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Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys: An American Woman in World War II
Elizabeth Richardson was a Red Cross volunteer who worked as a Clubmobile hostess during World War II. Handing out free doughnuts, coffee, cigarettes, and gum to American soldiers in England and France, she and her colleagues provided a touch of home―American girls with whom the boys could talk, flirt, dance, and perhaps find companionship. Usually the job was not hazardous―except when V-1 and V-2 rockets rained down on London―but it required both physical endurance and the skills of a trained counselor. Liz Richardson is a witty writer and astute observer. Her letters and diaries reveal an intelligent, independent, and personable woman with a voice that rings true. With commentary by historian James H. Madison, this book is an exceptional window into a past that is all too quickly fading from memory.
300 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2007
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About the author
James H. Madison
48 books15 followersJames H. Madison is the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor of History Emeritus, Indiana University Bloomington. Madison serves on the boards of Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Historical Society and is a member of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. He began teaching Indiana history in 1976 and has lectured and consulted widely on Indiana topics.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 6, 2011
I am deep in the middle of Adam Hochschild's new book, To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 about the anti-war movement before and during World War I (and is thus far excellent). And I recently slogged through British historian Antony Beevor's 500+ page D-Day: The Battle for Normandy, which was a bit too detailed, but very fair in representing Allied incompetence and portrayed some of the major players, including Montgomery, Eisenhower and Patton in a new light for me. Can you tell I was a history major? Standing out so far in this recent WWI/WWII kick was Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys: An American Woman in WWII by Indiana University history professor, James H. Madison.
Professor Madison came across the story of Elizabeth Richardson after seeing her grave at the American Cemetery in Normandy. He took note of her gender and being a Hoosier, of her northern Indiana birthplace. Upon his return and a few internet searches later, he was in touch with her younger brother who had saved many of her letters home, and was also in possession of her diaries and drawings. Even better, he was grateful and willing to share his sister's war story.
Liz Richardson grew up in northern Indiana, and went to college in Wisconsin in the early 40s. She was bright, artistically gifted and worked briefly in the advertising field before volunteering for the Red Cross in early 1944. She spent most of her time working in a Clubmobile, a mobile bus serving doughnuts and coffee to soldiers in Britain and France, even after VE day (the anniversary of which was last week, generally celebrated in the US on May 8). Especially heartbreaking was her experiences talking to released Allied prisoners of war waiting in camps to be shipped back home.
Liz's letters to her friends and family are both extremely funny and provide a clear picture of her daily life living in war torn areas. Madison leaves large portions of text untouched from these letters and diary entries, but also provides some historic background of larger events.
Often war stories are told by men about men. While seldom thought of, and seldom told, the picture is so much greater than that, and this book fills a small part of that gap in war biographies. WWII non-fiction readers, women's history fans, and general biography readers will all find something to enjoy.
Professor Madison came across the story of Elizabeth Richardson after seeing her grave at the American Cemetery in Normandy. He took note of her gender and being a Hoosier, of her northern Indiana birthplace. Upon his return and a few internet searches later, he was in touch with her younger brother who had saved many of her letters home, and was also in possession of her diaries and drawings. Even better, he was grateful and willing to share his sister's war story.
Liz Richardson grew up in northern Indiana, and went to college in Wisconsin in the early 40s. She was bright, artistically gifted and worked briefly in the advertising field before volunteering for the Red Cross in early 1944. She spent most of her time working in a Clubmobile, a mobile bus serving doughnuts and coffee to soldiers in Britain and France, even after VE day (the anniversary of which was last week, generally celebrated in the US on May 8). Especially heartbreaking was her experiences talking to released Allied prisoners of war waiting in camps to be shipped back home.
Liz's letters to her friends and family are both extremely funny and provide a clear picture of her daily life living in war torn areas. Madison leaves large portions of text untouched from these letters and diary entries, but also provides some historic background of larger events.
Often war stories are told by men about men. While seldom thought of, and seldom told, the picture is so much greater than that, and this book fills a small part of that gap in war biographies. WWII non-fiction readers, women's history fans, and general biography readers will all find something to enjoy.
May 9, 2011
Elizabeth Richardson was a Red Cross volunteer from Indiana who worked as a Clubmobile hostess during World War II, handing out free doughnuts, coffee, cigarettes, and gum to American soldiers in England and France. It wasn't always easy since equipment would break down, they frequently were out in the cold and rain, and occasionally V-1 and V-2 rockets rained down over London. There were literally hundreds of soldiers who received these services every night and both the soldiers and the Red Cross volunteers remembered the names of each other when they met again. It was often cold and the doughnut maker would break down but these American volunteers did this for the duration of the war, going from place to place, and are fondly remembered by the GI's who utilized this service.
The story is told in letters by Elizabeth which she wrote to her parents and friends. She was very articulate and her letters really open up to the reader what England was like during the war, and the difficulties they often had in being able to fix thousands of doughtnuts for the "boys'. In her last letter she told her mother whe would be flying to Paris on Wednesday. The plane crashed and she and the pilot were both killed. This is not a spoiler since you know this from the beginning but it was so tragic since the war was over. She was buried at the Normandy American cemetery. First Lady Nancy Reagan placed a wreath on the grave. In 2007, six women who served with her, went to France to place to also placed a wreath on her grave.
As sad as the ending was, I found this book very interesting and informative about a subject I knew little about. These women actually perfomed a wonderful service for the soldiers who never forgot them.
The story is told in letters by Elizabeth which she wrote to her parents and friends. She was very articulate and her letters really open up to the reader what England was like during the war, and the difficulties they often had in being able to fix thousands of doughtnuts for the "boys'. In her last letter she told her mother whe would be flying to Paris on Wednesday. The plane crashed and she and the pilot were both killed. This is not a spoiler since you know this from the beginning but it was so tragic since the war was over. She was buried at the Normandy American cemetery. First Lady Nancy Reagan placed a wreath on the grave. In 2007, six women who served with her, went to France to place to also placed a wreath on her grave.
As sad as the ending was, I found this book very interesting and informative about a subject I knew little about. These women actually perfomed a wonderful service for the soldiers who never forgot them.
November 11, 2007
This book was outstanding! I didn't know anything about the women who worked for the Red Cross during World War II. Reading this book was a real eye opener. Madison did a wonderful job. He arranged Elizabeth Richardson's letters and diary entries into a coherent story and provided any needed background information, but he never let his own thoughts or suppositions get in the way of Richardson's own words. On a purely, personal note I loved reading about her time in England especially her visit to Cambridge. I did find it a bit disconcerting to read some of her letters knowing that she wasn't going to make it home at the end of the war.
November 11, 2010
Kudos to James Madison for researching and writing Liz's account of her service with the Red Cross. And thank you to her brother Butch for keeping all her letters etc. Liz was an amazing woman. Intelligent and witty and a true inspiration to others in all walks of life! A great historial read. Well done!
March 16, 2019
How did I end up reading this book?
Well, I was watching the Great British Bakeoff and they had a technical challenge on making doughnuts. As a sidebar, they introduced the Clubmobile, a bus crewed by US Red Cross staff that served up doughnuts and coffee for US soldiers in England and France during WW II. Intrigued, I did a bit of research and found this book.
As my father was stationed in England during the Clubmobile era, I was curious to see if he remembered these Red Cross-served doughnuts. Sadly not. But the subject of the book did spend time in Le Havre at exactly the same time as my Dad so that was cool.
So, what about the book? It is pretty much verbatim letters written by Elizabeth to her friends and family. The book's author provides some context and interpretation.
Read this book if you're interested in your great aunt's or grandmother's life during WW II in America. If she served in the Red Cross overseas, then a must read. Or, read the book if you're just interested in the great adventure women had supporting the US armed services in Europe.
Well, I was watching the Great British Bakeoff and they had a technical challenge on making doughnuts. As a sidebar, they introduced the Clubmobile, a bus crewed by US Red Cross staff that served up doughnuts and coffee for US soldiers in England and France during WW II. Intrigued, I did a bit of research and found this book.
As my father was stationed in England during the Clubmobile era, I was curious to see if he remembered these Red Cross-served doughnuts. Sadly not. But the subject of the book did spend time in Le Havre at exactly the same time as my Dad so that was cool.
So, what about the book? It is pretty much verbatim letters written by Elizabeth to her friends and family. The book's author provides some context and interpretation.
Read this book if you're interested in your great aunt's or grandmother's life during WW II in America. If she served in the Red Cross overseas, then a must read. Or, read the book if you're just interested in the great adventure women had supporting the US armed services in Europe.
May 30, 2020
This was a wonderful, and ultimately heartbreaking, story of a Red Cross Clubmobile hostess / logistician / mentor / psychologist / artist / astute observer serving in the European Theater during WWII. Like most of the Red Crossers serving in like capacity, Elizabeth Richardson from Mishawaka, Indiana, was in her mid-twenties and well educated, making her more mature both physically and mentally than the majority of young men she was there to serve. The bulk of this narrative is taken from letters written by Elizabeth and diary entries made during her service. What a blessing these have been preserved to provide a poignant insight of the hardships endured and the coping mechanisms employed by both soldier and Red Cross volunteer alike. The author, Professor James Madison, expertly provides historical context where needed, but wisely lets most of the story be told by the eloquent and witty words of Elizabeth Richardson herself.
October 2, 2021
Elizabeth Richardson served in the American Red Cross as a "Clubmobile Girl" in both England and France. In this book Madison took her letters and her diary entries to create Elizabeth's story of life as a "Clubmobile Girl." With her education Elizabeth could have done anything but she chose to serve her country and the boys in uniform. She called the hard work and deplorable living conditions the most meaningful work she could be doing. It's not a fast read but it is extremely interesting.
August 11, 2017
Really interesting! The diary entries and letters of Elisabeth Richardson, a brave, compassionate young woman, who was a Donut Dolly in England & France during WWII & died shortly after the end of the war. Elizabeth was intelligent, athletic, funny, good-natured, and observant. Great primary source for researching WWII. Loved it!
October 1, 2017
50 States and At Least 50 Authors 2017 Reading Challenge. INDIANA.
Author and historian James Madison wondered how an American woman came to be buried at Normandy with the men who fell on D-Day. In researching her story, he found a young woman who volunteered with the Red Cross and spent much of her time in England, but ended her days in France. A wonderful war story from a different angle.
Author and historian James Madison wondered how an American woman came to be buried at Normandy with the men who fell on D-Day. In researching her story, he found a young woman who volunteered with the Red Cross and spent much of her time in England, but ended her days in France. A wonderful war story from a different angle.
March 30, 2015
I am deep into my own work exploring the lives of WWII women on the war front and this book was a great read for me. I'm terribly jealous of the author, who had access to the personal letters and friends to write this book about one American Red Cross clubmobile hostess. He did a wonderful job of telling this story and exploring the prejudices against women volunteering and working on the war front. I recommend this book very highly!
My website concerning the history of WWII women is at www.womencalledtoaction.wordpress.com.
My website concerning the history of WWII women is at www.womencalledtoaction.wordpress.com.
January 15, 2013
Fascinating story of a young woman from Indiana and her role during WWII. The months she spent in England provide a real window into daily life in a country under seige. She is buried at the American Cemetery in Normandy ... one of the few women there. I have also enjoyed other books by this author on Indiana personalities and history.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews