366th Security Police
K-9
Da Nang Air Base
Republic of Vietnam

Operation Top Dog 1965

"They protected us on the field of battle.
    They watch over our eternal rest.
    We are grateful."

Amigo
*1
A475
Andy
*1
344F
Bingo
737F
Blackie
*3
129X
Duncan
645X
Dutch 3
*1
E955
Hercules
*1
2M57
Hilda
0E47
King
*4
078M
King
6F61
King
840F
Kristinna
051E
Lucky
0K32
Major
5A46
Prince
*1
025E
Rebel
A105
Rex
Rinney
*2
A116
Shep
*1
A902
Sugar
*1
2B13

All those who followed afterwards

Name
Brand  #
Andy 12
344F
Arman
054E
Armand
729F
Baron 27
X455
Bear
089M
Bear
X230
Bing 22
5F46
Bingo
737F
Bo
25M2
Bravo
853F
Bucky
A748
Bucky
5A69
Bucky 26
A748
Buddy
A601
Bullet
A874
Bullet 7-8-9
774F
Ceasar/Caesar10
5553F
Champ
X790
Chief 20
519F
Chief
M726
Chips
F983
Cinder
319M
Dex 26
9F97
Dirk
1168F
Domino
Unk
Duke
3A30
Duke 4
50X0
Duke
128E
Duke
V079
Duncan 14
64X5
Dutch
A391
Eric 17
218E
Franz
Unk.
Fritz 26
653F
Fritz
X488
Hans
M697
Hansie 21
A923
Hilda
OE47
Hobo
3M37
Jan
0K47
Jett
027X
Khan
251F
King 24
Unk
King
555F
King 23
72M0
King 18
A150
King
A837
King
X516
King
X765
Kobuc
X448
Kristianna 5
051E
Kubuc
X448
Lance
M600
Lucky
07F0
Lucky
0K32
Major
5A46
Marblehead 11
Unk
Max
801F
Mingo
0H34
Niki
A017
Prince 19
025E
Prince
790F
Puppy
2M62
Ranger 16
A058
Reb
21X8
Rebel (Reb)
A014
Rebel 2
78X4
Rebel
913F
Rex
Unk
Ringo 14
Unk
Ringo
A980
Rinny
A116
Rinty 18
A663
Rommel
Unk
Sam
764M
Sambo
A590
Scout
393F
Shep
Unk
Shep 13
A902
Shep
591F
Silver
5A54
Sparky
333E
Spartacus
Unk
Sugar
2B13
Tiger 15
2X28
Timber
8A92
Togan
M606
Trixie
Unk
Vaughn
826F
Victor
A051
Woden
098A
Zabia
M256
1
When Robert Lee took over Shep, he had to re-train him in English as Luis Guzman trained him in Spanish.
2
Rebel 78X4 was a Navy dog handled by Dick king in '69. Transferred to the Air Force and handled by Lee Todd and thomas L. Brooks until he was euthanized in August '72.
3
Dutch E955 was put down in October '66. Leptosporosis may have been the reason for the dog's put down per Bucky Grimm. He said several dogs were infected during the fall of '66.
4
Duke 50X0 was from Union Lake, Michigan
5
Pre Marc Petty, Kristianna was put down in December of '67 due to old age and bad hips.
6
Marc Petty took over Sugar, an 18 month old male, after Kristianna was put down (see #5 above)
7
Bullet 774F was from Algonquin, Illinois, purchased in August '61. Transferred from Da Nang to Bien Hoa in January, '70. Information provided from Glenn Goodman's copy of AF Form 323.
8
James Preiss returned home in August '66 to attend his fathers funeral. It was unknown if he would return.
9
David Zickafoose and Bullet never saw eye to eye so to the betterment of both, Dave turned Bullet over to Peter Koenig.
10
Per Charles McCulloch, Caesar 553F was put down in '69, no reason given.
11
Marblehead died on post from a ruptured liver in '70.
12
Andy 334F was put down on May 6, 1971 due to old age. His last handler was Walter Lee Todd.
13
Per Larry Neal, said Shep had one ear and weighed more than he did and was referred to as "Crazy Shep"
14
Dave Stanley handled Duncan 64X5 until the "Vietnamization" of the war. The AF drastically cut the K-9 Section by more than half and shipped many dogs off to other bases and re-assigned many handlers. Dave then handled Ringo until rotation stateside in June, '70.
15
Tom Larkin informs us that his dog Tiger came from Japan with Kennel Master Sergant Whitt. Seems that Tiger and Duke 50X0 had a major dislike for each other and had to be seperated while on the posting truck.
16
Randy Knight, Ranger's handler, tells us that he was relieved of his dog handling duties early on and put in the headquarters because of his typing abilities. But once a dog man, always a dog man.
17
Gary Knutson was Eric's first Vietnam handler who came over shortly after Project Top Dog in '65.
18
Duane Lynde, who handled King A150 and Robert holt who handled Rinty A663 are cousins.
19
Russ Freeburg took over Prince when he came in country as a Sentry Dog Handler
20
Steve Hnatiak says that Chief 519F contacted Leptosporosis in October '66 and survived!
21
Herb Norfork took over Hansie after his first dog Bing died mid-year '66.
22
Bing died of non-combat causes mid year 1966.
23
Per Jerry Kellogg, King 72M0 came from Japan in November '68.
24
Wayne Bagwell came to Da Nang from Phan Rang and took over Silver. Silver being so aggressive and uncontrollable, was escorted to Tan Son Nhut and euthanized in December '67. Wayne Bagwell then took over King.
25
Ernie Gowell advises us that Vaught 826F died in '67 as a result of a toxic cleaning solution used to clean the kennels in '67.
26
Dex 9F97 was one of the four dogs that died as a result of a toxic cleaning solution, recommended by the Veterinarian, to clean the kennels in '67.
27
Ernie Gowell went to Japan and selected Baron X155 to replace Vaughn. See 26 above.
*1
Operation Top Dog 1965, transfered to Phan Rang when Da Nang was deactivated
*2
Operation Top Dog 1965, transfered to Phan Rang and Tan Son Nhut when Da Nang was deactivated
*3
Operation Top Dog 1965, transfered to Tan Son Nhut when Da Nang was deactivated
*4
Operation Top Dog 1965, transfered to MWD Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, when Da Nang was deactivated. Only dog to see all of Da Nang and be returned stateside.
 
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