House bill, H.R.2081, would award a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program, also known as the "Donut Dollies," who served honorably during the Vietnam conflict. 

"During the Vietnam War, hundreds of women from the American Red Cross, known as the “Donut Dollies,” served overseas and provided critical support to over 280,500 U.S. servicemembers. These Red Cross workers, most of whom were between the ages of 21-24, were part of the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program. Throughout the war, the Donut Dollies traveled over 2,125,000 miles by helicopter, truck, and jeep to reach servicemembers and comfort those who had experienced the horrors of war. The Donut Dollies program was started in World War II and returned to support the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam."

Over the last several years, I have written articles (see RELATED LINKS below) supporting this bill. Unfortunately, the last Congress ended before the bill was acted upon. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, herself a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, had this to say about the Donut Dollies as the new bill was introduced.

“The Donut Dollies were on the frontlines of the Vietnam War, experiencing many of the same difficult conditions as active duty service members on the frontlines. However, the Donut Dollies' heroism and bravery have never been honored with the recognition they deserve. I have been proud to work alongside the Donut Dollies and New Jersey veterans to reintroduce this legislation and will continue to fight for long-overdue recognition of their service and sacrifices...”

Although I never saw a Donut Dollie while I served in Vietnam, my interest was piqued decades later when I discovered that a distant cousin and a high school classmate were Donut Dollies and, in fact, had served together. See my first piece on the topic "Memorial Day and Donut Dollies - They Wore Dog Tags Too".  

As for the experience of these young women, the lyrics of the song "Incoming," written by Donut Dollie Emily Strange and Special Services member Barbara Hagar, "simultaneously convey lightness (via gallows humor) and weariness at the constant sirens and mortar shelling.... The.. song offers us a momentary glimpse into the life of an American woman's role in a combat zone in Vietnam." I later learned that Emily and Barbara actually served with the 9th Infantry Division at Dong Tam just a few miles from me. You can listen to the music video of Emily and Barbara singing "Incoming" HERE (Lyrics HERE). Unfortunately, any award of the Congressional Gold Medal to Emily and Barbara will have to be made posthumously, as both have recently passed away. 

And so it is for more and more of the Donut Dollies, most of whom, like the soldiers with whom they served, are now in their 70s and 80s. Take a minute and write your representative in Congress and ask them to co-sponsor this legislation. Find your rep HERE.