The Donut Dollies

If you've been following along, over the summer we covered the history of the Women's Army Corps from their inception as an auxiliary to the US Army, to the WAC bill that militarized the first women of the war. This week we're uncovering the history of the 401st WAC Band, a journey that Gabby began back in April with a visit to the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Joining us this week are t...

This week it's two donuts and one...Taff? You read that right! Joining us this week is Leighton Hughes, the man behind Currahee Signings and We Happy Few 506. A military veteran and now a central member of the WWII and Band of Brother's community, he's sharing the story of how it all came to be, and how one idea can quite literally change everything. He's also giving us a look...

The Clubmobile is rolling into the dustbowl once again, for more than just coffee and sinkers! This week we're joined by Ms. Penni Evans who served with the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Organization as a Donut Dollie during The Vietnam War, and Emma Spencer, creator of the documentary Welcome Home Sister. The subject? Penni Evans and her service with the SRO during Vietnam. Pe...

How do you define a legacy? For Erin Miller, it transcends generations; her mother, Terry Harmon was a Donut Dolly and served in Vietnam. Before that, her grandmother served in The WASP during WWII. Three women, three generations, all carrying a legacy. This week Erin joins us to tell the story of her grandmother, Elaine Harmon, the journey of her service, and the fight after WASP militarization t...

We're back for part 2 with the fellas from What's The Scuttlebutt podcast, and Don, Jeff and Dennis have more to share with everyone! As conservators of the history of the greatest generation what exactly does it entail? What are their upcoming projects and how do they plan to further the conservation and history of a generation that is rapidly disappearing. They're also sharing cur...

It's a full house in The Clubmobile this week, as we're joined by the fellas from What's The Scuttlebutt Podcast! Don, Dennis and Jeff are joining us to dig into the nitty gritty of WWII, how the three of them met and came to be a knowledgeable and successful podcast, and just what is the difference between preservation and conservation. From three different historical backgrounds c...

An ordinary woman, who ended up doing the extraordinary in a time of war. Kay Summersby was born in Ireland, to a Military father, but didn't immediately seek to follow in his footsteps. When war came knocking on the world's doorstep in 1939, she joined the British Mechanized Transport Corps, and it is there that this story begins, truly. Summersby was already a high-ranking member of th...

Where were you 25 years ago? This is a question the world has been asking itself a lot in the last few weeks as we approach the anniversary of The World Trade Center attacks. September 11, 2001 is a day that changed everything, and for the people of New York, it was their lives and homes in the direct line of fire. This week we're joined by Chief Michael Magliano, who is first and foremost Ga...

The number of WWII veterans that are still with us and able to tell their stories is dwindling, which is why the stories we do have on record are so important. Kevin Maurer's telling of John 'Lucky' Luckadoo's story is one of those on record that we hold in a special place here in The Clubmobile. This week, we are honored to have Kevin Maurer, author of Damn Lucky, joining us t...

During the war, legendary entertainer Josephine Baker put her efforts into more than just performing on stage; she was a valued member of The French Resistance. After marrying and becoming a citizen of France, Baker began using her fame as the ultimate cover story. She would use high society embassy parties in neutral countries across Europe to smuggle military information back to the Allies. Jose...

This week we're stepping back in time to the golden age of film! If you've been with us a while, you know that we have an affinity for Old Hollywood and a time when going to the picture house was a major event, and the stars on the screen oozed charisma and romance. That's exactly what this week's guest is working to share with the world! Emilia Quaye is the force behind the in...

During the years leading up to the war, and during wartime, the island of Honolulu produced a nine-million dollar per year business. How, if the entire country was living on fixed incomes and rationing? The answer is both shocking, and simple. Sex. The term "sex sells" dates back to a time long before the war, and in this case, is a direct reference to The 3-Minute Men. Honolulu's i...

If you're keeping track, you remember that The Beantown Girls was one of our Book Club picks earlier this year, getting a standing ovation from all three of us in our quarterly recap. Joining us this week is author Jane Healey, who put pen to paper and brought us the story of three lifelong friends from Boston who join the Red Cross together during the war. The story follows Fiona, Viviana an...

Joining us this week is a true guest of honor in The Clubmobile, and someone who has truly earned the title of Donut Dollie; Ms. Terry Harmon. Terry is a former Donut Dollie who served with the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Organization during the Vietnam War. Nicknamed Donut Dollies, though there wasn't a donut in sight, The SRO division of the American Red Cross was there for...

Chances are if you google Margaret Bourke-White you will find one of two photos in the top of the search results: a woman on the edge of New York City's Chrysler Building with her camera in hand, or that of a woman in full USAAF flight gear and holding her camera. Bourke-White was the first female staff photographer for Life Magazine, and the first female war correspondent. In fact, she was t...

It's time for another bonus episode, which means that the Third Girl in The Truck is back with us! Our Book Club Correspondent, Sage, is back to join us for the  quarterly Book Club recap! We're rehashing the selections for April through June and leaving nothing on the cutting room floor! We had some really great picks for this quarter, and we started out with Slinging Doughnuts for The...

Many times during our discourse on women's history we've come to a point in discussion where the Women's Army Corps has taken center stage. Whether we're referring to the WAC Bill of 1942, the uniforms, or their training, the Women's Army Corps has always remained a dignified outfit of the US Military; it's women some of the highest caliber. In this first part of a sp...

They are coping and they are capable! They are the women of Britain's Auxiliary Territorial Service! Much like the American women of the WAAC, WAVES and Women's Marine Corps, the women of The ATS filled the roles of cooks, transportation, clerical roles and mechanics. The only difference? The ATS women were conscripted and granted full military status and yes, even their most well-known...

If you know us, you know that we will never turn down the opportunity to read a good book; bonus points if the book checks all our wartime boxes. Jan Cress Dondi's book, The Navigator's Letter, does just that! It turns out, a small town where everyone knows each other is not so small when wartime reaches America's doorstep in December 1941, especially for John B. White and Robert Cr...

This week we're taking a trip back to Thorpe Abbots with Masters of The Air's Spike White! Known for his portrayal of Lt. Charles A. Via- Co-Pilot of Blakely's Crew- part of the 100th's original cadre- Spike is a history buff in his own right! From his audition process to boot camp with the legendary Captain Dale Dye, to getting fully outfitted in authentic USAAF flight gear, S...

This week we're stepping into the darker side of women in wartime and uncovering the story of Eva Braun. Braun is most well known for being Adolf Hitler's companion for the duration of the war, before becoming his wife, which only lasted a day. The story of how she came to be part of the inner circle of history's most morally corrupt man, and whether she made those decisions of soun...

Joining us this week is the man who's laced up the boots of two very important figures in wartime history, Corin Silva! From a hardheaded USAAF Colonel, to a soft-spoken, God-fearing man, Corin has shown us not only two sides of himself, but the juxtaposition of war. He's brought to the screen the 100th Bomb Group's Colonel John Bennett, and SAS Rogue Heroes Jim Almonds, and now he&...

Before there was 007 and James Bond there was the SOE. The Special Operations Executive brought some of the first and finest spies into occupied Germany during the war, hiding them in plain sight. Some of their best and most successful? The women of the SOE, of course! Join us as we unpack the history of the SOE and the women who made it famous. Yes you read that right! While The SOE did make a nu...

The Clubmobile is hitting the road! Well, sort of- we're actually in the War Wagon with Jeff Copsetta! If you're part of the history community, then you know Jeff; if not, we can't think of a better introduction! An Army veteran, living history preservationist, teacher and now, President of The Conservators of The Greatest Generation aka COGG. Jeff takes us through his journey of fa...

It's time for another episode in The Wives of The Bloody Hundredth series! Join us as we welcome Jana Hamilton Gruber to The Clubmobile! Jana is the daughter of 100th Bomb Group Bombardier Howard "Hambone" Hamilton, but her mother has quite a story of her own! One of the three Chicago Wives, famous for the "legs" picture, Gerry Hamilton lived alongside Jean Crosby and Marg...