S.Res. 705

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 705 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 705

Commending the ``Donut Dollies'' for their patriotic service and 
steadfast support of United States servicemembers in combat and 
honoring their extraordinary contributions to the morale and well-being 
of United States servicemembers during wartime.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 29, 2026

Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Coons) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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RESOLUTION

Commending the ``Donut Dollies'' for their patriotic service and 
steadfast support of United States servicemembers in combat and 
honoring their extraordinary contributions to the morale and well-being 
of United States servicemembers during wartime.

Whereas, in 1917, during World War I, young women of the Salvation Army known as 
the ``Doughnut Lassies'' served near the front lines, providing hot 
coffee, doughnuts, and comfort to United States servicemembers, 
inspiring the later creation of National Doughnut Day in their honor;
Whereas, during World War II, the American Red Cross organized the Clubmobile 
program, staffed by courageous women affectionately called ``Donut 
Dollies'', who traveled across war zones in Europe, North Africa, and 
the Pacific serving coffee and doughnuts, offering conversation, and 
boosting the morale of servicemembers;
Whereas, during the Korean War, the American Red Cross continued to deploy Donut 
Dollies to recreation centers, service clubs, and forward operating 
bases, organizing activities and providing personal support to 
servicemembers enduring the harsh conditions of war;
Whereas, from 1965 to 1972, the American Red Cross operated the Supplemental 
Recreation Activities Overseas (referred to in this preamble as 
``SRAO'') program in the Republic of Vietnam, deploying more than 600 
young women, most recent college graduates, to remote bases, fire 
support locations, and hospitals to provide refreshments, morale, and 
recreation activities to United States servicemembers;
Whereas the Donut Dollies often traveled by helicopter or convoy into active 
combat zones, facing mortar fire, sniper threats, and the dangers of war 
in order to deliver games, conversation, and a sense of home;
Whereas, based on Red Cross estimates--

(1) at the height of the war, over 300,000 servicemembers per month 
benefitted from SRAO services; and

(2) the Donut Dollies traveled 27,000 miles by jeep, truck, airplane, 
and helicopter every month;

Whereas, at the height of the war, over 100 Red Cross workers were operating 17 
SRAO units throughout Vietnam;
Whereas military commanders expressed high praise for the Red Cross volunteers, 
calling the services of the organization ``indispensable'' and ``prime 
factors'' in their efforts to maintain the high morale of their men and 
to look after their welfare;
Whereas, writing to Red Cross national headquarters in 1968, General William 
Westmoreland, then commander of the United States forces in Southeast 
Asia, stated, ``Serving our men on the battlefields here in Vietnam, the 
American Red Cross is a hotline to the folks back home, an oasis in the 
heat of battle, and a comfort during hospitalization.'';
Whereas the Donut Dollies not only uplifted the spirits of tens of thousands of 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, but also bore emotional burdens 
from hearing the fears and losses of those they served, many of whom did 
not return;
Whereas the Red Cross volunteers shared with military personnel the hardship and 
privation of life in a war zone and were subject to the dangers of war;
Whereas many staff were injured, and 5 American Red Cross workers died in-
country, including 3 women, Hannah E. Crews, Virginia E. Kirsch, and 
Lucinda J. Richter, all of whom were members of the SRAO program;
Whereas the Donut Dollies, who volunteered to be sent to the frontlines to 
support servicemembers, were themselves exposed to enemy attack, thereby 
displaying courage and resilience; and
Whereas the legacy of the Donut Dollies continues to be honored by veterans who 
remember their visits as a light in the darkest days of war, and the 
extraordinary efforts of these volunteers throughout the extent of 
involvement of the United States in the Vietnam conflict is deserving of 
official recognition: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commends the Donut Dollies for their patriotic service 
to the United States and steadfast dedication to the morale and 
welfare of United States servicemembers in combat;
(2) recognizes the service of the Salvation Army Doughnut 
Lassies in World War I, who inspired future generations of 
Donut Dollies;
(3) honors the Donut Dollies of World War II, the Korean 
War, and especially those of the Supplemental Recreation 
Activities Overseas program in the Vietnam War for their 
courage, resilience, and lasting impact on the lives of those 
they served; and
(4) urges that the story of the Donut Dollies be preserved 
and shared as an enduring testament to the spirit of the United 
States during wartime service.
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