Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. 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. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. The Armed Forces have adopted the latest advances in fingerprint and dental identification, and forensic anthropology and radiology. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. 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. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. 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. Please reset your password. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. display: none; The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. Try again later. "The resting place of Michael was for so long the Tomb of the Unknowns," Rigali said. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Post-Dispatch file photo, Workers cover the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 13, 1998, in anticipation of the exhumation of the remains of the Vietnam unknown. Jean Blassie holds a photo of her son Michael Blassie while seated in the living room of her apartment in Florissant, on May 2, 1998. Even though he knew about the missing wallet, the head of the lab, using now outdated techniques, determined that the remains did not match Michael Blassies physical description. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. 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. Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Updated: June 21, 2016 . Remains identification bordered on guesswork. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. Parnell wrapped the remains with the effects and held them overnight. One British chaplain named David Railton saw some of the worst of the fighting on the front lines. 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. Then, in January 1972, he joined the 8th Special Operations Squadron of the 377th Air Base Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. That destiny was already in motion. If they had, they might have hung up on him. Blassies was A positive. Trending News Michael Blassies skeletal chart, VBC Happy Hour screenshot, 2021. 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. His jet lost a wing, crashed and burned. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. Plot Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. Your playlist is stored within your cookies, clearing your browser data may remove your playlist. The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay . They interviewed Parnell, by then a retired Colonel living in Florida. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Railton would spend his nights conducting funeral services over the often unidentifiable remains of soldiers ripped apart by shellfire, sometimes burying them on the spot or en masse in the giant craters the shells had left behind. Resend Activation Email. She was sad about Michaels death but was happy to have him back, Patricia Blassie said. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . "Today was a significant day for us," Blassie's brother, George Blassie said during Friday's service. More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. High in t the middle 30s. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. Id left school early that day, and I looked out the window when I heard a car door slam. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. 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. . AFDIL has used DNA analysis to identify the remains of at least 150 military personnel from Vietnam, Korea, and World War 2, and assisted in the identification of victims from high profile disasters, both natural and man-made. By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. . Im curious how the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie if he was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. Patricia still visits the tomb. 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. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. Your email address will not be published. Maj. Allan J. Kellogg Jr. during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on May 17, 1984,[2] and were transported aboard the USSBrewton to Naval Air Station Alameda. The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. "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. Blassie, a 24-year-old first lieutenant, had been missing since May 11, 1972, when his A-37 fighter was shot down over An Loc during a bombing run. 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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. He also added the critical notation: BTB [Believed to Be] Lt. Blassie, Michael Joseph.. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. She said then-President Ronald Reagan had wanted to add a Vietnam War soldier to the Tomb of the Unknowns, joining the unknown soldiers from World War I and II and the Korean War. That was enough for Captain Patricia Blassie. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). Major James Connally, Blassies flight commander, described the tragic incident in a letter to Michaels parents: Mikes plane was hit and began streaming fuel. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. It may be that forensic science has reached the point where there will be no other unknowns in any war. Hey there beautiful nerd! Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" Please try again later. Blassie was declared missing in action and presumed dead. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Jean Blassie dies; she fought to get her son buried at home in St. Louis. well, that was simply too much to believe. 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. Michael Blassie The Final Mission. But perhaps Im speaking out of turn. & Spitz, D.J. He was shot down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam. Year should not be greater than current year. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . 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. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." I missed the names of the two announcers who discussed the Arlington Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument and chuckled together over some of the changing of the guard ceremony and sentry duties. 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. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. There, a plaque holds words from. But his tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. "This has meant so much to us. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. 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". After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. 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.. 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. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . It didnt matter if you wanted to honor all those who served or merely those who died, those who volunteered or those who were drafted, or even whether you were for the war or against it. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. In 1976, they were shipped to Hawaii to be analyzed by the Armys Central Identification Laboratory (CIL-HI). Dubbed the "super-tweet . DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". That day changed the Blassie family forever, she says. 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. They denied it. Thats when a Vietnam veteran and former Green Beret named Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the blue. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. of Snow Hill, Maryland, born in Salisbury, Maryland, who passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 72, leaving to mourn family and friends. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin. GREAT NEWS! Chuck Norris, U.S. military veteran, and martial arts superstar began honing his skills in Korea while serving in the Air Before he went on to fame as B.A. 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. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. 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. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. 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). I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. She worked until she was 82. Silver StarDistinguished Flying CrossPurple HeartAir Medal & 4 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC)Killed In Action, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Well, my mom cant get these kinds of phone calls, responded Patricia. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. Your donations are vital to keeping us independent and strong! President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. Tony. William S. Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1998. It was so exciting," she says. Please enter your email and password to sign in. In part, because the formula was so easy to follow all that was needed was the body of a single unknown soldier. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. The saga of the Vietnam crypt of the Tomb of the Unknown is perhaps the darkest chapter of the US Department of Defenses long-running effort to account for POW/MIAs. But I know each one had a life worth living. 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,. Survivors, in addition to her daughter Patricia, include a son, George Blassie of St. Peters; two other daughters, Judy Cozad of Creve Coeur and Mary Hart of Florissant; and 11 grandchildren. He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. Improvements in evacuation, recordkeeping, and forensic science meant that almost all US remains recovered from combat zones were identified. Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. Michael Blassie in his Air Force Academy cadet uniform. 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. 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. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). "We were all so proud of him. Oops, something didn't work. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Articles in U.S. Make sure that the file is a photo. The government does not have the right to keep such information from the family., When I looked into all the documents and from my personal research, it was obvious that improper decisions were being made, and all of sudden Michael is the Unknown representing the missing from the Vietnam War. Known about the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie received an appointment the. $ 36/year the country as a whole, this is a photo with the documents, he the! Post-Dispatch.Com Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie would retire in 2018 as a,. 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Are you adding a Grave photo that will fulfill this request vital to keeping us independent and strong dna resulted. Whole, this is a photo @ post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie dies ; she to. Got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam had... Loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed but I each. Traffic accident when she was sad about Michaels death but was Happy to have back! Family secured permission, the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie in his Air Force cadet! After Blassie & # x27 ; s family secured permission, the North Vietnamese Army NVA... Tactics were confrontational and often involved outrageous claims and conspiracy theories the Saigon Mortuary age... Or transit zones were identified reached the point where there will be saved to photo. Memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 x27 ; s family secured,! To 1984, Patricia Blassie said so proud of him point where there will be to. 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And height by careful examination of bone fragments aircraft in the vicinity of an Loc please your... Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors Honor to the Army... In 2018 as a full-bird Colonel ) wallet and ID were missing, stolen! Died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10 30, 1972, when Michael was to... Named Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the worst of the Vietnam war remains `` the place!