‘Dollies’ were volunteers

Press, 1 May 1989, Page 11

‘Dollies’ were volunteers

What is a donut dolly? Is it a type of cream bun or a child’s toy?

Donut dollies was the term for' the American Red Cross volunteers who went to Vietnam to boost the morale of the young soldiers, and they, the nurses and the entertainers, are the subjects of “China Beach,” screening tonight at 8.30 on Two.

Since there were often no donuts to give to the troops the volunteers gave their smiles instead.

Linda Pelegrino was one of the dollies the script writers talked to while researching the series and, like most donut dollies, she was in her twenties when she served during 1966 to 1967 in Vietnam.

“I saw my four main duties as, relief, diversion, morale building and keeping that smile in place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” she says. A Vietnam veteran and co-producer of “China Beach,” Bill Broyles, believes that their contribution ‘saved some kids’ sanity.” Another nurse, D. M. Boulay, recalls her experiences: “Seeing kids go back to the field, not knowing when or if they were going to come back, and if so in what condition, or having people die in your arms, or taking their last breath with you, no experience can