National Donut Day

Whether you spell it Doughnut or Donut, the first Friday in June is the day set aside to honor these sinfully delightful diet busters. I prefer ‘donut’ by taking the “ugh” out of something so sweet. This Friday, 05 JUN 15 marks the 77^th annual “official” National Donut Day, the first occurring on 07 JUN 38.

It was on this day a young US Army doctor, Morgan Pett, stopped at a local bakery to purchase 8-dozen donuts to distribute to patients at a military hospital. One of the patients was Lieutenant General Samuel Geary who was so moved by the act of kindness, he wanted to fund a program that would provide a free donut to every serviceman. The Salvation Army, having provided donuts to our fighting men in Europe in World War I from their “huts”, quickly joined the cause.

WWI Poster

During WWI, our fighting men longed for something that was freshly baked such as breads and rolls. Something fresh and sweet was even better. The fighting men also enjoyed the “sweet” young ladies serving the desserts in the “donut huts”. These ladies were affectingly known as “Donut Dollies”. In WWII, the ladies of the American Red Cross also distributed donuts and they too were lovingly called Donut Dollies.

Everyone enjoys biting into a soft, warm donut. Whether it is the familiar round (toroidal shaped) or filled (injected with cream, custard, or fruit preserves), we all know a good donut when we bite into one. I have eaten at all the national chains—Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, and even Spudnuts (made with potato flour) and several local bakeries from the East to the West Coast but none compare to Milton, Florida’s own Milton Quality Bakery.

Dropping by the bakery on the way to school, no matter how late I might be, was always worth it. Cheese Danish, Boston Crème, Lemon filled…ummmm, tasting these treats was a party for the palate. Milton Quality Bakery (MQB) set the standard for all pastries. I have many wonderful memories from high school, to birthdays, to introducing MQB to my children. Those who grew up or lived in Milton and then moved away, always make it a priority to stop in to get a donut. Whenever NW Florida friends visit me in North Alabama, they ask for my donut order and bring it to me. One of my first stops and definitely my last when I visit Milton is always MQB.

Kenneth Norman "Mitch" Michener
09 FEB 45 - 03 OCT 14

For many Milton and Santa Rosa County residents, MQB is a fixture. It has been in the same location as far back as I can remember. Also, a fixture was co-owner Kenneth “Mitch” Michener. After a tour in the US Navy, he remained in Milton to marry a sweet, pretty young girl, Frances Malone. Mitch joined the family business and was our real-life “Fred the Baker”. On many a late night, we would be on our way home and Mitch would be leaving his home because it was “time to make the donuts”. Mitch loved fast cars. He was known to all the young guys, kind of like a modern-day James Dean bad boy. I am sure some of Milton’s Finest would have preferred he not drive so fast, but he could always say he was late getting to the bakery. We all know of the affinity to donuts LEOs have.

Sadly, this National Donut Day is the first without Mitch. He passed last October. While there are no words to lessen the family’s pain of loss, I hope they take some comfort in the knowledge many of us think of him whenever we bite into one of their donuts. They are simply the best donuts I have ever eaten.

LtCol Orson Swindel, USMC

There seems to be a common thread weaving together the US military and donuts. From WWI through WWII to Mitch serving in the US Navy and yours truly, a US Marine, donuts are ever-present. With that in mind, I leave you with a funny anecdote from Vietnam. In SEP 1969, LtCol Orson Swindel, USMC was a “guest” at a North Vietnamese POW camp. LtCol Swindel was piloting his F-8E Crusader on Veterans Day, 11 NOV 66, when he was shot down. He would be shuffled between various POW camps including the infamous Hanoi Hilton in which he shared a cell with John McCain and the horrendous Son Tay camp. You might remember the failed rescue attempt at this prison camp. Anyway, in OCT 69, Swindel was being interrogated and the interrogator was making fun of and belittling the USA and how it was a young country without many traditions or holidays. Swindel, ever the Marine, was not willing to let the enemy win any battle, even if it was about holidays. He knew the Marine Corps' birthday was in a few weeks (10 NOV) and wanted to celebrate it but could not tip his hand. Instead, he made up ‘National Donut Day’ (unofficial), a day all Americans dress up in festive attire, schools are out, businesses are closed and all Americans eat at least one donut. He continued to spin the yarn, explaining that donuts are similar to the French “sweet bread” (the French had a long history in Vietnam so the Vietnamese were familiar with the dessert). He got the other POWs involved to continue the ruse with the guards.

As the day drew near, no one knew what would happen. If the ruse was discovered the POWs could be beaten or worse. Finally, the day arrived. On the 194^th Marine Corps Birthday, and the day before Veterans Day, the POW camp known for its harsh conditions with little food, served the American serviceman “donuts”. A Marine-led pastry mission was successful against the Vietnamese captors. For one day, at least one meal, POWs had a taste from home, much like the American fighting men half a century earlier in European trenches in WWI.

So on this “official” National Donut Day, I hope you enjoy your favorite fried flour treat and reflect back on memories you shared with friends eating them, our military men and women, and more importantly, the people who made and swerved them like the Donut Dollies and Mitch and Frances Michener. I just wish I was close enough to Milton to stop in MQB for a Boston Crème and perhaps hear the roar of Mitch starting one of his hot rods.

Milton Quality Bakery | Milton, FL

Note: For additional information on LtCol Swindel, please visit:
Interview by Gene Pell's show "Veterans Chronicles" on Radio America (audio)
Excerpt from Honor Bound, The Orson Swindel Story
Donut Story Vietnam POW Recalls Horrors, Some Smiles From Captivity