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
314F
Bingo
737F
Blackie
*3
129X
Bucky  
A748
Dutch 3
*1
E955
Hilda
0E47
King
*4
078M
King
6F61
King
840F
Kristinna
051E
Lucky
0K32
Major
5A46
Prince
*1
025E
Rebel
A104
Rex
9F97
Rinny
*2
A116
Shep 1 13
*1
A902
Sugar
*1
2B13
Toby    
Trixie

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
5A69
Bucky 26
A748
Buddy
A601
Bullet
A874
Bullet 7-8-9
774F
Ceasar/Caesar10
553F
Champ
X790
Chief 20
519F
Chief
M726
Chips
F983
Cinder
319M
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
Hasso
158F
Hercules *1
2M57
Hilda
OE47
Hobo
3M37
Jan
0K47
Jett
027X
Khan
251F
King 24
Unk
King
555F
King 23
72M0
King 18
A150
King
A837
King 29
078M
King
X516
King
X765
Kobuc
X448
Kristianna 5
051E
Kubuc
X448
Lance
M600
Lucky
07F0
Lucky
0K32
Major
5A46
Marblehead 11
M184
Max
801F
Mingo
0H34
Niki
A017
Prince 19
025E
Prince
790F
Puppy
2M62
Ranger 16
A058
Reb
21X8
Rebel 2
78X4
Rebel
913F
Rex 26
9F97
Ringo 14
Unk
Ringo
A980
Rinty 18
A663
Rogue
089E
Rommel
Unk
Sam
746M
Sam
92X7
Sambo
A590
Scout
393F
Shep
A902
Shep
591F
Silver
5A54
Skip
Unk
Sparky
333E
Spartacus
Unk
Sugar
2B13
Teddy
Unk
Tiger 15
2X28
Timber
8A92
Togan
M606
Trixie
Unk
Vaughn 25
826F
Victor
A051
Woden
098A
Zabia 28
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
Gary Nelson wrote: I worked Ceaser from Jan 69 to about Jun 69,  Ceaser got sick -- some kind of Bronchitis, he never did recover from that -- I had to sleep in his kennel to give him med's ever few hours or so,  finally the VET, decided to put him down,  I flew on a CIA plane from DaNang to Ton shun Nut Vet Center, where they put Ceaser to sleep... that was the hardest thing I had ever done at that time of my life,, it really shook me up!!  Not good..... "
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 Vaughn 826F died in '67 as a result of a toxic cleaning solution used to clean the kennels in '67.
26
Rex 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 X455 to replace Vaughn. See 26 above.
28
Zabia M256 is listed as being at Da Nang as an Air Force Sentry Dog. I actually heard from Army handler Greg Zehner that he handled him at Camp David Land which was at Da Nang from Oct 1971 to April 1972. The picture is of the two of them at China Beach. Greg was with the 595th MP Company of the U.S. Army.
29
At Phan Rang
*1
Transfered to Da Nang from the 366th at Phan Rang when the unit moved
*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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"If we should meet again on another street
I will gladly take up your fight,
I am a Military Working Dog.
We are the guardians of the night."