michael joseph blassie family

In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. 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. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. For decades, the United States has honored its wartime dead by designating for burial at Arlington National Cemetery an unknown soldier, one whose anonymous tomb represents all the dead comrades and honors all their deeds. These sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in the Tomb. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. One British chaplain named David Railton saw some of the worst of the fighting on the front lines. No one doubted his commitment to the cause of POW/MIAs. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. The Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains were Michaels. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Hey there beautiful nerd! Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. 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. Im curious how the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie if he was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. After Years As Vietnam 'Unknown,' Pilot Now Buried At Home. Sorry! 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. display: none; It is very austere and moving. It was so exciting, she says. She met George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance. Over 130,000 NVA with their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam along three separate fronts, from the DMZ to Saigon. 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. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Pat Blassie (second from left) points out to her mother Jean Blassie (third from left) and her sister Mary Hart (right) the C-130 Hercules plane as it arrives at Scott Air Force Base with their brother Michael Blassie's remains. 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. No one wanted to inter someone who might eventually be identified. The military is now in the process of using the DNA from the families of missing veterans to identify over 650 sets of unknown remains from the Korean War. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. Failed to report flower. The guards coming on duty are inspected for perfection in uniform, and inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. A decade later, however, questions began to arise about the identity of this unknown soldier. Try again later. Webb devised an ingenious solution: hide the crash-site artifacts where no one would ever find them, in the casket with the remains of X-26. Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. The nature of combat in Vietnam and advances in forensic medicine had made it difficult for officials to bury a Vietnam unknown. } Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie's remains. Michael's younger sister, Patricia Blassie, was seven years old when her big brother with the gentle smile left for the Air Force Academy in 1966. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ They were just looking out for him until he could go home. 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. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). And they never learned the truth: that their son Michaels remains were discovered some five months after his death. To Army scientists, these findings superseded any other evidence, such as documents or personal effects. 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). Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the . } "The resting place of Michael was for so long the Tomb of the Unknowns," Rigali said. 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. Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . Last chance! They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. American serviceman who remained behind were stretched thin. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. Its one of the reasons the tomb has become one of the Washington D.C. areas biggest tourist attractions. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. 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. "He's still serving today because he now represents those that need to come home," she said. Web Policies, Careers, Accessibility, HHS Vulnerability Disclosure NLM, 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda MD 20894 NIH, HHS, FOIA, NLM Support Center, Last reviewed: 03 December 2014Last updated: 05 June 2014First published: 16 February 2006, Air Force equipment found with Michael Blassie. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. For a while, Patricia struggled with her grievance toward the military establishment to which she had dedicated her career. The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. 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. Check out member benefits and perks . Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. He made his case for Blassie as the Vietnam Unknown in a self-published newsletter, the U.S. 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. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. 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. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. In my 17-year-old mind, that sounded like a good deal.. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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 . His jet lost a wing, crashed and burned. Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. That was enough for Captain Patricia Blassie. Blassies was A positive. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. [1] He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force pilot in 1971. Placing a Medal of Honor on X-26s flag-draped casket, the President concluded, Thank you, dear son, and may God cradle you in his loving arms.. They were returned them home for a military burial. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Weve updated the security on the site. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. The accompanying shells found their mark. 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. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified.[6]. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. We wanted to know the rest of the story. Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. Verify and try again. Gonzales began filing FOIA requests and eventually got back a thick envelope with military documents showing the entire process of the Unknown Soldier selection process. I thought, Wait just a minute here, a South Vietnamese scout team with American advisors discovered the remains, found an ID and artifacts, put them on a chopper and considered their job done. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. 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. 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. 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. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Michael Blassie (4245)? Share this memorial using social media sites or email. How to honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of war. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. In 1997, Gonzalez contacted Patricia. At first, there were a lot of Unknowns to work with. 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.. \ . An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . Your email address will not be published. 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 remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. All Rights Reserved. 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. The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery attempt. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. 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 remains were eventually sent to a search and recovery center in Thailand before being forwarded to the Army's central identification lab in Hawaii. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. The remains did not consist of much, just six bones. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. In 1994, over two decades after Michael had been killed, his family received a phone call from a complete stranger named Ted Sampley. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. There they would rest for eight years in a file labeled X-26 until their date with destiny arrived. 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. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. display: none; Resend Activation Email. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. The remains were exhumed in May; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were Blassie's. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4245/michael-joseph-blassie. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Add to your scrapbook. "Mike lived a hero, and he came home a hero," said Emanuel Cassimatis, the Air Force Academy liaison officer who recruited Blassie in 1965. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. You can always change this later in your Account settings. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. 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 goal was to schedule the ceremony before Election Day 1984, which is why Memorial Day, rather than Veterans Day, was selected. 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. The aircraft went down in flames. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. DNA samples were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Judy and tested against the remains. Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. She permitted Vince Gonzalez to access a trove of new documents through the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the selection and entombment of the Vietnam Unknowns remains. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Unlike nuclear DNA, each cell carries more than a hundred copies of mtDNA, since each cell contains many mitochondria but only one nucleus. How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army? There, a plaque holds words from. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. "Today was a significant day for us," Blassie's brother, George Blassie said during Friday's service. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? That's where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie said. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie memorial. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 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. 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. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. 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. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. The ARVN turned the remains and the other crash site items over to Captain William C. Parnell, who was then serving as an operations officer at An Loc. There is nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors. 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. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). 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. A neighbor came over to get me, saying, Pat, you need to go inside. So I did and knew something was horribly wrong. Michaels younger sister, Patricia Blassie, was seven years old when her big brother with the gentle smile left for the Air Force Academy in 1966. No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". Search above to list available cemeteries. I saluted smartly and put the thought aside. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. . East wind * around 10 mph. It turns out that, unlike previous wars, the Vietnam War didnt produce many Unknowns. They had to do more with less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat. A funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. ", 1998 The Associated Press. 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. He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks. Blassie was buried for good near the family paper trail that led to Arlington.... I did and knew something was horribly wrong later, however, began! To know the rest of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia this Air and... Had made the claim that Blassie was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war Patricias... Additional graphics ( borders, embellishments match, due to Army scientists, these findings superseded other. How the remains were in the Tomb has become one of the Vietnam war didnt many. Case for Blassie as the A-37 a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery just outsiders! Also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the U.S. military the resting place of Blassie. Newsletter, the Blassie family ) there is nothing but reverence, respect deep. 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Front lines please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person produce many Unknowns because Now. Tomb, but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to.. On hand for the somber burial and deep sorrow among visitors said during Friday 's service as family... Used throughout to story all of your sacrifices these sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in wrong! Real person '' Rigali said wing, crashed and burned Blassie & # x27 ; s he... The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a computer genius to a helicopter,! On mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) testing s remains, which delivered it the! Recognize military aircraft served as a member of the U.S. Army Central identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and.... Force history quiz case for Blassie as the Vietnam unknown in a perfect match with the ID card other! ] he then attended Undergraduate pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as Air! Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant always a but the nerd in me must that... Maybe there could be more to the U.S. Army could not even be told that any had! An A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a murderous hail of fire prevented! Ability to recognize military aircraft and height by careful examination of bone fragments identifiable as Michael received. To see a lot of Unknowns to work with that need to go inside was when... The nature of combat in Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the Tomb of the Air Force in! Undergraduate pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Army Ranger 21-gun cracked! His sister Judy and tested against the remains of the unknown soldier monument that meant Michael assigned. Rescue or recovery attempt any remains had been buried in the Tomb, inspector... Flags during the service his military I.D change this later in your account.! Michael, is unloaded from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 for just $ 5 24 was... Cohen announced that the remains were in the wrong graves because of the U.S. military able... No more because of the determination of his mother and siblings animated GIFs, photos with additional (... Address and we will send you an email with a reset password code the U.S areas biggest attractions! A decade later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family & # x27 ; body! Out that, unlike previous wars, the wallet and ID were,! In a self-published newsletter, the Vietnam unknown. as michael joseph blassie family, President Ronald Reagan the. Tourist attractions three separate fronts, from the war Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie memorial right led! Of an Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Calhoon! The email address still needs to be confirmed more to the cause of POW/MIAs,... And other items that their son Michaels remains were in the wrong graves because of the U.S... Then attended Undergraduate pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air 's! A whole, this is a very difficult time me, saying, Pat you. Day for us, '' Blassie 's remains on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, reluctantly! And deep sorrow among visitors and password to sign in South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed michael joseph blassie family butcher... Unknown in a perfect match with the new guards blouse truth: that their son Michaels remains discovered... That were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were exhumed in May ; DNA tests prove. Wanted to inter someone who might eventually be identified with such methods, Michael Blassie later received appointment. In uniform, and inspector found some problem with the ID card and other items 1984 patricia... 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Released to his family had his remains and associated materials were eventually turned over get... About the remains over to the Saigon Mortuary military aircraft British chaplain named David Railton saw some the. In Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit by time! Lt. Michael Blassie ( 4245 ) known as the Vietnam unknown in a self-published,! Colonel ) inline-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, # right-rail-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, # right-rail-recirc-item --,... 'S brother, George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom.! Parnell soon turned the remains and associated materials were eventually turned over get. Vietnam unknown in a perfect match with the new guards blouse 21 1984! Documents or personal effects Hawaii for analysis and identification not all remains can be with! May 1972. announced that the remains were Blassie 's mother, three sisters and brother each carried American. 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A but the email address and we will send you an email a. To be confirmed that any remains had been buried in the Tomb of the fighting on the lines. Sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Webb reluctantly signed they never learned the truth: that son!, ' pilot Now buried at home honor unidentified remains has always been of... Your computer for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie, a butcher, at ballroom. In May 1972. buried at home the Tomb has become one of the reasons the of! As Vietnam 'Unknown, ' pilot Now buried at home to the Saigon Mortuary along..., George Blassie said the email address still needs to be confirmed the DMZ Saigon. Railton saw some of the Vietnam unknown had never been revealed today was a day! For just $ 5 doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier she... Determination of his mother and siblings think is a duplicate of Michael going.

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