Dorris Heaston
Dorris Hecht Heaston, Red Cross “SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) Program, aka “Donut Dolly,” Vietnam 1969. The military requested Red Cross adapt the SRAO program for Vietnam after successes in WW2, Korea, and Europe. Born and raised in Baltimore MD, Dorris graduated from the University of Michigan in December 1968. The SRAO job was an opportunity to support her country, have adventure, and experience travel. She trained at Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C. for 2 weeks in January 1969 and arrived in-country February 2, 1969. As a Red Cross girl, Dorris was among 627 women between 1965 and 1972 who participated in Vietnam with SRAO. Her tour included time as a “Sky Dolly” attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade stationed at An Khe in the Central Highlands. She helped staff The Happy Hooch, the An Khe recreation center which included organizing special events and activities for the servicemen stationed there as well as those who might be on standdown after combat missions. Daily, the center offered cards, pool, ping pong, a paperback library, board games, while serving coffee and Kool-Aid. As part of a team of 2, she also travelled to outlying areas with mobile recreation programs. These programs were based on popular quiz shows and topics of interest to young men such as sports or vehicles. They included several audience participation activities, were about an hour long, allowing time to visit multiple units in one day. Transportation was provided by trucks, jeeps, boats, but primarily by helicopter. There was a TDY assignment to Cam Ranh Bay Air Force Base, along the beautiful China Sea. Her final assignment was Camp Eagle in I Corps, south of the DMZ, home of the 101st Airborne Division. The work was all programming; there was no Center. As Program Director, Dorris was responsible for assigning specific programs to 2 -3 teams of 2 women each, organizing unit visits, as well as arranging transportation and security for the teams: typically, 5-6 days per week. She also organized programming trips to one of the Hospital Ships. At Camp Eagle she met her future husband of 50 years, Bill Heaston, of Omaha NE who had a 21-year career in the Army followed by corporate careers. Together they lived in 9 locations and raised 4 children before retiring to Omaha in 2016. Dorris became a CPA in 1990. Dorris and Bill returned to Vietnam for a visit in 1995. She continued her service through volunteer work with various organizations over the years including this Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
