Mad Dog 36

Russell, Peter John
Army Captain

Peter John Russell, age 21, from New York City, New York, New York county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: August 1, 1968
Death details: On August 1, 1968, a UH-1C Iroquois (tail number 66-15154, call sign “Mad Dog 36”) with four crew members was one of two helicopters on a combat mission to extract an Army Special Forces team under enemy attack. Due to inclement weather and poor visibility, the mission was aborted and the helicopters headed back to base. During the return flight, the Iroquois became separated from the other helicopter, and the aircraft commander radioed that he was redirecting the Iroquois to Bien Hoa Air Base. After that, radio contact was lost, and the helicopter was not heard from again.  In 1971, the Iroquois was discovered to have crashed in the jungle northwest of Saigon in Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam; however, the remains of only one crew member could be identified among the wreckage. The other three crew members remain missing.

First Lieutenant Peter John Russell entered the U.S. Army from New York and served in the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group. He was the pilot of the Iroquois when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army posthumously promoted First Lieutenant Russell to the rank of Captain.  Today, Captain Russell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Fowler, Donald Randall
Army Specialist 6

Donald Randall Fowler, age 18, from Clarke County Athens, Georgia .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, August 1, 1968
Death details: On August 1, 1968, a UH-1C Iroquois (tail number 66-15154, call sign “Mad Dog 36”) with four crew members was one of two helicopters on a combat mission to extract an Army Special Forces team under enemy attack. Due to inclement weather and poor visibility, the mission was aborted and the helicopters headed back to base. During the return flight, the Iroquois became separated from the other helicopter, and the aircraft commander radioed that he was redirecting the Iroquois to Bien Hoa Air Base. After that, radio contact was lost, and the helicopter was not heard from again. In 1971, the Iroquois was discovered to have crashed in the jungle northwest of Saigon in Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam; however, the remains of only one crew member could be identified among the wreckage. The other three crew members remain missing. Specialist 4 Donald Randall Fowler entered the U.S. Army from Georgia and served in the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group. He was the gunner aboard the Iroquois when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army posthumously promoted SP4 Fowler to the rank of Specialist 6 (SP6). Today, Specialist 6 Fowler is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hastings, Steven Morris
Army Staff sergeant

Steven Morris Hastings, age 19, from Los Angeles County Baldwin Park, California .

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, August 1, 1968
Death details: On August 1, 1968, a UH-1C Iroquois (tail number 66-15154, call sign “Mad Dog 36”) with four crew members was one of two helicopters on a combat mission to extract an Army Special Forces team under enemy attack. Due to inclement weather and poor visibility, the mission was aborted and the helicopters headed back to base. During the return flight, the Iroquois became separated from the other helicopter, and the aircraft commander radioed that he was redirecting the Iroquois to Bien Hoa Air Base. After that, radio contact was lost, and the helicopter was not heard from again. In 1971, the Iroquois was discovered to have crashed in the jungle northwest of Saigon in Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam; however, the remains of only one crew member could be identified among the wreckage. The other three crew members remain missing. Specialist 5 Steven Morris Hastings entered the U.S. Army from California and served in the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group. He was the crew chief aboard the Iroquois when it crashed on August 1, 1968, and his remains were not recovered. Following the incident, the Army posthumously promoted SP5 Hastings to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSG). Today, Staff Sergeant Hastings is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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