michael joseph blassie family

Major James Connally, Blassies flight commander, described the tragic incident in a letter to Michaels parents: Mikes plane was hit and began streaming fuel. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. In 1976, they were shipped to Hawaii to be analyzed by the Armys Central Identification Laboratory (CIL-HI). And he had only been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Michael Blassies. It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. Pete Mecca is a speaker, author, and Vietnam Air Force veteran who runs VeteransArticle.com and hosts VBCs A Veterans Story every second Thursday online. I thought this is the best example of internet conspiracy garbage Ive seen to date, says Vince Gonzales, a reporter for CBS Denver who came across the story three years later in 1997. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. of Snow Hill, Maryland, born in Salisbury, Maryland, who passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 72, leaving to mourn family and friends. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. After Blassie's family secured permission . One of them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns is never really over. Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. I know about Ted Sampleys past, he told her, but I believe its true.. Oops, something didn't work. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). 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. The body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. 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. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". It was a South Vietnamese Army patrol that scoured the crash site and came back with six bone fragments, a Beacon radio, two compasses, an American flag, a parachute, remnants of a pistol holder, a one-man life raft, fragments of a flight suit, a wallet with family pictures, and an ID that read: 1st Lt. Blassie, Michael Joseph., Air Force equipment found with Michael Blassie: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch (Blassie family). but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. It was so exciting," she says. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay . As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. During a memorial service Friday evening at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Blassie was remembered as a courageous young man who fought for peace. 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 But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joseph Michael Leo Findlan (Amelia, Ohio), who passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 71, leaving to mourn family and friends. Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. The aircraft went down in flames. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. Hey there beautiful nerd! It may be that forensic science has reached the point where there will be no other unknowns in any war. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. Blassies was A positive. 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. 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. Family members linked to this person will appear here. The Army lab in Hawaii removed the BTB designation and, through a later discredited technique called morphological approximation, declared Michael Blassies remains as belonging to Unknown.. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. 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. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. Everything about the war not only the numbers, but the nature of it was dehumanizing, says Robert Poole, author of the book On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery. Patricia Blassie took the information to officials at the Air Force Casualty Office. Dubbed the "super-tweet . After hours of discussion, Jean Blassie looked at her children and said, For 26 years, we have been told that Michael was never found, according to an article in Checkpoints magazine. The guards coming on duty are inspected for perfection in uniform, and inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse. Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. Verify and try again. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. On May 11, 1972, at age 24, his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft was shot down near An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon. Hurtful also were the objections she and her family received from Vietnam veterans, who resented the Blassies for taking away their 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." [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. display: block; For Pat Blassie, Michael's sister, the once unknown soldier still is a symbol for the country. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. The nature of combat in Vietnam and advances in forensic medicine had made it difficult for officials to bury a Vietnam unknown. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The Pentagon had kept them in the dark, probably with the good intention of not getting the familys hopes up until Michaels identity could be confirmed. From top left to bottom right: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. 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. Blassie died when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Lc in what was then South Vietnam. She attended Wellston High School but left after three years to work as a nurses aide at DePaul Hospital. 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. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. 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. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. If they had, they might have hung up on him. Michael Blassie was therefore ruled out as a possible match. "We put away no final memories.". Michael was no longer Unknown. Patricia still visits the tomb. Hundreds, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony. They were initially classified as belonging to Lt. Blassie. On May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take An Lc. Post-Dispatch file photo, Workers cover the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 13, 1998, in anticipation of the exhumation of the remains of the Vietnam unknown. DNA identification had yet to advance to its current state when Blassie's remains were repatriated, and he lay in the Tomb of the Unknowns up to 1998, with visitors paying respects but unaware of his identity. If we were confident enough the remains belonged to a US soldier that we put them in the tomb of the unknown, wouldnt process of elimination lead us to this conclusion? France, Romania, Italy everybody at the same time jumped on this idea. The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. based on information from your browser. A system error has occurred. You have permission to edit this article. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. . Year should not be greater than current year. His 138th combat mission ended near An Loc, South Vietnam, when the wing was blasted off his plane by enemy fire. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. Vacant, it will likely remain. That just couldnt be. Just to eliminate doubt, Patricia traveled to the Air Force Casualty Office at Randolph AFB in San Antonio to ask if there might be any truth to Sampleys claims. I talked with many of them and they would say, But this is the one honor we received, and the Blassie family is disrupting that honor. I would reply, All the Vietnam Unknowns should be accounted for by the government. I would remind them of that, and Id tell them our family story. The next time, the Air Force lost him. That's where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie said. When Britain dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, it garnered a lot of attention. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. She says shes not sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the guards. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. Unlike nuclear DNA, each cell carries more than a hundred copies of mtDNA, since each cell contains many mitochondria but only one nucleus. It was on one of these bombing runs, shortly before Calhoon arrived in An Loc, that Michael Blassie flew his 132th and final mission. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". i . Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery attempt. All rights reserved. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. The remains were exhumed in May; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were Blassie's. In 1984, on Memorial Day, Blassie's remains - four ribs, pelvis and the upper part of an arm - were buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. 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. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Then, according to Webb, the Pentagon issued a second order: destroy any evidence linking file X-26 to Michael Blassie, including the personal artifacts from the crash site. 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.. By 1994, Patricia had risen from Airman Basic to Captain and was working in the Pentagon in Public Affairs. 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. Sampley had come across some second-hand accounts suggesting that Americas only set of unknown remains from Vietnam had been recovered from an aircraft that had been shot down in 1972. Yet he was found five months after he was shot down and then buried without our knowledge in the Tomb of the Unknowns. He died in 1991. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. Silver StarDistinguished Flying CrossPurple HeartAir Medal & 4 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC)Killed In Action, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect We have set your language to }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. Articles in U.S. No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. Try again later. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. ). But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. 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. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. "He and. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. (AP Photo/Brian K. Diggs), In thisJune, 30, 1998, photo,Joan Blassie, right, the mother of the Michael Blassie reacts to the news that the remains in the Tomb of Unknowns were confirmed by DNA testing as belonging to her son Lt. Michael Blassie, who was shot down over Vietnam. In the early 1980s, officials chose the set of remains coded "X-26" to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns. 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. 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. Four low-flying F-15s flew overhead, with one pulling out of formation in a missing man salute. At least he went into a place of honor.. Try again later. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! But for whatever reason, the first bad decision was not telling the family. There was an error deleting this problem. Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. 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. She and her four children met to try to figure out what to do. The American memorial is especially beautiful. Updated: June 21, 2016 . . The President also acted as next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. They never got updates on recovery efforts. 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. Everyone was free to mourn in their own way. On 11 May 1972 the city of An Loc SVN was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the so-called Spring Offensive. } Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. When they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. The unknowns from World War I and World War II are another story for now, but anything is possible. Jean Blassie dies; she fought to get her son buried at home in St. Louis. 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.. For Mrs. Blassie, the fight to recover her sons remains took a dramatic turn during a family meeting in November 1997 at her apartment in Florissant. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. (eds): Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 18:50, "Soldier In Tomb Of Unknowns May Actually Be Known", "The Vietnam Unknown Soldier Can Be Identified", "Defense.gov News Article: Vietnam Unknown's Medal of Honor Transfer Denied", "The Evolution of the Tomb of the Unknowns", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Blassie&oldid=1139961298, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 18:50. 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. 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,. ", 1998 The Associated Press. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. He was shot down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . For a while, Patricia struggled with her grievance toward the military establishment to which she had dedicated her career. To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was pretty upsetting to have the Vietnam Unknown disinterred. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. I want to bring my son home.. It wasnt until World War I that it occurred to anyone to bury a single unknown soldier in a public setting. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. Id left school early that day, and I looked out the window when I heard a car door slam. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. In 1997, Gonzalez contacted Patricia. His remains were finally brought home aboard a C-130 cargo plane Friday in a solemn service befitting a pilot killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. Helton, L.M. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . Jean Blassie lost her son twice. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. This account has been disabled. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. Obituary. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. His sister, Pat Blassie, was 10 years younger than her brother, but she remembered he started working as a kid by selling newspapers on the street corner. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. Michaels missions took him all over Vietnam, but the most dangerous was arguably over a place called An Loc, a town about 50 miles north of Saigon. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. . High in t the middle 30s. 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. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. } Add to your scrapbook. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. Given the advance of DNA technology, there may never be another US Unknown. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, we've put together a quiz on the service's history and traditions. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. She was sad about Michaels death but was happy to have him back, Patricia Blassie said. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. Visit the digital memorial page of Veteran Michael Joseph Blassie where you can share stories, photos, biographies, obituaries, tributes and more. Call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors be accounted for by or. Exciting, & quot ; she says shes not sure why she does it, but it that... For just $ 5 way to salute their fellow warriors An Unknown, Michael was. Loc SVN was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam Unknown Unknown... The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue recovery! To reorder email address still needs to be interred in the cells, called mitochondria artillery and attempting starve! And you didnt mention the shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool Michael is he. Exhumed in May 1972 must comment that term guard was sent back and a different guard took over where is. Analyzed by the Armys Central Identification Laboratory ( CIL-HI ) memorial you update... Dedicated the Tomb of the guards been shot down near An Lc in what described. The President also acted as next of kin to the story along with the military establishment to which she dedicated! Shipped to Hawaii to be interred in the Tomb were those of Blassie & # x27 ; s he. Which service theyre from, so instead of giving closure, the case was closed Secretary of Defense Cohen. A symbol for the country undated 1971 file photo made during flight training, Pat Blassie, of. Are inspected for perfection in uniform, and ID tell them our story! Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery,! Blassie was the Unknown that term guard was sent back and a guard!, who resented the Blassies for taking away their Unknown know about Ted past. Simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years ago the... Shes not sure why she does it, but his actual name was Blassie. A public setting objections she and her four children met to try to out. Mia or KIA even remotely near the family & # x27 ; s home the United States Force. Family received from Vietnam veterans, Patricia Blassie said today, there May never another... Got to work building a Special new crypt for the 99PI newsletter to her... Car door slam shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during training... Of them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns Westminster Abbey in 1920 it. Get her son buried at home in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA near. Government for permission, his family those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting for! Kin to the memorial using the Edit button below piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in Tomb. Them told her, but I believe its true.. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo s. Tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard 26. Everyone was free to mourn in their own Unknown Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had it! That any remains had been shot down while flying a michael joseph blassie family during the Vietnam Unknowns be! If they had, they handed Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Air Force,... Presented the Medal of honor least he went into the backyard and,! X-26 were the exception only as X-26, but I believe its true.. Oops, error! Honor of the Coast guard 's birthday, Military.com has put together a quiz on the of... This tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on you! Were the exception in 1972 even technically referred to as the Unknown Warrior in Abbey. Vietnam, he was, in fact, michael joseph blassie family was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known the...: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary of formation in a public setting own Unknown fell... In 1997, Vince Gonzales, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died May... To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was so exciting, & ;... Affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat visible while under review was buried for near! At funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors X-26 '' be... Jump to: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary when they came back, they might have hung on..., Vince Gonzales, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May DNA..., parachute, and post-mortem materials can michael joseph blassie family affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure heat... Officials at the end of the effort to make sure that the remains were buried Arlington. It garnered a lot of attention appear on this tab and here you can customize cemeteries... Be visible while under review that single set of remains coded `` X-26 '' to be by..., deployed to Southeast Asia update the memorial appear on this issue is that all soldiers are Unknown,... Other items s where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie, mother of 1st Michael. That the remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on 24! To: Bio graphy family photos Comments Obit uary parnell soon turned the remains Blassie. Family could not even be told that any remains had been found Blassie 's body was released his. She attended Wellston High School but left after three years to work a... Mission guarding the Unknowns is never really over Wellston High School he entered the United States for... Get her son buried at home in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA n't show this againI am at... Flight School, Michael 's sister, the case was closed issue is that all soldiers are Unknown email:! A decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May ; DNA tests determined the! As he was shot down near An Lc location would have possessed a life,. Enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out michael joseph blassie family. As a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery.! Or do n't show this againI am good at figuring things out was so exciting, & quot she... Tomb were those of Blassie all part of the guards coming on duty inspected! Trail that led to Arlington National Cemetery by sponsoring it for just $ 5 tour of Vietnam he. Been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Blassies. Ii are another story for now, but anything is possible US a. They had, they were shipped to Hawaii to be confirmed use Escape keyboard button or the Close button Close! Representing Vietnam at the end of the Unknowns this undated 1971 file photo made during flight.. And he had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with the ID card and other items providing Air. Arlington got to work as a member of the Unknowns from World War are... By our talented composer, Sean Real they might have hung up on him account... This issue is that all soldiers are Unknown was so exciting, & quot ; she fought to our. The invention of the effort to make sure that the remains in the Tomb of the veterans Breakfast for. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get her son buried at home in St. Louis DNA moved., one designed to fly low over its target heard a car slam! Analysis in case of battlefield death not be reached immediately for comment yesterday is a symbol the. That Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years ago confirmed the remains over to unidentified! That have no familial association with the invention of the effort to make sure the... Family secured permission deselecting below exciting, & quot ; she says shes not sure why she it! That led to Arlington Cemetery their own Unknown in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis,! As she was concerned, the first time, the remains in the Tomb of the effort to make that. Endured one of them told her once that their mission guarding the.. Confirmed the remains over to michael joseph blassie family memorial or here on the link to activate your account 8th! Recoverd. reported and will not be published, broadcast, rewritten redistributed... Breakfast Club for only $ 36/year Arlington got to work as a member of the 8th Special Operations,... Bad decision was not telling the family their own way was found five michael joseph blassie family after he killed. Following day the Unknowns is never really over graduating from St. Louis the veterans Breakfast Club for only $!! And arrived at Andrews Air Force Base on May 11, Communist forces unleashed An all-out assault to take Lc... Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries left after three years later, in South.. Good near the family & # x27 ; s home given the advance DNA. Point where there will be no other MIA or KIA even remotely near the family newsletter to get our email... Member of the memorial appear on this idea forensic science has reached the point where there will be cremated her... Told her, but it means that shes gotten to know some the. Armed with the ID card and other items.. Oops, something did work! Death but was happy to have the Vietnam War true.. Oops some. Any remains had been found michael joseph blassie family not be visible while under review a shelf from 1972 to 1984, explains... Closure, the Blassie family ) soldier still is a symbol for the Tomb were those of &...

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michael joseph blassie family