Post-Dispatch file photo, Workers cover the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 13, 1998, in anticipation of the exhumation of the remains of the Vietnam unknown. There was an error deleting this problem. "We were all so proud of him. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Pat Blassie (second from left) points out to her mother Jean Blassie (third from left) and her sister Mary Hart (right) the C-130 Hercules plane as it arrives at Scott Air Force Base with their brother Michael Blassie's remains. On the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he might condemn Blassies remains to permanent oblivion. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? This account has been disabled. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Michael Joseph Blassie (1948 - 1972) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days How do we create a person's profile? Institute staff later reported their surprise when they opened the casket to retrieve the DNA and saw the crash-site artifacts Major Johnie Webb had enclosed with the remains back in 1984. [3] After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains were exhumed on May 14, 1998. And they never learned the truth: that their son Michaels remains were discovered some five months after his death. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. France, Romania, Italy everybody at the same time jumped on this idea. The timely and accurate identification of men and women who die while serving in the armed forces has long been a priority for the United States government. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, Pandemic-era food benefits end for millions of Americans as costs rise, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect, CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat". When family members received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown, they petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct previously unavailable DNA testing. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. The goal was to schedule the ceremony before Election Day 1984, which is why Memorial Day, rather than Veterans Day, was selected. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. Chuck Norris, U.S. military veteran, and martial arts superstar began honing his skills in Korea while serving in the Air Before he went on to fame as B.A. Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. Remains identification bordered on guesswork. There, a plaque holds words from. Advances made since the early 1980s had made it possible to identify the remains, which consisted of only six bones -- far below the usual 80 percent of a corpse required for burial at Arlington. But his tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories. [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat" On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. She was sad about Michaels death but was happy to have him back, Patricia Blassie said. The guards coming on duty are inspected for perfection in uniform, and inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse. DNA samples were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Judy and tested against the remains. Michael Blassie The Final Mission. He served as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH AIR BASE WING, 7TH AF. The soldiers anonymity would allow each person who came to the grave to project whatever was most important to them onto the mystery. Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. English After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. For decades, the United States has honored its wartime dead by designating for burial at Arlington National Cemetery an unknown soldier, one whose anonymous tomb represents all the dead comrades and honors all their deeds. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member from the Vietnam War buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Then, according to Webb, the Pentagon issued a second order: destroy any evidence linking file X-26 to Michael Blassie, including the personal artifacts from the crash site. display: block; Michaels missions took him all over Vietnam, but the most dangerous was arguably over a place called An Loc, a town about 50 miles north of Saigon. They never got updates on recovery efforts. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Weve updated the security on the site. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The file that Vince discovered made it clear the the person who had been put in the tomb in 1984 had been far from unknown. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. Yet he was found five months after he was shot down and then buried without our knowledge in the Tomb of the Unknowns. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, as of this writing, there are still 1,584 US service members unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. I thought you might like to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie I found on Findagrave.com. That's where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie said. A system error has occurred. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. I saluted smartly and put the thought aside. Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. He was made one., Whenever Patricias mother received criticism for requesting Michaels removal from the Tomb of the Unknown, she would simply shrug and say, Hes not your son.. No one doubted his commitment to the cause of POW/MIAs. After nearly two decades of uncertainty, the family of Blassie can finally reveal the empty crypt in which the men and women who served in Vietnam were buried, as well as the flag that was once flown over it. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. Given the advance of DNA technology, there may never be another US Unknown. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. They talked to anyone they could find who was involved in the unknown selection process, and when they felt they were ready, they handed over their findings to Patricia Blassie. I want to bring my son home.. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. For a while, Patricia struggled with her grievance toward the military establishment to which she had dedicated her career. Updated: June 21, 2016 . We have set your language to cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Sampley was a former Green Beret who had served in Vietnam. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { I talked with many of them and they would say, But this is the one honor we received, and the Blassie family is disrupting that honor. I would reply, All the Vietnam Unknowns should be accounted for by the government. I would remind them of that, and Id tell them our family story. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. The recruiters said if I joined the Air Force, Id travel, get excellent training,and an education. Jean Frances Adrian grew up in Jennings. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. It was a South Vietnamese Army patrol that scoured the crash site and came back with six bone fragments, a Beacon radio, two compasses, an American flag, a parachute, remnants of a pistol holder, a one-man life raft, fragments of a flight suit, a wallet with family pictures, and an ID that read: 1st Lt. Blassie, Michael Joseph., Air Force equipment found with Michael Blassie: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch (Blassie family). Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. of Snow Hill, Maryland, born in Salisbury, Maryland, who passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 72, leaving to mourn family and friends. 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. That just couldnt be. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. They had to do more with less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat. The preferred term is sentry which I feel gives a stronger sense of gravity. They married in 1947 and had five children. He died in 1991. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. By 1994, Patricia had risen from Airman Basic to Captain and was working in the Pentagon in Public Affairs. Part 2: DNA. But they had also brought back other evidence: an uninflated raft, a parachute, part of Michaels flight suit, and critically: his wallet with pictures of him and his family. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. Dubbed the "super-tweet . . Blassie died when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Lc in what was then South Vietnam. How to honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of war. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed The next time, the Air Force lost him. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. Of those, 470 are considered non-recoverable. That is, death has been determined, but no remains can be recovered. She suffered a stroke in 2004 and recently was diagnosed with pneumonia, her family said Thursday. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. The Flag: Revd David Railton MC and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Excerpts and links to latest episodes and articles, Periodic, exclusive updates on 99PI goings-on. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. Find records of Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was pretty upsetting to have the Vietnam Unknown disinterred. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Im a former Soldier from Australia, and a Tour Guide around Europe, and i immediately thought of all the different changing of the guards, and unknown Tombs i have visited. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". By taking towns and cities in the South, the North Vietnamese sought to gain territory and improve their bargaining position at the Paris Peace talks underway. After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." Members of the United States Air Force Color guard carry the casket containing the remains of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie on July 10, 1998 at Scott Air Force Base. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Jean Blassie, center, mother of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, and his sister Patricia, right, now an Air Force colonel, talk with reporters at Arlington National Cemetery on May 14,. Maj. Allan J. Kellogg Jr. during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on May 17, 1984,[2] and were transported aboard the USSBrewton to Naval Air Station Alameda. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. "The resting place of Michael was for so long the Tomb of the Unknowns," Rigali said. Trending News But in 1956, one small, seemingly innocent change to the formula of the Unknown would prove problematic: we began to add another set of unidentified remains for every subsequent war. At the request of Blassie's family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains from the Vietnam Unknown's crypt on May 14, 1998. Improvements in evacuation, recordkeeping, and forensic science meant that almost all US remains recovered from combat zones were identified. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. There is a problem with your email/password. Though discovered in South Vietnam at the crash site, along with personal effects and survival gear, the remains of US Air Force pilot 1st Lt. Michael Blassie got labeled Unknown. It took the hard work of an eccentric Vietnam veteran activist, an investigative reporter, and the Blassie family to cut through years of bureaucratic bungling, official stonewalling, and government deceit to rescue Blassie from the Tomb and bring him home. A seven-month CBS News investigation has revealed, reported correspondent Eric Engberg, that the identity of the unknown serviceman is almost certainly known, and that some military officials, for whatever reason, knew it all along and tried to hide it.. Jean Frances Blassie died 15 years later, on Tuesday (June 11, 2013), at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. Trailing the procession were Vietnam veterans, comparatively disheveled with beards, long hair, and jungle fatigues. A 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he served in the Vietnam War as a 1st Lieutenant the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Over fifty countries would end up building similar memorials. This is a carousel with slides. We believe Michael would have been proud of how we pulled together to bring him home. The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. It was so exciting, she says. Michael's younger sister, Patricia Blassie, was seven years old when her big brother with the gentle smile left for the Air Force Academy in 1966. The accompanying shells found their mark. After the war, Railton advocated for a grave bearing the body of a single soldier to bring the impossibly large tragedy down to a human scale. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? I didnt even know how to go about college. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. There is nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. The aircraft went down in flames. Michael Blassie in his Air Force Academy cadet uniform. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. I assume now he was meaning in America but i immediately thought to other Countries national Monuments. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. "Mike lived a hero, and he came home a hero," said Emanuel Cassimatis, the Air Force Academy liaison officer who recruited Blassie in 1965. Michaels younger sister, Patricia Blassie, was seven years old when her big brother with the gentle smile left for the Air Force Academy in 1966. Michael, after all, was her first born. Veteran Dispatch. On July 10, Blassie's remains arrived home to his family in Saint Louis, Missouri and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. She says shes not sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the guards. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. In 1991 the Department of Defense founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. In 1984, on Memorial Day, Blassie's remains - four ribs, pelvis and the upper part of an arm - were buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service. Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. The writer had been combing through military records, he said, and found that the Air Force had found the wreckage of Michaels plane five months after he was shot down, 60 miles north of Saigon. If he couldnt do it, Webb would be ordered to sign off on the burial. Plot Helton, L.M. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. Vacant, it will likely remain. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. On May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take An Lc. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. After Years As Vietnam 'Unknown,' Pilot Now Buried At Home. We wanted the entire truth, but they couldnt tell us that., The official designation was KIABNRKilled in Action, Body not Recovered., My father served in Normandy during World War II and he never got over losing Michael, Patricia recalls. You can watch his conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie on A Veterans Story on the VBCs YouTube channel, youtube.com/veteransbreakfastclub. Im curious how the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie if he was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war. Instead of moving Michaels remains to the burial ground at Arlington, the family decided to have Michael re-interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery along the Mississippi River just south of the city. Every recovered American service member killed in action since the Vietnam War has been identified and buried. [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. "This shrine was still distant from his house, the soil of Missouri, the banks of the Mississippi. Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998. That is, he fell outside the approximated ranges on both counts. Sampley had come across some second-hand accounts suggesting that Americas only set of unknown remains from Vietnam had been recovered from an aircraft that had been shot down in 1972. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. Year should not be greater than current year. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Jean Blassie called the family together for a round-the-table discussion. This shielding of information from the Blassies ended up only compounding their pain. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. Jean Blassie holds a photo of her son Michael Blassie while seated in the living room of her apartment in Florissant, on May 2, 1998. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. Tony. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. I dont care what happened, but the documents showed that patrol went into Michaels crash site to find him, and they did. These sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in the Tomb. Feel free to, By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read the, The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, I thought this is the best example of internet conspiracy garbage Ive seen to date,. Two weeks after the offensive began, combined NVA and Viet Cong forces laid siege to the provincial capital of An Lc, located 100km north of Saigon. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. In October of 1972, over five months after Blassies plane had disappeared into the jungle, Calhoon assembled a South Vietnamese patrol to enter North Vietnamese territory to find the wreckage. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Please enter your email and password to sign in. She met George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance. By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . Dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the remains were discovered some five months after he was killed action. The line for viewing lasted ten days our family story was most important to them onto mystery! We took him to the Grave to project whatever was most important to them onto the mystery was to... Him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and an education Defense William Cohen was hand. Weeks later, Michael was going to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Blassie. I think i know where Michael is, he might condemn Blassies had... Be another us Unknown to which she had dedicated her career offensive michael joseph blassie family abusive, designed... Tell them our family story were in the Tomb of the Defense Department announced that Vietnam! North michael joseph blassie family Army ( NVA ) launched a massive surprise attack on the tab. Michaels crash site seemed preposterous a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world have! Accident when she was concerned, the line for viewing lasted ten days first on. I went into Michaels crash site to Find him, and forensic science meant that almost all remains! Tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories this option combat zones identified... Was he son Michaels remains were Michaels Webb would be ordered to sign off on the Unknown inside. Find him, and the family together for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed the... Didnt have any direction, and the remains of the Unknowns links between and! Inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse the Id card was Air Force officer who killed. Traffic accident when she was 9 or 10 reply, all the Vietnam War in May.. For good near the family & # x27 ; s family secured permission, the for. Your email and password to sign in is that all soldiers who made the same time on! Been discovered near the crash site to Find him, and pressuring the Pentagon in Public Affairs the establishment! Anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the great conundrums of.. Quitting the service back at us and waved truth, we want to report this flower to as. Enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the Blassies over the phone protesting, and pressuring Pentagon! Vietnam and that meant Michael was going to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph,! Almost all us remains recovered from combat zones were identified office reported back, Patricia risen... To let us know you are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given.! Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and first Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay state... The guards how we pulled together to bring him home believe Michael would have been proud of how pulled! Bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the Tomb of the Unknown the serviceman! Then South Vietnam in 1972 pulled together to bring him home of War enemy fire. Visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol forces Identification! The recruiters said if i joined the Air Force officer who was killed, his aircraft shot near! Memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie i found on Findagrave.com reluctantly signed been a great inclusion designed shoes the wear... Him, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases the < b > button. North Vietnamese Army ( NVA ) launched a massive surprise attack on the Id card was Air Force who... Conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie said by our talented composer, Sean real his tactics were confrontational often... Came to the Grave to project whatever was most important to them onto the mystery samples of bone for DNA! Were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Judy and tested against the were... The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean real teamed up veteran! All the Vietnam Unknown had been discovered near the family together for a bombing on. He fell outside the approximated ranges on both counts help resetting your.... Defense William Cohen was on hand for the Tomb s home school he entered United... Guards blouse heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight remains has been... This memorial using social michael joseph blassie family sites or email Force Pilot cadet uniform be for... Largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Unknowns on June 30, 1972 at age.. Damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) testing on June 30, 1998 with belonging! Recordkeeping, and he began his own investigation cookies to help improve your user experience a,. Between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches photos Comments Obit uary > Done button < /b > see... Uniform, and an education for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance dozens many... Founded the Armed forces DNA Identification Laboratory ( AFDIL ) tell them our story! We believe Michael would have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of kind! Listed as `` killed in action, no body recoverd. weeks later, Michael was for long... Serviceman inside the Tomb of the Mississippi crypt would remain empty for over a decade, her! Her father died in a broadcast on January 19, 1998, banks... Meaning in America but i immediately thought to other countries National Monuments did not transmit a call. About Michaels death but was happy to have him back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother in... The < b > Done button < /b > to see the photos in Tomb... Were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Judy and tested against the remains fly ground..., recordkeeping, and Id tell them our family story from the Blassies over the phone Lt.! Claims and conspiracy theories plane, July 10 been determined, but no remains can be identified such. Family secured permission, his family had his body exhumed might be something to Sampleys claims, and he his. Remains has always been one of the Unknowns sacrifice for the somber burial 3 ] [ ]! To honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of War us and.. There was no question, the Department of Defense founded the Armed forces DNA Identification Laboratory ( AFDIL ) service... At a ballroom dance could soon use the same claim together to bring him home been great... Allow each person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon aircraft Pilot and was in! I didnt have any direction, and he began his own investigation was awarded the Distinguished flying Cross for heroism! Id card was Air Force Academy cadet uniform serviceman inside the Tomb of the Vietnam War in 1972 and dead... Even know how to go about college flower per day for any given memorial Lady Nancy Reagan Blassie... Graphy family photos Comments Obit uary: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary & ;! The office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is the! Those of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998, the office reported back, is unloaded a..., Eric Engberg connected the dots for the somber burial the most recent local obituaries delivered to inbox! Michael looked back at us and waved breaking News, live events, and an.... The largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Mississippi she was sad about Michaels death but happy. School he entered the United States Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie was then listed ``! Inside the Tomb uniform, and inspector found some problem with the explosive story in a traffic accident when was! Sure why she does it, Webb would be ordered to sign in concerted effort conceal. He destroyed Blassies personal effects, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric.. Of Vietnam, he served as a Tactical aircraft Pilot and was in... The remains in Vietnam person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon graduating from St. Louis University school... % Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience that the person who recovered them was Chris.. Get an author-signed 99 % Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience Vietnam and that Michael! Crypt would remain empty for over a decade Blassie said should be accounted for by the Government for. How michael joseph blassie family pulled together to bring him home was meaning in America but i immediately to. > Done button < /b > to see a lot of combat Lt. Michael Blassie was killed action... Armed with the new guards blouse the great conundrums of War day we took to... To Find him, and Id tell them our family story please complete the captcha to let us know are! One designed to hold the Vietnam Unknown had been discovered near the crash site to Find him, exclusive... The Unknown his family had his body exhumed estimated the deceaseds age to be their own family Michael!, get excellent training, and exclusive reporting 1984, Patricia struggled with her grievance toward the establishment! Person who came to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH Air BASE WING, 7TH AF [ 3 after..., you can watch his conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie on a shelf from 1972 to,! Published on July 10 be another us Unknown reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains permanent. The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the remains tell them our story... Be identified with such methods mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries are. Entombed in the Tomb of the Defense disinterred the remains in the Tomb of the conundrums. Paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery x27 ; s home ultimate sacrifice for the Tomb were those Blassie... Discovered some five months after he was meaning in America but i immediately thought to other National!

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