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It goes on every day in the Mekong Delta, maybe five
or six times. It can last 45 minutes or an hour and a half. It is all relative.
It depends on the men, what they want, where they are, where they are going,
where they have been.
Perfume in the boondocks
"I was at this grubby fire base waiting to go out again
and the next thing I know there were two girls standing there talking to
me," recalled one 3d Brigade squad leader form California. "You can imagine
how good perfume smells in the boonies. I mean, you know, an American girl,
it kind of makes the place a little more sane, if that makes any sense."
A girl, a college graduate, at a fire support base in Vietnam,
abandoning the world for a year—it makes you wonder. Six girls in a
division of men. Why? Not for the $5,000 a year salary they earn.
"I wanted to do something worth-while," said Sandy Lockhart,
22, of Camp Lejune, N.C., a political science graduate of the University
of Oklahoma.
 "I met a girl who had been here
and she told me what it was like. I felt if I came over I would be doing
something important. And every day is a great experience. There is no routine
or monotony, I enjoy everything about the job."
Sandy holds the title of "Donut Six," which means she is the
administrative leader of the 9th Division Donut Dollies. She makes sure that
paper work is in order, sick forms are filled out, supplies are on hand and
correspondence is maintained with other chapters.
It helps girls too
"All the girls are peers, though," she explained. "There
is no real 'big boss.' It is just for administrative matters." But
administration is secondary. The girls are dedicated to getting
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Gable
Pat smiles and a soldier from the 3d Battalion, 60 Infantry becomes
a bit self-conscious. At times, both sides feel conscious of the
conditions—the time the place,—but a smile, maybe a joke breaks
the ice. |
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into the field and meeting the men. The games go on in many
places—small clubs, bleachers, a motor pool.
"Every place has a different type person," said Betsy Tanner,
21, a physics and math graduate of Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. "I haven't
been here too long but I love it. Everything is interesting. Sometimes I
get a little self-conscious about being among so many men. But I just take
a deep breath and it passes quickly. Everyone is so great, from general on
down. It is really a fantastic experience."
"Being here has helped my shyness," admitted Mary Ann, |
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who formerly was with the 1st Logistical command at Qui Nhon. "It
has made me more outgoing and given me a chance to meet people from all types
of background. Over here, everyone is the same, all in the same boat, especially
with an infantry unit.
"We get to know the men better, spend more time with them and
don't have to adhere to a strict schedule. With a support unit we had a very
strict schedule. I like the infantry better. They have to adapt to much worse
condition and appreciate the little things more." |
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No Kidding! Diane, a former Dollie with the 9th Division stops to talk
with a patient in a 9th Medical Battalion ward at Dong Tam. In the ward,
the girls passed out short-timers calendars, reading material and, most
important, a little time. |
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Lamm |
