When Diane Thornal volunteered to serve in Vietnam in 1969, she was just 22 years old and fresh out of college. Motivated by years of Red Cross involvement and a desire to support American troops, she joined the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas program — better known by the nickname given by soldiers themselves: the “Donut Dollies.” Only 627 women served in this role during the Vietnam War. Their mission was simple in theory but extraordinary in practice: travel to combat units across Vietnam and bring soldiers a moment of relief from the war.
Diane and her fellow Donut Dollies flew daily by helicopter to remote firebases, forward operating bases, and field hospitals. They carried games, trivia contests, and simple activities designed to take soldiers’ minds off the war, even if only for an hour. Often operating close to the front lines, the work could be dangerous. During one mission to Firebase Rendezvous in the A Shau Valley, Diane and her partner were pinned down overnight after landing in the middle of an attack. Only later did she learn that an entire North Vietnamese battalion had surrounded the position while they sheltered in the command bunker.
Despite the dangers, Diane remembers the deep gratitude and respect the soldiers showed the Donut Dollies. Many of the troops were barely out of high school, and seeing American women in the field reminded them of home — mothers, sisters, girlfriends, and friends waiting for them back in the United States. For Diane, the experience was profoundly meaningful, even if she didn’t fully realize the impact until years later when veterans began approaching Donut Dollies at reunions and memorial events to thank them.
Vietnam also changed Diane’s life in another unexpected way. While stationed at Camp Eagle, she met Army helicopter pilot Ben Thornal. Their relationship began with a gift of deodorant and a jar of olives and grew into a wartime romance that led to a lifelong marriage. Their story, along with the stories of the other Donut Dollies, is featured in the documentary The Donut Dollies: 627 Women Who Also Served in Vietnam, which highlights the unique and often overlooked role these women played in the war.
Diane’s story has also been preserved through the documentary The Donut Dollies: 627 Women Who Also Served in Vietnam, created by her daughter Libbie. The film highlights the experiences of the small group of Red Cross women who volunteered to serve in Vietnam and the lasting impact they had on the soldiers they met. The documentary has been featured at the Virginia War Memorial, honored by the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, and is now airing on PBS VPM.
📺 CBS News story about the early premiere at the Virginia War Memorial
https://youtu.be/K_XjF9QVMEY?si=IUuZ0qTYFDOwIq7F📰 Veterans Breakfast Club article about veterans who met Donut Dollies in Vietnam
https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/the-donut-dollies-627-women-who-also-served-in-vietnam/🎖️ Military Women’s Memorial event honoring the Donut Dollies
https://womensmemorial.org/program/honoring-the-vietnam-donut-dollies-documentary-screening-panel-and-recognition-ceremony/The film has also been selected to air on PBS VPM beginning in March.