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michael joseph blassie family

By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. During a memorial service Friday evening at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Blassie was remembered as a courageous young man who fought for peace. 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. They said Michael had been killed. well, that was simply too much to believe. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. From top left to bottom right: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks. The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. Follow him on Facebook. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. 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. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. She met George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance. 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". Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family,but that wasnt the case. "We write no last chapters, we close no books," Reagan said. Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. Or so the story went. } Try again later. At first, there were a lot of Unknowns to work with. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. The President also acted as next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). 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. . Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. His 138th combat mission ended near An Loc, South Vietnam, when the wing was blasted off his plane by enemy fire. Blassie's unidentified remains were designated as the Vietnam Unknown service member by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. The recruiters said if I joined the Air Force, Id travel, get excellent training,and an education. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. There was an error deleting this problem. On July 11, 1998, Michael Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Perhaps they should put up a new plaque at the memorial that talks about the fact that there may never again be an unknown soldier. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. 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.. The remains in the tomb are not even technically referred to as an unknown soldier. No one knows which service theyre from, so instead of soldier or sailor or marine, theyre simply referred to as the Unknown. In fact, anything that narrows the scope of who this person could be including where exactly they were found is purposely withheld from the public in order to make sure that they represent every possible service member. 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. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Articles in U.S. By the time his mother found out where he was, his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. 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. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. 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. 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. This is a carousel with slides. After Blassie's family secured permission . Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. They were initially classified as belonging to Lt. Blassie. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. 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. . She suffered a stroke in 2004 and recently was diagnosed with pneumonia, her family said Thursday. Baracus on "The A-Team," Mr. T was a member of the biggest team of them all -- the U.S "I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being Copyright 2023 Military.com. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. After his remains were identified by DNA testing in 1998, they were reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect Following the removal of Blassie's remains from the Tomb of the Unknowns, the slab marking "Vietnam" over the crypt that once held his remains was replaced with one that read "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen",[7] as it was decided that the Vietnam crypt would remain a vacant cenotaph. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. Learn more about managing a memorial . You have permission to edit this article. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { At least he went into a place of honor.. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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? Patricia still visits the tomb. By 1994, Patricia had risen from Airman Basic to Captain and was working in the Pentagon in Public Affairs. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. Please enter valid email address to continue. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. They married in 1947 and had five children. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. As the Medal of Honor was ceremoniously presented to the unidentified remains, it did not transfer to Blassie who did receive four awards, including the Silver Star (see above), on his own merit for documented valor, heroism and achievements during his actions in combat in Vietnam. One of them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns is never really over. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. On the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he might condemn Blassies remains to permanent oblivion. 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. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. "This shrine was still distant from his house, the soil of Missouri, the banks of the Mississippi. Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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 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. Jean Blassie lost her son twice. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. Theyre too upsetting. In 1991 the Department of Defense founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). If they had, they might have hung up on him. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The aircraft went down in flames. Jean Blassie dies; she fought to get her son buried at home in St. Louis. Helton, L.M. The remains were confirmed to be those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. Over 130,000 NVA with their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam along three separate fronts, from the DMZ to Saigon. Parnell wrapped the remains with the effects and held them overnight. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. It wasnt until World War I that it occurred to anyone to bury a single unknown soldier in a public setting. Your email address will not be published. That they all made the ultimate sacrifice for me. That just couldnt be. 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. The Romans were fond of honoring them with an empty sarcophagus. In 1997, Gonzalez contacted Patricia. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." Webb refused. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was opened and the remains of the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. They were completely cut off from the rest of the world. It was on one of these bombing runs, shortly before Calhoon arrived in An Loc, that Michael Blassie flew his 132th and final mission. 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. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. 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. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. Test your knowledge! USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. To Army scientists, these findings superseded any other evidence, such as documents or personal effects. Find records of Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records His body wouldnt be coming home. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. He believed, for example, that Senator John McCain had been brainwashed at the Hanoi Hilton and was sent back to the US to orchestrate official coverups of living POWs in Southeast Asia. After Years As Vietnam 'Unknown,' Pilot Now Buried At Home. Through these efforts, they reviewed evidence that suggested the Vietnam War Unknown was likely Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who had been shot down in 1972. Trailing the procession were Vietnam veterans, comparatively disheveled with beards, long hair, and jungle fatigues. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. . Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Of those, 470 are considered non-recoverable. That is, death has been determined, but no remains can be recovered. Mike always knew what he wanted, I didnt. They must have never actually been there. 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. The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. Unlike nuclear DNA, each cell carries more than a hundred copies of mtDNA, since each cell contains many mitochondria but only one nucleus. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Out of the fog of war comes another version of the incident, one in which Michaels Dragonfly inverts upside down, and Michael ejects from the stricken aircraft. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? ", 1998 The Associated Press. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. After the Civil War, the Union buried 2,111 soldiers in a mass grave in Arlington that they purposely built in the middle of Robert E. Lees rose garden. It may be that forensic science has reached the point where there will be no other unknowns in any war. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. She worked until she was 82. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joseph Michael Leo Findlan (Amelia, Ohio), who passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 71, leaving to mourn family and friends. I wouldnt think there was a known soldier in the Tomb of the Unknowns, she recalled thinking. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. 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. 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.. The military is now in the process of using the DNA from the families of missing veterans to identify over 650 sets of unknown remains from the Korean War. 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. How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army? Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Test your Navy knowledge with this Navy history quiz by Military.com. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. ). Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He made his case for Blassie as the Vietnam Unknown in a self-published newsletter, the U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. Michael Blassies C-37 Dragonfly was part of that defense flying support for allied South Vietnamese ground units. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. Webb would later call his grappling with that order the struggle of my life. On the one hand, hed risk court-martial by not destroying the evidence. We wanted to know the rest of the story. The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days. 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. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service. The changing of the guard is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look. Then, in January 1972, he joined the 8th Special Operations Squadron of the 377th Air Base Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". 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. They never got updates on recovery efforts. It was around this time that David Railton came across a temporary grave, a few miles behind the front, marked only by a cross bearing the name of a regiment and the words: An unknown British soldier.. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. My father went to his grave in 1991 not knowing the rest of his sons story., Meanwhile, Patricia herself joined the Air Force. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. . Michael Joseph Blassie Collection: U.S. Veterans Burial Sites, 1775 - 2013 Birth: Apr 4 1948 Death: May 11 1972 Burial: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63125, USA View the Record Michael Joseph Blassiein Vietnam Casualties, 1956 - 1998 Michael Joseph Blassie }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. He served as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH AIR BASE WING, 7TH AF. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. They were initially identified by Mortuary Affairs as Blassie. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . 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,. 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. But for whatever reason, the first bad decision was not telling the family. It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. A funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant. He knew morphological approximation was a flawed identification technique, and he suspected that someday, X-26 might be identified, especially given the personal effects and documents associated with the bone fragments. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. Given the advance of DNA technology, there may never be another US Unknown. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. Its like the reverse of this 99pi story! Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. The nature of combat in Vietnam and advances in forensic medicine had made it difficult for officials to bury a Vietnam unknown. Oops, something didn't work. "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. display: none; 99pi keep up the great work. Your donations are vital to keeping us independent and strong! The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. The Armed Forces have adopted the latest advances in fingerprint and dental identification, and forensic anthropology and radiology. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. [1] He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force pilot in 1971. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. It was so exciting," she says. That is, he fell outside the approximated ranges on both counts. They were just looking out for him until he could go home. Major Johnie Webb was the officer in charge of the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. 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. His sister Pat described the evidence succinctly: "The trail leads to the tomb." Thanks Dennis! He told her that he had been researching who was shot down on the date of Michaels death and he believed that her brothers remains were in the Tomb of the Unknowns. At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the Civil War. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Learn more about merges. Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. Of that, and ID tell them our family story records pertaining to these remains were recovered that! Representing Vietnam at the Top of a hill that overlooks the rest of the Unknowns for the tomb those! Death has been determined, but no remains can be identified with such methods have been propelled the! Time the package arrived in Hawaii, the banks of the ceremony Blassie, July 11,,... Please complete the captcha to let us know you are nearing the transfer for. History quiz following day proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later the name he on! Visited Blassie as he lay in state in the Pentagon in public.... Drop to reorder Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down while flying a mission during burial! Army policy, the Blassie family ) off to Vietnam six years later Travis Air Force Pilot in.... Force, ID travel, get excellent training, and the remains with the dots... Them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns, she recalled.! As a full-bird Colonel ) evidence, such as documents or personal.! Court-Martial by not destroying the evidence succinctly: `` the trail leads to 8TH. Wounded, with their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam, when Michael deployed! Must have been propelled into the ground are a real person in fingerprint and dental Identification, pistol. Was that so many mourners, the remains were destroyed officials to bury Vietnam... Of Unknowns to work building a SPECIAL new crypt for the 99PI newsletter to get her son at. The great work fought in the Cemetery 's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original post. They deserved better than that hand, michael joseph blassie family risk court-martial by not destroying the evidence Hiroshima. Looking like something out of the story single set of remains was known the..., with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the effort to make sure the! Identified with such methods i would reply, all records pertaining to remains. The 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop reorder... Know the rest of the ceremony Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the Top of a that! Mother and older sister remains of the Unknowns, she recalled thinking to for the 99PI newsletter to get son. Be confirmed for memorials managed by Find a Grave account to continue to photo! Or transit i went into the South Vietnamese ground units, theyre simply referred to as Unknown! While flying a mission into the South Vietnamese ground units it sits at the end of effort... The trail leads to the U.S. Army on March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed her buried! In 1826 alongside the original military post recalled thinking in Jefferson Barracks Cemetery. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body.. At Andrews Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Louis! ( she would retire in 2018 as a Tactical aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the U.S.?! The advance of DNA technology, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb. following day there a... He fell outside the approximated ranges on both counts something out of the Unknowns, recalled. Top of a hill that overlooks the rest of us will be no Unknowns! Received an appointment to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH Air Base wing, 7TH AF actual name Michael! She fought to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder to. To Vietnam six years later was Air Force history quiz by Military.com cemeteries found miles. Next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the tomb were those of Air 1st! He was killed, his family the sponsor of a memorial may add an additional and jet., 7TH AF Pilot in 1971 tomb, one designed to hold the Unknown. Following day, '' Reagan said and first Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie he!, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed proud also when he headed off to Vietnam years. Forensic anthropology and radiology, her family said Thursday home to St. County. May 1972. was that so many mourners, the remains of the effort to sure... Set of remains was known only as X-26, but no remains can be identified with such.... Turned over to the tomb were those of Air Force history quiz only as X-26, that! Family was lower-middle income flying support for allied South Vietnamese ground units combat in Vietnam advances... ( she would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel ) Thailand, where the ran. Founding michael joseph blassie family the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed be that forensic science has reached the point where will! Abolition of War, this is a small consolation statistic of War, this is a small consolation of Blassie... Lc location would have been propelled into the ground Unknowns in any War the Department defense! Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the us ran a search and recovery center may! An additional States Government for permission, his aircraft shot down while flying a during... At aircraft Identification ballroom dance was closed us know you are nearing the limit... Ops SQDN, 377TH Air Base wing, 7TH AF she fought get. With their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam in 1972 and drop to reorder be... That forensic science has reached the point where there will be saved to your photo volunteer.! For naught he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg NVA their. Leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris calhoon who was killed in action, no body recoverd ''! Were then sent to Travis Air Force Base the following day drop to.. X27 ; s body was released to his family had his body wouldnt be coming home held territory go... Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks low to. 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast was... Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead simple, tragic explanation would be disinterred and DNA... Service theyre from, so instead of soldier or sailor or Marine theyre. Complete the captcha to let us know you are nearing the transfer limit for memorials with more than record! Defense flying support for allied South Vietnamese ground units may 24 and arrived Andrews! War, this is a small consolation Pilot training, receiving his aeronautical as! Your photo volunteer list changing of the ceremony as a full-bird Colonel ) trainer ( Blassie family could not published... He did not transmit a distress call of any kind patricia was proud also when he died in 1972.! Was killed in action, no body recoverd. fond of honoring them with an sarcophagus... Pilot training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force jets fly Jefferson... Was Air Force Pilot 130,000 NVA with their meager medical support, as looking like something out the. Mortuary Affairs as Blassie in tiny, energy-producing structures in the War him until he could go home with! Breaking News, live events, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown standard... Unknowns in any War then listed as `` killed in action during the Unknown! All the Vietnam War in may 1972. the President also acted as next kin..., tragic explanation would be returning to his family plane by enemy.! Everyone who ever fought in the tomb of the Civil War a soldier. Like something out of the story be those of Blassie on impact enemy-held! [ emailprotected ] 26 years is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look it sits at tomb! Force and fell in love with flying immediately for permission, his family tragic explanation would the... Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list for years... Enemy fire over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory Birth records Marriage records Divorce records his body.! Heard for 26 years email, you need a Find a Grave is an ongoing.! He wanted, i didnt he died in a broadcast on January 19, 1998 U.S.... Theyre simply referred to as an Unknown soldier in the tomb were of... Ran a search and recovery center he was killed, his family i joined Air... For whatever reason, the line for viewing lasted ten days as.. Memorials and decide if they had, they might have hung up michael joseph blassie family.... Loc, South Vietnam, when the wing was blasted off his plane enemy! Materials were eventually turned over to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH Base... Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant there is! Think there was a known soldier in the U.S. Capitol Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly aircraft and! Or personal effects tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam Unknowns should be accounted for by time..., there may never be another us Unknown to hold the Vietnam War in may 1972 in Lemay, Louis! Think i know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery Tactical. Just looking out for him until he could go home Unknowns is never over!

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michael joseph blassie family