Donut Dolly is taken from the diary Joann Puffer Kotcher kept while working for the Red Cross for twelve months during the Vietnam War. She was one of the first women allowed in a combat zone and was almost killed six times. See the war through her eyes, face-down in the dirt under a sniper attack, in a helicopter being struck by lightning, and slogging through the mud to foxholes and bunkers.
“[A] riveting first-hand account of Joann Puffer Kotcher's experiences as a program director for the American Red Cross in the early years of the Vietnam War. . . . I recommend Donut Dolly to those interested in the advancements of the role of women in the armed forces.”—Military Review
“Donut Dolly . . . offers a unique perspective from one of some 600 young women who served, often in harm’s way, to bring a touch of home to the Americans in Vietnam.”—Vietnam Magazine
“Readers may be surprised to learn details of the role American Red Cross women played, often serving in dangerous and remote areas. . . . Her memories are especially interesting coming from a time when gender norms were changing both at home and in war.”—Library Journal
Number 6: North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series
After graduating from the University of Michigan, JOANN PUFFER KOTCHER volunteered to serve with the American Red Cross in Korea and Vietnam from 1965 to 1967. She is featured in the film documentary Our Vietnam Generation (2011). Kotcher lives in Michigan.
