Even though he knew about the missing wallet, the head of the lab, using now outdated techniques, determined that the remains did not match Michael Blassies physical description. I dont care what happened, but the documents showed that patrol went into Michaels crash site to find him, and they did. The report triggered a speedy response from the Department of Defense which, after its own investigation, ordered the Tomb to be opened and the Vietnam Unknowns remains to undergo DNA testing at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was pretty upsetting to have the Vietnam Unknown disinterred. i . From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Please enter valid email address to continue. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible That destiny was already in motion. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. And so it would have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about Blassie on the Internet. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. At least he went into a place of honor.. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. For 14 years, the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie lay beneath the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. 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. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. So were dozens of Michaels old friends, classmates, and comrades in arms, along with thousands of others, including Vietnam veterans, who came to commemorate the return of a lost brother. Well, my mom cant get these kinds of phone calls, responded Patricia. With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". (2006): Identification of Human Remains. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. They may have received last rights, families informed, etc, but the rest of us know little about those individuals. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He was convinced the government wasnt telling veterans everything it knew, and he was calling Patricia Blassie with an outlandish theory about Michaels death. So they finally took him off the shelf, file X-26, and for that Im thankful. Michael flew as an Air Commando, probably running covert missions into Laos and Cambodia, in addition to his official duties as forward air controller and counterinsurgency operations pilot in South Vietnam. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? A neighbor came over to get me, saying, Pat, you need to go inside. So I did and knew something was horribly wrong. Drag images here or select from your computer for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie memorial. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. France, Romania, Italy everybody at the same time jumped on this idea. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. 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. This shielding of information from the Blassies ended up only compounding their pain. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the Civil War. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. Hurtful also were the objections she and her family received from Vietnam veterans, who resented the Blassies for taking away their Unknown. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). 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. Yesterday I read an article about three WW1 soldiers buried in Copenhagen: https://www.thelocal.dk/20190305/the-little-known-story-of-the-first-world-war-soldiers-buried-in-copenhagen. Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Jean Blassie called the family together for a round-the-table discussion. Webb refused. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. Placing a Medal of Honor on X-26s flag-draped casket, the President concluded, Thank you, dear son, and may God cradle you in his loving arms.. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. . The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Michael Blassie (4245)? Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. . This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. She took on the military, won, and brought him back for burial in his hometown of St. Louis. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid In my 17-year-old mind, that sounded like a good deal.. Blassie's unidentified remains were designated as the Vietnam Unknown service member by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Test your Navy knowledge with this Navy history quiz by Military.com. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. On July 11, 1998, Michael Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Oops, we were unable to send the email. They petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, a technology that had been unavailable . Jean Blassie lost her son twice. 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. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. In 1976, they were shipped to Hawaii to be analyzed by the Armys Central Identification Laboratory (CIL-HI). They had a letter from his flight leader, James Connally, who recapped what had happened., Still, without remains, there was a terrible sense of open-ended grief. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". 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. William S. Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1998. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. For Pat Blassie, Michael's sister, the once unknown soldier still is a symbol for the country. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Failed to report flower. I didnt even know how to go about college. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. 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. CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat" For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Michael was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he died. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. The body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents. Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. "We were all so proud of him. It was his 138th combat mission. I missed the names of the two announcers who discussed the Arlington Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument and chuckled together over some of the changing of the guard ceremony and sentry duties. The remains did not consist of much, just six bones. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. Om 1992, the Defense Department started collecting and holding blood samples from all inductees for possible future DNA comparisons. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35 Failed to remove flower. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford [email protected]. Michael Joseph Blassie was born on April 4, 1948. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . Michael Blassie was therefore ruled out as a possible match. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. Last chance! First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. "He and. 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? But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. The Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains were Michaels. Mike always knew what he wanted, I didnt. 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.. Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks. Blassie was born in St. Louis in 1948. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. Try again later. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. In 1983, Congress and the Reagan administration, under pressure from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, agreed to move the remains of X-26 into the Tomb of the Unknown as a healing gesture for a country still traumatized by the Vietnam War. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. It was so exciting," she says. Blassie, 24, an Air Force Academy graduate and the oldest of the five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, was flying an A-37 when he was shot down over An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon in South Vietnam, on May 11, 1972. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. There was a problem getting your location. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. [6] 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. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Today he comes home.". The next time, the Air Force lost him. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. An honor guard was fired a 21-gun salute and F-15 Eagle fighters flew overhead in the "missing man" formation as Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis in a ceremony presided over by the eldest sibling, Pat Blassie, a captain in the Air Force Reserve. Michael Joseph Blassie, the oldest of five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, entered the Air Force Academy in 1966 and received his officer's commission in June 1970. He had written an article he said proved that her brother had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery on May 28, 1984. 99pi keep up the great work. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4245/michael-joseph-blassie. She permitted Vince Gonzalez to access a trove of new documents through the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the selection and entombment of the Vietnam Unknowns remains. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! There were fewer than 25,000 US servicemen left in Vietnam, as opposed to the over 500,000 who had been deployed by the late 1960s. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Try again later. 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. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. Hey there beautiful nerd! He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. . Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. In 1972, it was still under the control of the South Vietnamese military, along with a handful of American advisors, but it was surrounded by an invading North Vietnamese Army. 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