Kit and John Cotton

A vintage black-and-white photograph shows a smiling woman in a Red Cross uniform standing beside a man in a t-shirt and shorts, both posing with bicycles outside near wooden structures in Vietnam.

Kit Sparrow and John Cotton ride bikes in Vietnam circa 1969. Kit is wearing her American Red Cross Donut Dolly uniform. Submitted photo

November 11, 2026

John Cotton and Kit Sparrow met on their first day in Vietnam in July 1969. Kit was a brand-new American Red Cross Donut Dolly, and John was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

"It was over breakfast," John recalled.

Kit was playing Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on the piano, and because John had just arrived in-country, he was one of the few people in the dining area.

"We bonded over our love of music," said Kit.

That connection quickly deepened. Before long, Kit and John were making plans to travel the world together after their service ended.

Kit Sparrow, dressed in her American Red Cross Donut Dolly uniform, stands smiling outdoors near the water. On the right, she is standing indoors next to a decorated board or display while facilitating a recreational program for military troops.

Kit Sparrow is pictured in her Donut Dolly uniform in Vietnam. On the right, she facilitates a program for troops as part of the U.S. Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program. Submitted photos

But Kit's father, a major general in the U.S. Army, had some thoughts about that arrangement.

He traveled to Saigon to meet the man who had captured his daughter's heart.

"No daughter of mine is going to travel the world with a man who isn't her husband," Kit recalled her father saying.

Left: John Cotton, dressed in a flight suit and wearing a cap, sits in the cockpit of an aircraft during his service as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. Right: John Cotton, dressed in a red flight suit, smiles next to a fellow pilot while holding a beverage cup indoors.

John Cotton was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. Submitted photos

So, in July 1970, Kit and John were married by Saigon's equivalent of a justice of the peace. The ceremony was conducted in French.

Kit remembers the official as a large, stern-looking man seated behind a massive desk in an office lined with books, wearing a ceremonial sash.

One of her fellow Donut Dollies served as a bridesmaid.

Kit wore her Donut Dolly uniform for the ceremony, even though it was against the rules.

Donut Dollies were required to be single. But Kit couldn't resign before the marriage was official, she explained, because doing so would have left her without support or protection. As soon as the newlyweds said, "I do," Kit resigned from the Red Cross and turned in her Donut Dolly pin.

Back at the air base, John's squadron provided the couple with a “honeymoon hooch.” They still chuckle over the name.

John and Kit Cotton pose together with a wedding cake, celebrating their marriage in Japan.

John and Kit Cotton, now married, celebrate their wedding a second time in Japan where John's brother was stationed. Submitted photo

After John's tour of duty ended, the newlyweds set off to see the world. Along the way, they celebrated their marriage a second time with a chapel wedding in Japan, where John's brother was stationed.

Fifty-six years, three children and nine grandchildren later, John and Kit eagerly shared their remarkable story at the 75th Convention of the American Red Cross Overseas Association (ARCOA), where they remain active members. The event took place Sept. 24-27 in Philadelphia, a short drive from their home in Bethlehem.

Kit and John Cotton stand smiling together indoors, wearing name tags at the 75th Convention of the American Red Cross Overseas Association (ARCOA).

Kit and John Cotton are pictured at the 75th Convention of the American Red Cross Overseas Association (ARCOA)in Philadelphia in September 2026. Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross

The Donut Dollies date back to World War II, when Red Cross women volunteers served coffee and donuts to soldiers in the field. By the Vietnam War, the mission had evolved, and women became part of the Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program. Instead of serving refreshments, Donut Dollies traveled to military bases in Vietnam to lead games, organize recreational activities and provide service members with a comforting connection to home.

Kit was one of 627 young women ages 21-24 who served as a Donut Dolly in Vietnam between 1962 and 1972. According to The Army Historical Foundation, the women collectively logged more than 2 million miles by Jeep, tactical cargo truck and helicopter while supporting troops throughout the war zone.

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- Written by Alana Mauger