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Mad Dog 6 Over the course of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company's tour of duty in South Vietnam, from 1966 until 1971, there were many fine officers that held the position of leadership as the Platoon Leader of the Mad Dog Gunship Platoon with the coveted call sign of Mad Dog 6. I respect and render a salute of respect to all these fine men. For me personally, and certainly not taking anything away from all the others that were Mad Dog 6, when I hear the call sign Mad Dog 6, the first name to come into my mind is Captain Doug Price. When I flew in the Mad Dogs between July 69 to October of 1970, I had several different Mad Dog 6's but Captain Price will always be my Mad Dog 6. Captain Price always took care of the pilots, crew chiefs and gunners that served under him. Speaking as a Mad Dog crew chief/doorgunner, Captain Price always made sure we were taken care of, plenty to eat and was always concerned about our well being. If we needed a "butt chewing" and many of us did from time to time, Captain Price would get us in line but don't let anybody else hassle his Mad Dog crew chiefs and doorgunners because he wouldn't hesitate to let you know that WE were HIS men and HE would take care of any problems and it didn't matter to him what rank you wore on your collar. Captain Price was an exceptional officer, Mad Dog Gunship pilot and leader of men. He went on to serve 23 years in the United States Army, over half his military career with the United State's Army elite Green Berets, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. I had the distinct honor, privilege and pleasure to serve under Captain Price for approximately 8 months and when he left for home in the spring of 1970, it was a joyous time but also sad for many of us Mad Dog crew chiefs and doorgunners. I still cannot call this man by his first name, 31 years after having served under him, it is simply a matter of respect for always looking out for his platoon of Mad Dog EM's. "Caption Price [LT. Col], on behalf of all the Mad Dog crew chiefs and doorgunners that served with you, I render a salute of respect, admiration and gratefulness for being the officer and aircraft commander that you were. Welcome Home, Sir!"  Here is the future Mad Dog 6, Captain Doug Price in basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 1966. This picture was taken on the first Sunday after one week of basic training.   Here's the future Mad Dog 6 attending Officer's Candidate School, Fort Benning, Georgia, 1967.  Second Lieutenant Doug Price after graduating from OCS. He's driving one lean, mean machine, a midyear Corvette Stingray, 1965 or 1966 can't tell what year for sure. Taken at Fort Benning, 1967.  Here's the future Mad Dog 6, at the time, Lieutenant Doug Price, hovering an OH-13 at Fort Wolters, Texas, 1968/1969.  Here's Lieutenant Doug Price taking up skydiving. I guess he didn't get enough of an adrenaline rush going through basic, AIT, Infantry OCS, Flight School and having a pet alligator! Yes, I said, "Alligator" and a picture of the gator will be forthcoming.  It took a special breed of man wanting to fly, what was basically a sheet metal box with a rotor blade on top of it, into battle over the friendly skies of South Vietnam. Most people have a dog or cat for a pet, so I guess if you have a pet alligator, you would definitely qualify as that special breed!  Here's the future Mad Dog 6, at the time, Lt. Doug Price, graduating from flight school, at Fort Rucker, Alabama, spring, 1969.  Lt. Doug Price, standing between his father and mother with the rest of his family in the background, having a get together one week before shipping out to South Vietnam, May 11th, 1969. Only parents would know the mixed emotions of having to send one's son off to war. I'm glad you survived, Sir. MAD DOGS, GREYHOUNDS, KENNEL KEEPERS |