Press Releases

WICHITA – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a Memorial Day video message today to honor the sacrifices of fallen military members, including Air Force Reserve 1st Lieutenant David Dinan III who trained at McConnell Air Force Base and was shot down in Laos in 1969. Last year, Rep. Estes helped with the identification of his remains, allowing 1LT Dinan to be laid to rest April 25, 2018, at Arlington National Cemetery.

“On this Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day as Americans,” said Rep. Estes. “From our country’s founding, to the ongoing War on Terror and at all times in between, Americans in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard have defended freedom at home and around the world. We should never stop honoring our fallen and missing soldiers and supporting their families.”

Click here or the image below to watch Rep. Estes’ video message.

In his message, Rep. Estes highlights Air Force Reserve 1^st Lieutenant David Dinan III, a F-105 Thunderchief pilot who completed training at McConnell Air Force Base in June 1968. On March 17, 1969, 1LT Dinan was shot down during a mission over Laos. Although the U.S. Air Force reported 1LT Dinan as killed in action, his body was not able to be recovered. Forty years later, Air Force Col. Ed Sykes, 1LT Dinan’s former roommate and a resident of Rose Hill, renewed efforts to retrieve 1LT Dinan’s remains. In 2014, the crash site of 1LT Dinan was discovered and in 2016, the site was excavated and remains were sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) for identification. In June 2017, Col. Sykes contacted the office of Rep. Estes asking for assistance in getting DPAA to complete its identification of 1LT Dinan. Rep. Estes was able to help expedite efforts and on August 7, 2017, 1LT Dinan was officially identified. On April 25, 2018, 1LT David Dinan was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery surrounded by family and friends.

Air Force Reserve 1^st Lt. David Dinan III was 25 years old when he was shot down over Laos on March 17, 1969. 1LT Dinan trained at McConnell Air Force Base prior to deployment during the Vietnam War.

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.