The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. 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. The remains did not consist of much, just six bones. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. display: block; There, Captain Richard S. Hess of Mortuary Affairs inventoried the package and added a skeletal chart showing the bones locations on the body (right humerus, right pelvis, and four rib bones). They married in 1947 and had five children. [3] After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains were exhumed on May 14, 1998. Michael Blassies skeletal chart, VBC Happy Hour screenshot, 2021. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. The goal was to schedule the ceremony before Election Day 1984, which is why Memorial Day, rather than Veterans Day, was selected. They may have received last rights, families informed, etc, but the rest of us know little about those individuals. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. After Blassie's family secured permission . First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. "He and. "This has meant so much to us. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. A helicopter team tried to get to the crash site, but due to heavy enemy fire, they had to leave after just a few minutes empty-handed. Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He related his story of wrapping the remains, with the dog tags, in plastic. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. They must have never actually been there. 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. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. His remains were finally brought home aboard a C-130 cargo plane Friday in a solemn service befitting a pilot killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. 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. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. Unidentified remains from that war had been analyzed over a decade and a half. . Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Michael Blassie was therefore ruled out as a possible match. Blassie died when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Lc in what was then South Vietnam. Then, as more information about those remains was discovered, only one set of remains remained unknown. We wanted to know the rest of the story. His sister, Pat Blassie, was 10 years younger than her brother, but she remembered he started working as a kid by selling newspapers on the street corner. "Today was a significant day for us," Blassie's brother, George Blassie said during Friday's service. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. Mrs. Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was opened and the remains of the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed. The Vietnam crypt of the Tomb of the Unknown, the one that contained Michael Blassies remains, has been empty since the exhumation on May 14, 1998. The DNA technology that could conclusively identify the remains was just around the corner, but in 1984 they were ordered to prepare X-26 for burial. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The recruiters said if I joined the Air Force, Id travel, get excellent training,and an education. Jean Blassie called the family together for a round-the-table discussion. Interestingly, the soldiers identities *were* known and the Danes made an effort to give each soldier his last rites. 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. It was so exciting," she says. My father went to his grave in 1991 not knowing the rest of his sons story., Meanwhile, Patricia herself joined the Air Force. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. His 138th combat mission ended near An Loc, South Vietnam, when the wing was blasted off his plane by enemy fire. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? "At a moment of great crises in the history of the world, he gave of himself," Archbishop Justin Rigali said to about 350 friends, family members and current and former members of the military. "X-26" remained in Arlington with his unknown comrades, watched by the solemn Old Guard, until 1998, when new questions about Blassie's whereabouts surfaced. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. I didnt even know how to go about college. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. Search above to list available cemeteries. A system error has occurred. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Michael Blassie in his Air Force Academy cadet uniform. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. well, that was simply too much to believe. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. In order for the X-26 remains to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknown, Webb had to sign a statement confirming that they would never be identified. It can represent all soldiers. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. Five months later, during a sweep of the area, a South Vietnamese Army patrol recovered a pelvis, an upper arm bone, and some ribs, as well as the remnants of a flight suit, a life raft, pieces of a parachute, and part of a USAF holster. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. Members of the Air Force honor guard carry the casket containing the remains of Lt. Michael Blassie into a hearse at Scott Air Force Base on Friday, July 10, 1998. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Over 130,000 NVA with their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam along three separate fronts, from the DMZ to Saigon. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. There was an error deleting this problem. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . This account has been disabled. I saluted smartly and put the thought aside. Michael was no longer Unknown. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. Blassies was A positive. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. To Army scientists, these findings superseded any other evidence, such as documents or personal effects. Everything about the war not only the numbers, but the nature of it was dehumanizing, says Robert Poole, author of the book On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery. Try again later. Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 May 11, 1972) was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. Just to eliminate doubt, Patricia traveled to the Air Force Casualty Office at Randolph AFB in San Antonio to ask if there might be any truth to Sampleys claims. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. Ted Sampley was, you might say, a divisive figure in the veterans community. Year should not be greater than current year. Gonzales began filing FOIA requests and eventually got back a thick envelope with military documents showing the entire process of the Unknown Soldier selection process. 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 they had, they might have hung up on him. Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. For Mrs. Blassie, the fight to recover her sons remains took a dramatic turn during a family meeting in November 1997 at her apartment in Florissant. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. You can watch his conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie on A Veterans Story on the VBCs YouTube channel, youtube.com/veteransbreakfastclub. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. . Five months after the shoot down an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) patrol inspected the crash site and retrieved partial skeletal remains, an ID card, dog tags, a wallet containing a family picture, part of a flight suit, and the remnant of a pistol holster. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. It is very austere and moving. The next time, the Air Force lost him. The Vietnam unknown was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, beneath the headstone that reads, "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. (eds): Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 18:50, "Soldier In Tomb Of Unknowns May Actually Be Known", "The Vietnam Unknown Soldier Can Be Identified", "Defense.gov News Article: Vietnam Unknown's Medal of Honor Transfer Denied", "The Evolution of the Tomb of the Unknowns", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Blassie&oldid=1139961298, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 18:50. 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. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. } Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Captain Parnell wrapped the remains, and the other items found at the crash site, in plastic and held them overnight. 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. Instead, they were simply designated as BTB believed to be Michael Blassie. Sorry! #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { 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. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. 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. Michael Sorkin is a reporter at the Post-Dispatch. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. Pressure began to mount in Washington to place a service member from Vietnam in the tomb of the unknowns, but by 1980 the Blassie remains were the only ones left that hadnt been conclusively identified. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. Hey there beautiful nerd! 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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed He was convinced the government wasnt telling veterans everything it knew, and he was calling Patricia Blassie with an outlandish theory about Michaels death. On July 11, 1998, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was buried with full military honors in Jefferson National Cemetery, Missouri, near his hometown, in the same cemetery as his father. It was so exciting, she says. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. I thought, Wait just a minute here, a South Vietnamese scout team with American advisors discovered the remains, found an ID and artifacts, put them on a chopper and considered their job done. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. Please enter valid email address to continue. Simple, tragic explanation would be the only one set of remains remained.... Ruled out as a possible match or update the memorial manager been analyzed over a decade and half... Or update the memorial manager the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis to... Blassies squadron was providing that Air support over an Loc a special new crypt for the,... Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches will you. 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