(Washington, D.C) – “Vietnam Veterans of America applauds Rep. Mickie Sherrill (D-NJ) for reintroducing the Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal Act,” said Jack McManus. “We believe it is vital to recognize these largely unacknowledged heroes of the Vietnam War, three of whom did not make it home from Vietnam. The new bill, H.R. 2081, is titled, To 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.
“These Red Cross volunteers were selfless, brave, and resilient. Every Vietnam veteran I know respects and admires them for the guts they showed as they braved incoming mortars, snipers, and ground-to-air fire to visit the firebases,” said McManus. “They were a lifeline. They brought a touch of home to the frontlines and offered compassion and comfort when servicemembers needed it most.”
1,120 women volunteered to serve with the Red Cross during the Vietnam War, and 627 of those women worked as Donut Dollies. They provided critical morale boosts to soldiers. Dollies traveled by jeep, truck, and helicopter to forward operating positions, logging over 2,000,000 miles visiting combat troops at remote fire bases. Their job was to bring smiles, songs, games, and a touch of home to the men who were in the bush and the wounded in evacuation hospitals. This all-volunteer cohort of women embraced the perilous and demanding work. As one Donut Dolly put it, “Our job was to smile and be bubbly for an entire year— no matter what the situation.”
The bill, which appeared in earlier versions in both the 117th and 118th Congresses, was re-introduced on March 11, 2025. “VVA commends Congresswoman Sherrill for getting the bill back on the table so quickly,” said McManus. “It is well past time for this law to be passed and these women to finally be recognized for their service.”
