Irene is a wealthy New Yorker who leaves her abusive fiancé to join the Red Cross Clubmobile Service during World War II. Seeking to prove her worth and make a meaningful contribution, she travels to the front lines to serve coffee and doughnuts to American soldiers. She processes the trauma of the war through her imagination and journaling, struggling to balance the grim reality of her environment with her desire to bring comfort to the troops.

Dorothy is a tall, strong volunteer from Indiana who joins the Red Cross after the deaths of her entire family, including a brother killed at Pearl Harbor. Harboring deep grief and anger, she refuses to remain helpless or let restrictive gender roles dictate her actions. She serves alongside Irene on the *Rapid City* truck, bringing a fierce, protective, and sometimes aggressive energy to their shared duties.

Hans is a fighter pilot and former cowboy from Oregon who meets Irene during her deployment. He possesses a grounded, realistic perspective on the war, recognizing that soldiers on both sides are merely trying to survive. His ability to understand and empathize with Irene's combat trauma makes him a vital source of comfort and emotional support for her.

Russell, commonly known as Rusty, is an officer who oversees Dorothy and Irene's Clubmobile unit. Originating from the South, he begins as a corporal but quickly receives a promotion to lieutenant. As an officer, he stays behind the front lines coordinating movements, which occasionally creates tension between him and the volunteers who face direct combat hazards.

Garcia is an American soldier fighting on the front lines in Europe. He regularly interacts with the Clubmobile volunteers, relying on them for emotional support and brief respites from combat. He actively stands up against bigotry within his unit and provides practical assistance to the women when they find themselves in dangerous situations.

Swede is a tall American soldier stationed in the European theater. He exhibits rude and racist behavior toward his fellow soldiers and frequently directs unwanted, harassing comments toward the female Red Cross volunteers who are assigned to boost the unit's morale.

Holly is a Red Cross volunteer who arrives in Europe to join Irene and Dorothy's unit. She has been Rusty's girlfriend since they were fifteen years old and struggles with the harsh, frightening realities of serving near active battlefields.

Ellie is a Red Cross volunteer who meets Irene during training in Washington, D.C. She serves as Irene's first roommate and becomes the original third member assigned to work on the *Rapid City* Clubmobile before eventually returning home.

Colette is a female French resistance fighter whom Dorothy and Irene encounter in a destroyed town. Armed with a machine gun and wearing a distinctive red beret, she actively fights the German occupation, challenging the restrictive gender roles of the era.

Smitty is an Army Air Force soldier and a close friend of Hans. He participates in the base's talent show by performing a comedic routine to entertain the troops, and he later spends time with the volunteers during their leave.

Captain Miller is a Red Cross officer who leads the induction and training of new volunteers in Washington, D.C. She prepares the women for the grueling realities of their upcoming deployment while emphasizing their duty to boost the morale of young soldiers.

Andrea is Dorothy's daughter who travels with her across the United States fifty years after the conclusion of World War II. Having grown up in Denmark working at a bakery named after the *Rapid City*, she accompanies her mother on a deeply personal journey to visit historical family sites.

Dolly, whose given name is Irene, is Dorothy's granddaughter. Having recently graduated from high school, she accompanies her mother and grandmother on a restorative road trip across America, providing youthful support during their travels.

Jack is a man from Irene's youth who serves in the military, deploying to the South Pacific. He provides a connection to Irene's life before she departed for her wartime service in Europe.

An unnamed, injured veteran whom Irene meets on a train while traveling to her Red Cross training. He attempts to warn her against joining the war effort, sharing dark truths about the psychological burdens of surviving combat.