J. Holley Watts Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: Most of this collection has been digitized. Some items have not beed digitized due to copyright or other logistical issues.
What's in the full collection?: 9 March 2008 oral history transcript; copies of photographs
Full biography: J. Holley McAleese Watts (b. 1944) of Freeport, New York, served with the American Red Cross in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. Watts later wrote two books about her experiences as a "Donut Dolly" during the Vietnam War. J. Holley Watts was born in Rockville Centre, New York, and raised in Freeport. She graduated from Baldwin High School in 1962 and enrolled at Villanova University, but later transferred to Rosemont College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1966. When her plans for the Peace Corps didn't work out, Watts volunteered for the American Red Cross and was sent to Vietnam as a member of the SRAO (Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas) program. Watts was primarily stationed in Da Nang, but moved around the country as a part of her recreation and "Donut Dolly" duties. Upon returning home in September 1967, Watts worked for a short time at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. She married Hal Watts and moved with him to California then Michigan, but later divorced. Watts has worked a wide range of jobs since her return from Vietnam, including as a piano technician and in public radio and TV broadcasting. She has since written two books documenting her experiences in the Vietnam War and co-written a documentary.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Red Cross
Conflict: Vietnam Era (1964-1974)
Subject headings: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
American Red Cross
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: American Red Cross S.R.A.O. class; The American Red Cross S.R.A.O. class, A.K.A. "Donut Dollies, in September 1966.

: J. Holley Watts; J. Holley Watts and "mud sox."

: Oral history interview with J. Holley Watts; Primarily documents J. Holley Watts' service in the American Red Cross as a "Donut Dolly" during the Vietnam War, her poetry about her experiences, and her feelings on postwar American culture. Watts describes her collegiate education at Villanova and Rosemont, her musical exploits, her original plan to enter the Peace Corps, Kennedy's assassination, and joining the Red Cross. She primarily discusses her experiences as a Donut Dolly in Vietnam, including specific ways they attempted to support the troops and the difficulties they faced in doing so. She conveys the pain of befriending servicemen who later died in combat and discusses relationships she attempted to maintain after her tour of duty and those that she made because of shared connections to service Vietnam. Watts supplements her memories with excerpts from her books and recites her poetry. " Watts also tells of the Vietnam War's role in the disintegration of her marriage and of the struggles of returning servicemen. She describes the various trips and meetings that she has arranged to better understand the psychological impact of war. Other subjects include her views on democracy, American society, veterans' emotional health, and the morality of war. Watts also describes the background and symbolism behind some her poetry and discusses various sentimental items from the time period.

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Women Veterans Historical Project

J. Holley Watts Collection

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