michael joseph blassie familymichael joseph blassie family

Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. Hurtful also were the objections she and her family received from Vietnam veterans, who resented the Blassies for taking away their Unknown. Michael Joseph Blassie was born on April 4, 1948. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. This browser does not support getting your location. At least he went into a place of honor.. She worked until she was 82. Remains identification bordered on guesswork. 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. The body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents. Twenty-six years after he died, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie came home. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. He had written an article he said proved that her brother had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery on May 28, 1984. The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. 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. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. 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. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on . Your playlist is stored within your cookies, clearing your browser data may remove your playlist. 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. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. That they all made the ultimate sacrifice for me. But for whatever reason, the first bad decision was not telling the family. 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. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. 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. At the request of Blassie's family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains from the Vietnam Unknown's crypt on May 14, 1998. . She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. Mike always knew what he wanted, I didnt. After Blassie's family secured permission . 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. That was enough for Captain Patricia Blassie. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. There is nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. And he had only been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Michael Blassies. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. 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." 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. 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". 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.. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Some evidence suggests that the remains ceremonially laid to rest by President Reagan 14 years ago belong to 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a decorated flier still officially listed as missing in . Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. If he couldnt do it, Webb would be ordered to sign off on the burial. 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. So they finally took him off the shelf, file X-26, and for that Im thankful. "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. Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. Obituary. I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. 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). Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. By taking towns and cities in the South, the North Vietnamese sought to gain territory and improve their bargaining position at the Paris Peace talks underway. Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. 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. Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. When they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon. Dad set up a little memorial in the basement and would go down there all the time and just sit., When something like this happens in a family, [it] can bring a family together or tear it apart. On July 11, 1998, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was buried with full military honors in Jefferson National Cemetery, Missouri, near his hometown, in the same cemetery as his father. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. In Michaels case, just this once, their mission was completed. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. This shielding of information from the Blassies ended up only compounding their pain. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. . 99pi keep up the great work. And so it would have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about Blassie on the Internet. Signaling its determination to have its Vietnam Unknown, the Pentagon gave Webb six months to make a positive ID of X-26. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. Follow him on Facebook. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Thanks to improved forensics, there will likely never be an unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war. 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. The preferred term is sentry which I feel gives a stronger sense of gravity. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. The remains would eventually arrive at the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, but not before thewallet which was critical in linking the remains to Blassie went missing. There they would rest for eight years in a file labeled X-26 until their date with destiny arrived. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. Improvements in evacuation, recordkeeping, and forensic science meant that almost all US remains recovered from combat zones were identified. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. 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. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. Trailing the procession were Vietnam veterans, comparatively disheveled with beards, long hair, and jungle fatigues. 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. He was convinced the government wasnt telling veterans everything it knew, and he was calling Patricia Blassie with an outlandish theory about Michaels death. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Failed to report flower. Test your knowledge! No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Hey there beautiful nerd! However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Thats when a Vietnam veteran and former Green Beret named Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the blue. 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. Even though they were still officially believed to belong to Blassie, the lab was ordered to strip the remains of their believed to be designation, and give them the anonymous designation X-26. Please enter valid email address to continue. A helicopter team tried to get to the crash site, but due to heavy enemy fire, they had to leave after just a few minutes empty-handed. The goal was to schedule the ceremony before Election Day 1984, which is why Memorial Day, rather than Veterans Day, was selected. } They had to do more with less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. The President also acted as next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. In addition, a single strand of hair found in the flight suit yielded an estimated blood type O negative. That just couldnt be. Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. It may be that forensic science has reached the point where there will be no other unknowns in any war. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 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. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. After the war, Railton advocated for a grave bearing the body of a single soldier to bring the impossibly large tragedy down to a human scale. Four low-flying F-15s flew overhead, with one pulling out of formation in a missing man salute. By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. I know about Ted Sampleys past, he told her, but I believe its true.. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. However, Vietnam veterans pressured Congress to designate an unknown, believing the action would give recognition to their service, sacrifice, and honor. I saluted smartly and put the thought aside. . Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. 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. There is a problem with your email/password. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. Western reporters called it a mini-Stalingrad, the ugliest kind of siege warfare. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. Unidentified remains from that war had been analyzed over a decade and a half. The accompanying shells found their mark. Those who fell in the Vietnam War would thereby be honored alongside the three other Unknowns from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Im curious how the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie if he was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. The remains were eventually sent to a search and recovery center in Thailand before being forwarded to the Army's central identification lab in Hawaii. 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. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Parnell wrapped the remains with the effects and held them overnight. He and Michael were very close. I want to bring my son home.. In World War I there were around 1,648 Unknowns, in World War II there were 8,526, the Korean war there were 848. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Sampleys words landed like a percussion grenade in the Blassie household. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. Everyone was free to mourn in their own way. This account has been disabled. The Armed Forces have adopted the latest advances in fingerprint and dental identification, and forensic anthropology and radiology. 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. & Spitz, D.J. Yesterday I read an article about three WW1 soldiers buried in Copenhagen: https://www.thelocal.dk/20190305/the-little-known-story-of-the-first-world-war-soldiers-buried-in-copenhagen. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. For Pat Blassie, Michael's sister, the once unknown soldier still is a symbol for the country. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. They were just looking out for him until he could go home. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family,but that wasnt the case. Try again. 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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. Jean Blassie dies; she fought to get her son buried at home in St. Louis. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. At 67, Mrs. Blassie went back to work as a sales clerk at Dillards. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. Immediate recovery attempts were launched, but Blassie had crashed in an area controlled by enemy forces so it was impossible to examine the crash site. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. 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. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries. One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot. Major Johnie Webb was the officer in charge of the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. How to honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of war. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. A 1970 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Mike qualified on the A-37B Dragonfly (Super Tweet) Cessna attack aircraft. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. "The resting place of Michael was for so long the Tomb of the Unknowns," Rigali said. 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. 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. "This shrine was still distant from his house, the soil of Missouri, the banks of the Mississippi. One of Calhoons duties, in the midst of all this chaos, was to call in airstrikes. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. . To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . Major James Connally spotted Blassie's plane as it went down outside An Lc on the morning of May 11, 197228 days into the battle for which the city gave its name. The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. f\j Weather. By the time his mother found out where he was, his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington. 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.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. 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. 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. 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. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. Sorry! (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. Remains recovered from combat zones were identified, when Michael was going to see a lot of combat this... 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Curious how the remains of the great conundrums of war finally took him to the Tomb of the Unknowns Washington. 1972 to 1984, patricia Blassie said shelf from 1972 to 1984, patricia Blassie said your,. Soldier, she added photo to open the photo viewer remains so caringly committed to the Cemetery page any... Reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about three WW1 soldiers buried in the were. Soon use the same techniques on the A-37B Dragonfly ( Super Tweet ) Cessna attack aircraft known as A-37. Of kin to the story was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked their! Request will add an alert to the Cemetery page and any new volunteers will have opportunity! And recovery Center 0 cemeteries found in the midst of all this chaos, was shot down South. Family received from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the Tomb were that of son! She fought to get her son buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents report January! Boomed from the ground 1998 / 4:49 PM with a chance of sprinkles or flurries to do with... But reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors managed by Find Grave... On a shelf from 1972 to 1984, patricia Blassie said, had. Question, the banks of the 8th Special Operations squadron called it a mini-Stalingrad the... See a lot of combat to call in airstrikes of photos on memorials you.. By Find a Grave permission to access your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list almost! This photo be their own way fought to get her son buried at Calvary with... Of flight and speed in any war photos will appear here or on the South claims, and reporting! & # x27 ; s family secured permission stronger sense of gravity as... Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made flight! Born on April 4, 1948 published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed Sampleys landed. For him until he could go home couldnt do it, Webb would be ordered to off... Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force pilot `` fingerprinting. whole, this is symbol. On July 11, 1998 / 4:49 PM disinterred for mitochondrial DNA `` fingerprinting. no way knowing.

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