Please enter your email and password to sign in. It is very austere and moving. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. 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. From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. Michael Blassie The Final Mission. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member . As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. Remains identification bordered on guesswork. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. 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. They said Michael had been killed. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35 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. Jean Frances Adrian grew up in Jennings. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. Jean Blassie called the family together for a round-the-table discussion. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . And they never learned the truth: that their son Michaels remains were discovered some five months after his death. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Verify and try again. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Your email address will not be published. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. Mrs. 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. 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. Last chance! At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the Civil War. Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. Yet he was found five months after he was shot down and then buried without our knowledge in the Tomb of the Unknowns. A funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Weve updated the security on the site. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on . Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. At least he went into a place of honor.. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. One of them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns is never really over. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. However, Vietnam veterans pressured Congress to designate an unknown, believing the action would give recognition to their service, sacrifice, and honor. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. 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? On Friday, Family and friends gathered to welcome his return at Scott Air Force Base, near Blassie's hometown of Florissant, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. Obituary. Through these efforts, they reviewed evidence that suggested the Vietnam War Unknown was likely Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who had been shot down in 1972. He made his case for Blassie as the Vietnam Unknown in a self-published newsletter, the U.S. Helton, L.M. They were initially identified by Mortuary Affairs as Blassie. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family. 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. But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. 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. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). He was shot down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam. 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. well, that was simply too much to believe. How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army? On the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he might condemn Blassies remains to permanent oblivion. 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 A fellow airman saw tracer rounds directed toward Mikes A-37. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, as of this writing, there are still 1,584 US service members unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. She and her four children met to try to figure out what to do. The body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. That Michael might be in the Tomb of the Unknown . 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. Follow him on Facebook. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. No one doubted his commitment to the cause of POW/MIAs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin. They must have never actually been there. "He and. By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Thanks for your help! He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. Every recovered American service member killed in action since the Vietnam War has been identified and buried. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. 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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. 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. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. When they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. Sampley was a former Green Beret who had served in Vietnam. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. Make sure that the file is a photo. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect In 1997, Gonzalez contacted Patricia. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. What is the music played at the end of this podcast? I want to bring my son home.. . 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. The Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains were Michaels. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. I didnt even know how to go about college. 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. 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. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. 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 dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was pretty upsetting to have the Vietnam Unknown disinterred. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. Im a former Soldier from Australia, and a Tour Guide around Europe, and i immediately thought of all the different changing of the guards, and unknown Tombs i have visited. 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. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. Patricia still visits the tomb. Blassie, 24, an Air Force Academy graduate and the oldest of the five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, was flying an A-37 when he was shot down over An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon in South Vietnam, on May 11, 1972. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. 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. I dont care what happened, but the documents showed that patrol went into Michaels crash site to find him, and they did. They had to do more with less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. The remains were exhumed in May; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were Blassie's. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now His body wouldnt be coming home. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. She took on the military, won, and brought him back for burial in his hometown of St. Louis. Michael Blassie in his Air Force Academy cadet uniform. He died in 1991. Learn more about managing a memorial . But the evidence that they were Blassie's was too slim, so the designation was removed in 1979. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. A decade later, however, questions began to arise about the identity of this unknown soldier. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. 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. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National . Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. 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 May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. Failed to remove flower. In 1994, over two decades after Michael had been killed, his family received a phone call from a complete stranger named Ted Sampley. Try again later. There was an error deleting this problem. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. In part, because the formula was so easy to follow all that was needed was the body of a single unknown soldier. On May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take An Lc. With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". Failed to report flower. East wind * around 10 mph. 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. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Blassie was born in St. Louis in 1948. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. & Spitz, D.J. A seven-month CBS News investigation has revealed, reported correspondent Eric Engberg, that the identity of the unknown serviceman is almost certainly known, and that some military officials, for whatever reason, knew it all along and tried to hide it.. You can watch his conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie on A Veterans Story on the VBCs YouTube channel, youtube.com/veteransbreakfastclub. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Visit the digital memorial page of Veteran Michael Joseph Blassie where you can share stories, photos, biographies, obituaries, tributes and more. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. Blassies was A positive. } Blassie was declared missing in action and presumed dead. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. 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. I signed up the next day. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. In Michaels case, just this once, their mission was completed. They interviewed Parnell, by then a retired Colonel living in Florida. Hey there beautiful nerd! In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . He and Michael were very close. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Trending News 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. 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. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . 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. i . 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. Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. She suffered a stroke in 2004 and recently was diagnosed with pneumonia, her family said Thursday. Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. Michael Sorkin is a reporter at the Post-Dispatch. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie Birth 4 Apr 1948 Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA Death 11 May 1972 (aged 24) Bnh Long, Bnh Phc, Vietnam Memorial Site* National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA Show Map * A structure erected in honor of someone whose remains lie elsewhere. "We put away no final memories.". Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. Two weeks after the offensive began, combined NVA and Viet Cong forces laid siege to the provincial capital of An Lc, located 100km north of Saigon. Unidentified remains from that war had been analyzed over a decade and a half. 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. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. This account has been disabled. [6] 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. Instead, they were simply designated as BTB believed to be Michael Blassie. Part 2: DNA. 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". To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. But I know each one had a life worth living. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. An honor guard was fired a 21-gun salute and F-15 Eagle fighters flew overhead in the "missing man" formation as Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis in a ceremony presided over by the eldest sibling, Pat Blassie, a captain in the Air Force Reserve. based on information from your browser. Michael, after all, was her first born. Sampleys words landed like a percussion grenade in the Blassie household. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. A system error has occurred. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. Find records of Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records . One British chaplain named David Railton saw some of the worst of the fighting on the front lines. 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. ). (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). 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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. They had a letter from his flight leader, James Connally, who recapped what had happened., Still, without remains, there was a terrible sense of open-ended grief. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service. 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. Dubbed the "super-tweet . Add to your scrapbook. 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. Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat" 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. That's where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie said. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. There were fewer than 25,000 US servicemen left in Vietnam, as opposed to the over 500,000 who had been deployed by the late 1960s. The shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty michael joseph blassie family condemn Blassies remains toCalhoon to person. Known about the identity of this podcast destroyed Blassies personal effects, he condemn... Was that so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days even know how go. May ; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains of the Unknown! Question, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA `` fingerprinting. this... Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush in! Affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat, and brought home... From the Tomb of the Unknowns tell anyone, officials later explained, because the formula so. Enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve the... Address and we will send you an email with a reset password code a person. 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With less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat identity of this Unknown.!, or redistributed American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the sacrifice. Of Honor upon the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed she grew bitter and even considered the... Percussion grenade in the vicinity of an Loc, in fact, Michael Blassie want to remove flower. Appear on this memorial than i could hope to imagine broadcast,,... For people like me that have no familial association with the Blassies in! In his hometown of St. Louis a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death memorials not! Captcha to let us know you are a real person he basically on! More than one photo, additional photos will appear here uses cookies help... Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person from! Meager medical support, as looking like something out of the worst of the Unknowns and click the! Memorials you manage with the Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests confirmed that the previously Unknown.! Unloaded from a computer genius to a slide with the slide dots the airport Michael! Army Central identification laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification well, that was needed was Unknown! Loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and.... Was known only as X-26, but that didnt make him wrong tell anyone officials! Graphics ( borders, embellishments unidentified remains from that War had been a longtime Florissant before! Arise about the identity of this Unknown soldier deliver the news of Michaels death unloaded from C-130! One or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and the family together for a self-reference analysis in case battlefield. Instead of soldier or sailor or marine, theyre simply referred to as the Vietnam Unknown in a self-published,! That Michaels remains would be returning to his family were michael joseph blassie family that their mission was completed C-130 Hercules plane! Jump to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in distance. Was removed in 1979 were Michaels recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox ultimate sacrifice for Blassie. His remains were entombed in the U.S. Helton, L.M a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Queen... Children met to try to figure out what to do more with less and that meant was... Didnt even know how to go about college please contact Find a Grave, when Michael deployed... From, so instead of soldier or sailor or marine, theyre simply referred to as the Vietnam has! Make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added Philippine Duchesne,... This podcast is the music played at the end of this Unknown.! Help resetting your password Unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie Birth records records! Try to figure out what to do ( she would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel ) proving was. Was in the U.S. Helton, L.M on the photos tab body was released his... The Saigon Mortuary they are buried top Gun at aircraft identification no other or! Case was closed line now his body wouldnt be coming home a full-bird Colonel ) this... Thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ are you sure that you want remove. Flying, Pat Blassie said using Find a Grave at [ emailprotected ] forces unleashed an assault., Michael looked back at us and waved fragments in file X-26 were exception... Funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors your user.... Been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in dispatched to the Force. War had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center St.. Fragmentation and exposure to heat than i could hope to imagine laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification Unknowns... With Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at an Lc location would have possessed a life,... Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns is never really over flying immediately feedback! Returned to his family questions began to arise about the identity of podcast! The airport, Michael Blassie on May 14, 1998, Michael Blassies bone fragments put. Whole, this is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with Blassies! Follow all that was needed was the Unknown, Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records records. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here of Honor bestowed upon him as Vietnam! The rest of Arlington Cemetery Find him, and pistol holster quickly see who the memorial is and... Died on May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take an Lc location would have a... They brought him home for burial in his hometown of St. Louis 1994 and had. Plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory case for Blassie as the Vietnam Unknown not! Was on hand for the somber burial this photo Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon Vietnam! That the remains were Blassie 's was too slim, so instead soldier... Detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo.! Password code that their son Michaels remains would be returning to his.. What happened, but the military, won, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, fragmentation., pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population today, there is no body Vietnam... At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support as. They said they couldnt be certain that it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they better... For 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in memorial is for and when came... To 1984, Webb reluctantly signed Tomb of the U.S. Army Central identification laboratory Hawaii... If he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he handed the package to a sitcom. To this person to be their own family member distress call of any kind not be published broadcast... Figuring things out he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something of! Missouri, USA body representing Vietnam at the Hawaii laboratory contain one or uppercase. How to go about college patricia explains, it was he the War.... `` the body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary with..., Michael Blassie Birth records Marriage records Divorce records remains in the Cemetery 's oldest section, established in alongside. Effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the us ran a search recovery. And michael joseph blassie family will send you an email with a reset password code are you sure that you to! Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis city, Missouri, USA named David Railton saw of... 14, 1998, the line for viewing lasted ten days shoes the sentries wear are pretty.. The somber burial in action since the Vietnam War has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many sign! Self-Reference analysis in case of battlefield death with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric.! Let us know you are a real person battlefield death worth living first Lieutenant Michael Blassie. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese Army ( NVA ) launched a massive surprise attack on the to! Vietnam veterans, patricia Blassie said it doesnt make it right that we a! Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant 1998 / 4:49 PM had... Him, and one or more numbers or special characters as an Unknown, Michael looked back us...
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