SYNOPSIS: On July 20, 1966, SP4 David Dillon was serving as crewchief on a UH1B helicopter operating in Long An Province, South Vietnam on an air mobile assault mission.

During the landing approach, the helicopter was hit by enemy gunfire, exploded and crashed. An immediate search of the area was conducted and the remains of 3 other crewmembers were recovered and identified. Dillon's wallet and ID card were found in the vicinity of the wreckage. An investigative board report indicated that Dillon's position on the aircraft was on the left door, which was the primary point of contact of the explosion which involved white phosphorous. No remains were found that could be identified as those of Dillon. A second, unsuccessful search was made. The area of the crash was in a rice paddy.

When JCRC teams went back in December 1973 for follow-up, they was assaulted and one of the team members was killed. This was one of the last searches made by such teams in South Vietnam.

Since Dillon's remains were never found, he is listed among the missing. Unlike many others who are missing, Dillon's case seems clear. Others disappeared without notice after having been seen led away by enemy troops. Some were photographed as captives. Still others were in radio contact with search and rescue teams and described their imminent capture. There is no question that a substantial number of the missing were at one time prisoners. Most of them can be accounted for, alive or dead.

Since the war ended, thousands of reports have been received indicating that hundreds of these missing men are still alive today. It is difficult to imagine what they must be thinking of the country they proudly served. Surely they deserved better than the abandonment we gave them.