The Donut Dollies in VN.

The only American women who are ever mentioned in the Vietnam fiasco are the nurses and the "donut dollies". One of the best kept secrets of that shit show was the thousands of American women who worked there. My wife was one of them. She was an Admin assistant to the CG of the Engineers. She too was in Long Binh.
During Operation Babylift 35 of the 58 American women on that ill fated flight were killed. Had it not been for them there would be NO mention, zero, nada, NONE, reference to civilian women in Nam. My wife had a reunion of her Long Binh coworkers. Collectively they knew about 20 of those who perished. One of the reunion attendees was supposed to have been on that plane. She hid and didn't get on. She was in the process of adopting two Vietnamese girls.
Three years ago we met another couple and got to talking. He had been military. Coincidentally he was stationed at Long Binh at the same time as my wife. He was there for one year. She extended once and was there for 18 months. We compared medical issues. They were identical including both were descending into dementia.
He was 100% disabled and his wife was getting $2500 per month tax free for his care. ZERO benefits for civilians!
32 sued and got nowhere. A Florida congressman introduced a bill in 2006 to provide benefits. It went nowhere.
The Navy had some civilians in Long Binh. The Navy provided VA benefits for their civilians. The Army did not.
If I sound a bit bitter, there is good reason, I AM!
My wife passed away six months ago.
58,320 names are on the Wall. I'm betting it's less than one tenth the number of American lives that war cost.
Foxtrot Agent Orange and Foxtrot Tango Alpha (yeah, I'm a vet)
 
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Sorry for your loss.
Yeah there were more casualties than the wall shows.
We can all agree on that. Somehow, some way, we need to move on. Can't change the past. Can't make it go away. You both did what you thought was right at the time. Just like the rest of us. Some suffered more than others. Some gave it all, either then or after as you well understand. Those you touched, both you and your wife, have had their life changed because of that. They may not remember. They may not know. God knows, believe me. It doesn't comfort but it is a fact.
The casualties of war go beyond the actual events, times or experiences. They are with us till we die. But don't think what you or your wife did was without consequence. There are those living today who owe their lives to your wifes efforts and to your actions. Don't know who. Will never know. But trust me that is the truth.
Please try to find some comfort. I have been there. Served in 69. I wonder all the time. Yet I know it was the right thing for me to do.
bob
 
During my time in VN I heard of Donut Dollies but I never saw that term justified. What I did see were very committed medical personnel who gave our service personnel a chance to survive. It always started with the field medic and MediVac pilots, who would dare to pick up the wounded and dead while taking enemy fire to their chopper at their own peril. Then it was seen in the hastily put together aid stations that gave wounded the trama care that allowed them to live long enough to a properly equipped hospital. I was in the Central Highlands 4th Infantry Division as a forward observer supporting the guys that were even more at risk than I was.
 
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