuts to the troops.  

These female Red Cross workers answered the call to duty again during the Korean War and earned the endearing nickname, “Donut Dollies” by turning out up to 20,000 donuts a day for American Soldiers disembarking troop ships in Pusan.  

During the Vietnam War the Donut Dollies were most visible.  Between February 1962 and March 1973, they logged over 2,000,000 miles by jeep and helicopter visiting combat troops at remote fire bases from An Khe to Yen Giang (there is no “Z” in Vietnamese).  During this war they did not pass out a single donut.  This time, in Vietnam, they dressed in their signature pale blue outfits, traveled in at least pairs, and brought smiles, songs, games and a touch of back home to the guys who were in the bush counting the days down from 365.  

Joyce Denke is a veteran of the Donut Dollies serving in Vietnam from October 1970 to October 1971. She is a native of Central Texas where she graduated from Mary Hardin Baylor College with a degree in sociology and a minor in physical education.  Immediately upon her college graduation she joined the Red Cross and was sent to Vietnam for one year.  She and her husband live on the family farm in the city of Riesel.  Joyce will be the keynote speaker for the Veterans Day 2023 program on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Please join us to hear this interesting story from one who has been there.