Powidz, Poland; December 31st, 2025.
A woman who once served American troops during the Vietnam War as part of the American Red Cross Donut Dollies is again serving service members overseas, this time in Poland, according to an official report released by the U.S. Department of War through its Defense Department News service.
The Department of War report identifies Dorner Carmichael as a former Red Cross volunteer who supported U.S. forces in Vietnam during the war era and who is now continuing that service with the Red Cross in Poland, working with American service members stationed there. Her current assignment places her at Powidz, where U.S. forces operate in coordination with allied partners.
During the Vietnam War, Carmichael served as one of the Red Cross Donut Dollies, a group of civilian women who volunteered to provide morale support to troops deployed in combat zones. According to the Department of War, these volunteers traveled to forward locations, including remote firebases, delivering food, games, and recreation, and offering personal interaction meant to provide brief relief from combat stress.
The term Donut Dolly originated during World War II and continued into later conflicts, though Carmichael stated in the report that donuts themselves were often unavailable during Vietnam service. The role instead focused on human connection, conversation, and structured recreational activities intended to help service members cope with the pressures of war.
The Department of War report notes that Carmichael’s Vietnam service involved frequent helicopter travel to isolated units, early morning meal deliveries, and organized activities designed to engage troops in noncombat interaction. She described the work as demanding but meaningful, emphasizing that the memories she carried most strongly were of individual service members rather than specific combat events.
Decades after her Vietnam service, Carmichael has returned to overseas volunteer work through the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program. In Poland, her duties include providing support services to U.S. military personnel, assisting with emergency communications between service members and their families, and helping operate programs intended to support morale and well being.
According to the Department of War, Carmichael views her current service as a continuation of the same mission she carried out during Vietnam, supporting troops far from home by offering stability, familiarity, and human presence. She stated that while the conditions differ from a combat zone, the underlying purpose of Red Cross service remains unchanged.
The report also notes Carmichael’s involvement in efforts to preserve the history of the Donut Dollies, including participation in a documentary addressing the experiences of the women who served in that role during Vietnam. She stated that these contributions remain an important but often overlooked part of military history.
In her current work in Poland, Carmichael encourages younger service members to recognize their deployment as a formative experience, according to the Department of War report. She emphasized the importance of service, connection, and engagement, both within and beyond military life.
As reported by the Department of War, Carmichael’s continued involvement with the Red Cross reflects a lifetime commitment to service that spans generations of American military personnel, from Vietnam era troops to those stationed in Europe today.
Sources
Primary First Hand Sources
• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Defense Department News, official report titled “Vietnam-Era Donut Dolly Continues Service With Red Cross in Poland”
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