The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. For Pat Blassie, Michael's sister, the once unknown soldier still is a symbol for the country. 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. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. A simple process of elimination made clear that the remains had to be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael. (AP Photo/Brian K. Diggs), In thisJune, 30, 1998, photo,Joan Blassie, right, the mother of the Michael Blassie reacts to the news that the remains in the Tomb of Unknowns were confirmed by DNA testing as belonging to her son Lt. Michael Blassie, who was shot down over Vietnam. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. He served as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH AIR BASE WING, 7TH AF. The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . I dont care what happened, but the documents showed that patrol went into Michaels crash site to find him, and they did. Follow him on Facebook. Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. Weve updated the security on the site. Producer Joe Rosenberg spoke with Robert Poole, author of On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery; Patricia Blassie; Bill Thomas, reporter for the Washington Post; Chris Calhoon, former Army Ranger; Vince Gonzales, reporter for CBS Denver, During the last segment of your podcast, Roman asked Joe if there were any other national monuments that had a guard like this. Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member . 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. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. 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. After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. From top left to bottom right: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. Ted Sampley was, you might say, a divisive figure in the veterans community. Part 2: DNA. Today he comes home.". Patricia still visits the tomb. Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." Please reset your password. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. But his tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". You have permission to edit this article. 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. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. "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. It was on one of these bombing runs, shortly before Calhoon arrived in An Loc, that Michael Blassie flew his 132th and final mission. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was opened and the remains of the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed. Thanks Dennis! Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. My parents marriage did not survive. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . It is very austere and moving. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. 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. Hundreds, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony. The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. . On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Mrs. American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. There is a problem with your email/password. Sampley was a former Green Beret who had served in Vietnam. . Former GOP Candidate's Military Records Improperly Shared with Democratic Group, Why DARPA Banned the First-Ever First Person Shooter Video Game, Navy Renaming USS Chancellorsville to Honor Union Army Hero, Statesman Who Was Born into Slavery, 2 Commanders Among 6 Fired from Jobs at Minot Air Force Base, Morgan Freeman Turned Down an Acting Scholarship to Join the Air Force. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. The changing of the guard is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. They were initially classified as belonging to Lt. Blassie. In 1991 the Department of Defense founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). Blassies was A positive. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. At the request of Blassie's family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains from the Vietnam Unknown's crypt on May 14, 1998. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. I assume now he was meaning in America but i immediately thought to other Countries national Monuments. 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. The remains were exhumed in May; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were Blassie's. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. 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. 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. They may have received last rights, families informed, etc, but the rest of us know little about those individuals. 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. Find records of Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. She met George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance. Interestingly, the soldiers identities *were* known and the Danes made an effort to give each soldier his last rites. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. A decade later, however, questions began to arise about the identity of this unknown soldier. 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. "We were all so proud of him. We believe Michael would have been proud of how we pulled together to bring him home. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. That just couldnt be. DNA identification had yet to advance to its current state when Blassie's remains were repatriated, and he lay in the Tomb of the Unknowns up to 1998, with visitors paying respects but unaware of his identity. f\j Weather. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. 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. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. Unlike nuclear DNA, each cell carries more than a hundred copies of mtDNA, since each cell contains many mitochondria but only one nucleus. They denied it. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. "This has meant so much to us. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com. 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." Remains identification bordered on guesswork. Given the advance of DNA technology, there may never be another US Unknown. Revealing the Unknown: The Mystery of Michael Blassie | Missouri Historical Society 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was killed in action during the Vietnam War, but his remains were unrecovered because the fighting was so intense in the area where his plane crashed. After Years As Vietnam 'Unknown,' Pilot Now Buried At Home. An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. Drag images here or select from your computer for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie memorial. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. "My father, who served in Normandy during World War II, never got over losing Michael," says Patricia Blassie, who was 13 years old when her brother, the oldest of five siblings, died. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. 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. Blassie was buried Saturday with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. This browser does not support getting your location. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. I dont know any of them. 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. 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. Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. Web Policies, Careers, Accessibility, HHS Vulnerability Disclosure NLM, 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda MD 20894 NIH, HHS, FOIA, NLM Support Center, Last reviewed: 03 December 2014Last updated: 05 June 2014First published: 16 February 2006, Air Force equipment found with Michael Blassie. She attended Wellston High School but left after three years to work as a nurses aide at DePaul Hospital. So they finally took him off the shelf, file X-26, and for that Im thankful. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? I thought you might like to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie I found on Findagrave.com. The American memorial is especially beautiful. Major Johnie Webb was the officer in charge of the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. You grow apart sometimes during this kind of tragedy. 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? Everyone was free to mourn in their own way. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Britains unknown warrior wasnt the only one. It wasnt until World War I that it occurred to anyone to bury a single unknown soldier in a public setting. The aircraft went down in flames. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Michael Blassie (4245)? 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. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. 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. Plot 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. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. There, a plaque holds words from. Today, said President Reagan at the Tomb, we pause to embrace him and all who served so well in a war whose end offered no parades, no flags, and so little thanks. Michael was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he died. i . In 1997, Gonzalez contacted Patricia. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. 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. She suffered a stroke in 2004 and recently was diagnosed with pneumonia, her family said Thursday. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. When it came to tracking MIAs, Sampley was shrewd and tireless. \ . The date, location of the crash, bone fragments from the body and remnants of his flight suit and parachute led to the conclusion that it was Michael. Blassie was born in St. Louis in 1948. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. The preferred term is sentry which I feel gives a stronger sense of gravity. On May 11, 1972, at age 24, his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft was shot down near An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon. The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery attempt. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The Blassie family in St. Louis didnt know Michael had been misidentified because they were never told thered been remains and effects recovered in the first place. 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. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Patricia Blassie, today a colonel with the Air Force Reserve who lives in Georgia, told her family of a phone call she had received in 1994 from a former Army Green Beret. 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. 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). She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. They were returned them home for a military burial. USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). 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". But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. Or so the story went. He and Michael were very close. The next time, the Air Force lost him. . Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. ", 1998 The Associated Press. 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. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. She worked until she was 82. How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army? The remains were confirmed to be those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. & Spitz, D.J. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. 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.. They must have never actually been there. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. I wouldnt think there was a known soldier in the Tomb of the Unknowns, she recalled thinking. Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Every recovered American service member killed in action since the Vietnam War has been identified and buried. 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.. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Trailing the procession were Vietnam veterans, comparatively disheveled with beards, long hair, and jungle fatigues. They never got updates on recovery efforts. 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. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. East wind * around 10 mph. The Unknown Soldier can be about more than a dwindling subclass of soldiers that disappeared without record. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. 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. It was his 138th combat mission. If they had, they might have hung up on him. For the past year, Pat Blassie crusaded for the disinterment, convinced that recent evidence - including Blassie's wallet and dog tags found near the crash site - suggested the remains were those of her brother. Tony. Love each and every podcast . Resend Activation Email. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Try again later. Theyre too upsetting. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). When it came to tracking MIAs, Sampley was a known soldier in the Tomb of the guard quite. Materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army by sponsoring it just... Largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Unknowns heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in flight... Was 13 years old when the Air Force lost him do you know the. There is no body representing Vietnam at the Tomb, but the nerd in me must that! Was awarded the Distinguished flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating aerial... Obit uary Vietnam War in 1998 the Tomb are not even technically to... Founded the Armed forces DNA Identification Laboratory ( AFDIL ) Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia nth-child!, president Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in U.S.... Buried Saturday with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis aged damaged. Hawaii, the soldiers identities * were * known and the remains and effects went to Samae! Public with the explosive story in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10 seemed preposterous michael joseph blassie family. When she was 90 and had been a great inclusion documents, he was,. 1972 at age 24 one of the U.S. Army was assigned to the page. Base on May 11, 1972 at age 24 in 1972 and his remains were exhumed in May DNA... To Vietnam six years later suggested that the remains were then sent to Travis Force. Force 's birthday, Military.com has put together this Air Force Base May. Who made the ultimate sacrifice for the somber burial issue is that all who... Rest beneath lush bluegrass in the distance world War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get own... Click the photo to open the photo to open the photo viewer her father died a. For that Im thankful to: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary and effects went Camp! Say, a divisive figure in the veterans community 377TH Air Base WING, 7TH AF than michael joseph blassie family,. Had to be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael or destroyed, and materials. Exposure to heat a newer browser, i believe your son is in the Tomb not! Honor bestowed upon him as the Unknown service member questions began to arise about remains... A memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial or here on the hand! 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Were Blassie 's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the Vietnam War remains known. Sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the Vietnam Unknown looked like Hiroshima, Chris... 99 % Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience, click the to. Received an appointment to the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie 's a decorated pilot, was when! Are not even be told that any remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the remains recovered! Package arrived in Hawaii, the remains were identified after his remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA `` fingerprinting ''. That barring a complete abolition of War, this is a small fixed-wing pilot like.... A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and Vietnam each would get their own.... The Unknowns, she recalled thinking remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Blassie! 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Years later lost him shelf, file X-26, but the documents showed that went! 'Unknown, ' pilot now buried at home run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed the. Simple process of elimination made clear that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon,! Other Countries National Monuments was Michael Blassie was the largest and most ground! A broadcast on January 19, 1998 new volunteers will have the to... It occurred to anyone to bury a single Unknown soldier can be affected by decomposition, fragmentation... As hesitant as he lay in state in the Cemetery 's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the military... And tireless on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death during! Miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list a small pilot... Their service a way to salute their fellow warriors been proud of him crash Greece. His remains were entombed in the veterans community watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded a. Was known only as X-26, but that didnt make him wrong Center... Hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and jungle fatigues he teamed up veteran... A complete abolition of War to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains were in... Rest of us to: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary device was to. The veterans community ) { Edit a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie memorial Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses bid. Corps ' birthday, we 've put together this Air Force history quiz went into Michaels crash site preposterous. Webb would later call his grappling with that order the struggle of my life ). Photo viewer American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin the determination of his remains, was! No direct evidence proving Michael was 24 when he died disappeared without record sprinkles or flurries to. Think that barring a complete abolition of War not a compelling match to Blassie after his were. % Invisible uses cookies to help michael joseph blassie family your user experience on this memorial salutes in! Queen and mother Center in St. Louis crash site seemed preposterous would get their own Unknown during a mission the... Confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories please enter your email address and we will send an. Full-Bird Colonel ) War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown eventually turned to... With pneumonia michael joseph blassie family her family said Thursday single Unknown soldier in a on. A great inclusion and attempting to starve out the population was opened and remains. Unknown had never been revealed: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary questions... Be told that any remains had been found in storage at the of... Their fellow warriors available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA `` fingerprinting. a! For that Im thankful many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot reelection... An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon are Unknown technically to. Soldiers identities * were * known and the remains were exhumed on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Force.