He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Advances made since the early 1980s had made it possible to identify the remains, which consisted of only six bones -- far below the usual 80 percent of a corpse required for burial at Arlington. 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. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. 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. Family members linked to this person will appear here. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. Over fifty countries would end up building similar memorials. "Today was a significant day for us," Blassie's brother, George Blassie said during Friday's service. Michael Joseph Blassie was born on April 4, 1948. Jean Blassie, center, mother of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, and his sister Patricia, right, now an Air Force colonel, talk with reporters at Arlington National Cemetery on May 14,. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. The President also acted as next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Yet he was found five months after he was shot down and then buried without our knowledge in the Tomb of the Unknowns. [6] Major James Connally, Blassies flight commander, described the tragic incident in a letter to Michaels parents: Mikes plane was hit and began streaming fuel. Tony. It was so exciting," she says. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. Pete Mecca is a speaker, author, and Vietnam Air Force veteran who runs VeteransArticle.com and hosts VBCs A Veterans Story every second Thursday online. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { On Memorial Day 1984, the remains of a soldier killed during the Vietnam War were laid to rest in the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Try again later. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, we've put together a quiz on the service's history and traditions. Interestingly, the soldiers identities *were* known and the Danes made an effort to give each soldier his last rites. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. The changing of the guard is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look. That was enough for Captain Patricia Blassie. Well, my mom cant get these kinds of phone calls, responded Patricia. 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. The Air Force told the Blassie family in St. Louis all they knew: their son had been killed in action, but his remains could not be recovered since he went down in enemy-held territory. Your email address will not be published. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. 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. Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. display: block; My father went to his grave in 1991 not knowing the rest of his sons story., Meanwhile, Patricia herself joined the Air Force. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. But I know each one had a life worth living. 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. But his tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories. World War I ushered in an era of total war and mass conscription, in which the combatants on both sides were mostly ordinary citizens, often rendered anonymous amidst the violence of the Western Front. And they never learned the truth: that their son Michaels remains were discovered some five months after his death. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. To use this feature, use a newer browser. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Try again. So they finally took him off the shelf, file X-26, and for that Im thankful. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". I want to bring my son home.. Because mtDNA is passed along the maternal line, scientists compared the Unknown Soldier's DNA against two samples submitted by First Lieutenant Blassie's mother and sister and found a match. They married in 1947 and had five children. On July 11, 1998, Michael Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Updated: June 21, 2016 . The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. Instead, they were simply designated as BTB believed to be Michael Blassie. Articles in U.S. 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. After his remains were identified by DNA testing in 1998, they were reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri. 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. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Michael Blassie was therefore ruled out as a possible match. Follow him on Facebook. 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. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. He died in 1991. Blassies was A positive. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Your donations are vital to keeping us independent and strong! Failed to delete memorial. well, that was simply too much to believe. 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 She took on the military, won, and brought him back for burial in his hometown of St. Louis. The ability to match mtDNA between related individuals, and the fact that it does not degrade as rapidly as nuclear DNA, makes it a valuable tool in the identification of human remains. They denied it. [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. Search above to list available cemeteries. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. Blassie was buried Saturday with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. 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. With DNA identification being used and hearing that there are no unknowns from Vietnam and that they are working currently on unknowns from the Korean war, I though, How wonderful that there will never again be an unknown soldier, everyone will be eventually brought home. At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the Civil War. Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." At first, there were a lot of Unknowns to work with. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Its like the reverse of this 99pi story! Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. The remains were confirmed to be those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. This shielding of information from the Blassies ended up only compounding their pain. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Test your Navy knowledge with this Navy history quiz by Military.com. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. Blassie was declared missing in action and presumed dead. Jean Frances Adrian grew up in Jennings. This account has been disabled. Signaling its determination to have its Vietnam Unknown, the Pentagon gave Webb six months to make a positive ID of X-26. Blassie died when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Lc in what was then South Vietnam. "This has meant so much to us. 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. The Romans were fond of honoring them with an empty sarcophagus. 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. After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. Find records of Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records They petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, a technology that had been unavailable . If they had, they might have hung up on him. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ We were all so proud of him. 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. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. Your email address will not be published. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. And he had only been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Michael Blassies. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. Helton, L.M. . After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Theyre too upsetting. Patricia still visits the tomb. 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. Please reset your password. Your playlist is stored within your cookies, clearing your browser data may remove your playlist. Verify and try again. That destiny was already in motion. Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. Thanks to improved forensics, there will likely never be an unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. Add to your scrapbook. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. Then, as more information about those remains was discovered, only one set of remains remained unknown. 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. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) differs from nuclear DNA because human beings inherit mtDNA solely from the mother and share this information with siblings and maternal relatives. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect Or so the story went. 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. 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. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. The year after Michael Blassies death, Congress directed the Department of Defense to select the remains of an Unknown Vietnam servicemember to be interred in Arlington National Cemeterys Tomb of the Unknown. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. 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