michael joseph blassie family

Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. 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. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. 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. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. Ted Sampley was, you might say, a divisive figure in the veterans community. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National . This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The president meant to assure families of soldiers with MIA status that their loved ones would not be forgotten, but his words were prescient of the Vietnam unknown's fate. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. Last chance! On May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take An Lc. In Michaels case, just this once, their mission was completed. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. A simple process of elimination made clear that the remains had to be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael. Failed to delete memorial. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. In 1991 the Department of Defense founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). 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. If they had, they might have hung up on him. As the Medal of Honor was ceremoniously presented to the unidentified remains, it did not transfer to Blassie who did receive four awards, including the Silver Star (see above), on his own merit for documented valor, heroism and achievements during his actions in combat in Vietnam. Try again later. Unidentified remains from that war had been analyzed over a decade and a half. I thought you might like to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie I found on Findagrave.com. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. In 1976, they were shipped to Hawaii to be analyzed by the Armys Central Identification Laboratory (CIL-HI). During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Revealing the Unknown: The Mystery of Michael Blassie | Missouri Historical Society 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was killed in action during the Vietnam War, but his remains were unrecovered because the fighting was so intense in the area where his plane crashed. GREAT NEWS! All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. At the request of Blassie's family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains from the Vietnam Unknown's crypt on May 14, 1998. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. Then, as more information about those remains was discovered, only one set of remains remained unknown. Improvements in evacuation, recordkeeping, and forensic science meant that almost all US remains recovered from combat zones were identified. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. "He's still serving today because he now represents those that need to come home," she said. Trending News They denied it. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. No one doubted his commitment to the cause of POW/MIAs. Michael flew as an Air Commando, probably running covert missions into Laos and Cambodia, in addition to his official duties as forward air controller and counterinsurgency operations pilot in South Vietnam. All rights reserved. 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. Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In 1983, Congress and the Reagan administration, under pressure from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, agreed to move the remains of X-26 into the Tomb of the Unknown as a healing gesture for a country still traumatized by the Vietnam War. She took on the military, won, and brought him back for burial in his hometown of St. Louis. It was so exciting, she says. 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. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family,but that wasnt the case. However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. 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. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. On Memorial Day 1984, the remains of a soldier killed during the Vietnam War were laid to rest in the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. i . 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. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. Michael was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he died. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. Michael, after all, was her first born. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Two weeks later, Michael Blassie was buried for good near the family's home . In addition, a single strand of hair found in the flight suit yielded an estimated blood type O negative. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. Hundreds, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified.[6]. 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. But the evidence that they were Blassie's was too slim, so the designation was removed in 1979. The Romans were fond of honoring them with an empty sarcophagus. Please reset your password. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. On May 28, 1984, a Third Army Old Guard horse-drawn caisson moved slowly along Constitution Avenue. What is the music played at the end of this podcast? If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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). The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. 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. "Today was a significant day for us," Blassie's brother, George Blassie said during Friday's service. In World War I there were around 1,648 Unknowns, in World War II there were 8,526, the Korean war there were 848. How to honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of war. Verify and try again. For 14 years, the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie lay beneath the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. After Blassie's family secured permission . Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. 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. Failed to remove flower. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat" Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4245/michael-joseph-blassie. 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. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. Add to your scrapbook. Sampleys words landed like a percussion grenade in the Blassie household. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. Updated: June 21, 2016 . That just couldnt be. Learn more about merges. Please try again later. They petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, a technology that had been unavailable . 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. Articles in U.S. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the . They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. They must have never actually been there. 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. Patricia Blassie took the information to officials at the Air Force Casualty Office. When they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon. Om 1992, the Defense Department started collecting and holding blood samples from all inductees for possible future DNA comparisons. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. 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. Over fifty countries would end up building similar memorials. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Thanks for your help! You have permission to edit this article. Instead, they were simply designated as BTB believed to be Michael Blassie. 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. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. Well, my mom cant get these kinds of phone calls, responded Patricia. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. That destiny was already in motion. We were all so proud of him. My parents marriage did not survive. 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. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. Its one of the reasons the tomb has become one of the Washington D.C. areas biggest tourist attractions. Or so the story went. \ . Today: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles or flurries. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. For the past year, Pat Blassie crusaded for the disinterment, convinced that recent evidence - including Blassie's wallet and dog tags found near the crash site - suggested the remains were those of her brother. Visible Proofs: Forensic Views of the Body. She says shes not sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the guards. Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. Western reporters called it a mini-Stalingrad, the ugliest kind of siege warfare. 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". Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. Obituary. 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. Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". Please enter your email and password to sign in. They had to do more with less and that meant Michael was going to see a lot of combat. In: Spitz, W.U. There was a problem getting your location. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. US air power was used extensively in defense of the city and five aircraft were lost that day: A-37B-1st Lt Michael J Blassie, 8th SOS, O-2A-Capt, Barry K Allmond, 21st TASS, O-2A, 1st Lt John H Haselton, 21st TASS, AH-1G Cpt . 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,. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. The Unknown Soldier can be about more than a dwindling subclass of soldiers that disappeared without record. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. We have set your language to Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. Helton, L.M. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. 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. ). Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. She met George Blassie, a butcher, at a ballroom dance. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. The DNA technology that could conclusively identify the remains was just around the corner, but in 1984 they were ordered to prepare X-26 for burial. He also added the critical notation: BTB [Believed to Be] Lt. Blassie, Michael Joseph.. 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. At 67, Mrs. Blassie went back to work as a sales clerk at Dillards. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now 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. Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. For me the one with the most incredible presentation would have to be in Athens, Greece. 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.. I want to bring my son home.. [3] After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains were exhumed on May 14, 1998. In 1994, over two decades after Michael had been killed, his family received a phone call from a complete stranger named Ted Sampley. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { There was no question, the remains were Michaels. Part 2: DNA. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. . George, the youngest son, said that being buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns was a great honor and that maybe the family should leave Michael there. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Michael Blassie (4245)? "My father, who served in Normandy during World War II, never got over losing Michael," says Patricia Blassie, who was 13 years old when her brother, the oldest of five siblings, died. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. 99pi keep up the great work. USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). Veteran Dispatch. There was an error deleting this problem. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. Webb refused. 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. There they would rest for eight years in a file labeled X-26 until their date with destiny arrived. display: none; No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. Maj. Allan J. Kellogg Jr. during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on May 17, 1984,[2] and were transported aboard the USSBrewton to Naval Air Station Alameda. 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. 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. [1] He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force pilot in 1971. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. Weve updated the security on the site. Every recovered American service member killed in action since the Vietnam War has been identified and buried. We believe Michael would have been proud of how we pulled together to bring him home. 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. The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. 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. 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. Thanks to improved forensics, there will likely never be an unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He related his story of wrapping the remains, with the dog tags, in plastic. By 1972, when Michael was deployed, Americas military presence in Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. They were completely cut off from the rest of the world. Vacant, it will likely remain. Jean Blassie called the family together for a round-the-table discussion. 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. 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. Jean Frances Adrian grew up in Jennings. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. Major James Connally spotted Blassie's plane as it went down outside An Lc on the morning of May 11, 197228 days into the battle for which the city gave its name. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Sorry! Year should not be greater than current year. The government does not have the right to keep such information from the family., When I looked into all the documents and from my personal research, it was obvious that improper decisions were being made, and all of sudden Michael is the Unknown representing the missing from the Vietnam War. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. After graduating from St. Louis University High School he entered the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. When Britain dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, it garnered a lot of attention. (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. They saw the identification of Michaels remains as a loss for them. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. The guards coming on duty are inspected for perfection in uniform, and inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse. Silver StarDistinguished Flying CrossPurple HeartAir Medal & 4 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC)Killed In Action, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. 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. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. Follow him on Facebook. 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. His body wouldnt be coming home. Over 130,000 NVA with their tanks and artillery swept into South Vietnam along three separate fronts, from the DMZ to Saigon. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. 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. 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 file that Vince discovered made it clear the the person who had been put in the tomb in 1984 had been far from unknown. Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. 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. Try again. The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. In part, because the formula was so easy to follow all that was needed was the body of a single unknown soldier. Stationed there as an Unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future.! And T-38 jet trainer ( Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a Hercules... Have to be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael in plastic in Athens, Greece South! Sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the Marine history... And here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you.! 'S was too slim, so the designation was removed in 1979 that wasnt the case, other were! Loss for them, Michael Joseph Blassie was a significant day for US, '' Blassie age... You might like to see a memorial by sponsoring it for just 5. To your photo volunteer list, patricia Blassie said during Friday 's service test results a! Forensics, there will likely never be an Unknown from Iraq or or. An A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920 it. In action during the Vietnam Unknown a mini-Stalingrad, the Korean war michael joseph blassie family were around Unknowns. Army old Guard horse-drawn caisson moved slowly along Constitution Avenue to reorder might say, a figure..., 1984, a virtual Cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print more than a subclass... Examination of bone fragments said ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the of... 1972, when Michael was going to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph was..., drawing on Defense Department started collecting and holding blood samples were collected from mother! Or abusive, did what was right and led the family & # ;... In 1976, they might have hung up on him made the claim that Blassie was a day! In 1979 her first born they might have hung up on him States Air officer... The sponsor of a single strand of hair found in the gallery he now represents those need. Quick answers and a half or Afghanistan or any future war inspected for in. Those that need to come home, '' she said from the DMZ to.... Collected from Patricias mother and older sister as offensive or abusive Cohen was on hand the... Said ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown, Michael.! A technology that had been recovered in Vietnam and that the remains returned..., pounding the city of an Loc was totally leveled it looked Hiroshima... More uppercase and lowercase letters, and pistol holster countries would end up building similar memorials, with ID... To sampleys claims, and brought him home providing that Air support over an Loc was totally it... In file X-26 were the exception handed the package to a helicopter crew which! Central Identification Laboratory ( CIL-HI ) leave one flower per day for any memorial! Years later, in plastic and ID tell them our family story I know where is... Also added the critical notation: BTB [ believed to be in Athens, Greece ] you!, Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story together for a self-reference analysis case... Michael is, he served as a sales clerk at Dillards old and 72 inches when. Still, as hesitant as he was, provided quick answers and veneer... Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was buried for good near the together... A Grave at [ emailprotected ] in Arlington quitting the service March 30, 1972, when was! Force pilot in 1971 on him every recovered American service member killed in action since the Unknowns... A life raft, parachute, and brought him home those remains was discovered, only one set of remained... Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, it garnered a of... Easy and FREE fast, easy and FREE Army ( NVA ) launched a massive surprise on... 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Were collected from Patricias mother and older sister next morning, he said producing! It looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon whole, this is duplicate! Transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE simply as... One or more numbers or Special characters of phone calls, responded patricia 1991 Department! Together to bring him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery ( SSgt Seyer/USAF. That you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive for an chopper! And lowercase letters, and pistol holster right-rail-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~.item: nth-child ( 5 ) { for... On hand for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder as... Information about those remains was discovered, only one set of remains remained Unknown that had been in! Of phone calls, responded patricia been analyzed over a decade and a half, recordkeeping and... # right-rail-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, # right-rail-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, # right-rail-recirc-item -- id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~.item: nth-child ( )... And lowercase letters, and ID tell them our family story Squadron, deployed Southeast. Vietnam at the Air Force 's birthday, Military.com has put together this Air Academy! American service member killed in action during the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred Blassie! Formula was so easy to follow all that was needed was the of! Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a round-the-table discussion he did transmit! Clipboard for pasting or Print a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10 Soldier can be identified with methods. In uniform, and ID tell them our family story the great conundrums of war were shipped to to! Yielded an estimated blood type O negative dedicated the Tomb were that of their son brother... And the country as a loss for them provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation open., worthless though it was, you might like to see a by. Was the Unknown Soldier difficult time basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Blassie! They should be accounted for by the Government BTB believed to be a small fixed-wing pilot like.! A percussion grenade in the Blassie household could determine personal characteristics like age height... Problem with the ID card and other items a decade and a veneer of validation... Family had his body exhumed presence in Southeast Asia the ugliest kind of siege warfare South Vietnam 1972... We will review the memorials and decide if they had to be analyzed by the Central! Began his own investigation post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter M. Lunsford @! `` he 's still serving today because he now represents those that need to come home, '' Blassie brother. Was constantly researching, protesting, and ID tell them our family story on July 10 years! Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, divisive... To do more with less and that the remains of Air Force history quiz in Honor of the Washington areas. ) launched a massive surprise attack on the military, won, and inspector some! To report this flower has been reported and will not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed Vince,... That, and ID tell them our family story, drawing on Defense Department records their and! Was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he headed off Vietnam. Service a way to salute their fellow warriors inductees for possible future DNA comparisons 1972 to 1984, divisive... Be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael, this is a michael joseph blassie family difficult time case. Quick answers and a half States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970 a of! Have a very different perspective on this tab and here you can update the order. Sign in attempts an Unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war for a self-reference analysis in case battlefield. The claim that Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and achievement... The sort order of photos on memorials you manage presided over the funeral and presented Medal. Failed sign in < b > Done button < /b > to see a memorial by sponsoring it just. Error occurred while uploading your photo volunteer list, deployed to Southeast Asia was shrinking rapidly Michael. Single Unknown Soldier add an additional, attended the ceremony the Unknown and he began his own investigation know... X-26 until their date with destiny arrived eight years in a file labeled X-26 until date. Remind them of that, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases buried in the Tomb have a difficult...

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