Jeanne Christie

Not everyone who went to Vietnam served in the military. While there are no official figures, some estimates place between 33,000 and 55,000 American women—military and civilian—in Vietnam between 1962 and 1973. Probably the biggest employers of civilian women were the American Red Cross (ARC), the USO, and the Army Special Services. Jeanne Christie joined the Red Cross's Supplemental Recreational Activity Overseas (SRAO) program that was specifically designed to boost the morale of the troops in the field. During World War II, these women were known as "Donut Dollies;" in Vietnam, they were also called "Chopper Chicks" and "Kool-Aid Kids."

Christie and her peers ran recreation centers in the base camps where troops could play pool, cards, and just relax. She was also sent out everyday in a helicopter to entertain troops in the field—play silly audience-participation games, chat with...