Sampleys words landed like a percussion grenade in the Blassie household. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. 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. His 138th combat mission ended near An Loc, South Vietnam, when the wing was blasted off his plane by enemy fire. 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. We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Id also remind them that Michael was never an Unknown Soldier. The remains were exhumed in May; DNA tests that were not available 26 years ago confirmed the remains were Blassie's. 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. More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. A simple process of elimination made clear that the remains had to be a small fixed-wing pilot like Michael. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. All rights reserved. She says shes not sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the guards. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. This account has been disabled. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. The changing of the guard is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was opened and the remains of the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed. Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. Every recovered American service member killed in action since the Vietnam War has been identified and buried. They interviewed Parnell, by then a retired Colonel living in Florida. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. . In the early 1980s, officials chose the set of remains coded "X-26" to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. World War I ushered in an era of total war and mass conscription, in which the combatants on both sides were mostly ordinary citizens, often rendered anonymous amidst the violence of the Western Front. After Blassie's family secured permission . I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. She and her four children met to try to figure out what to do. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Four low-flying F-15s flew overhead, with one pulling out of formation in a missing man salute. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. That they all made the ultimate sacrifice for me. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. She said then-President Ronald Reagan had wanted to add a Vietnam War soldier to the Tomb of the Unknowns, joining the unknown soldiers from World War I and II and the Korean War. ", 1998 The Associated Press. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. It was his 138th combat mission. 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. It turns out that, unlike previous wars, the Vietnam War didnt produce many Unknowns. The Flag: Revd David Railton MC and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Excerpts and links to latest episodes and articles, Periodic, exclusive updates on 99PI goings-on. Blassie's unidentified remains were designated as the Vietnam Unknown service member by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. Its like the reverse of this 99pi story! Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. In my 17-year-old mind, that sounded like a good deal.. Year should not be greater than current year. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. I wouldnt think there was a known soldier in the Tomb of the Unknowns, she recalled thinking. We believe Michael would have been proud of how we pulled together to bring him home. To Army scientists, these findings superseded any other evidence, such as documents or personal effects. Your playlist is stored within your cookies, clearing your browser data may remove your playlist. 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. 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. Joseph Michael Leo Findlan Obituary. In Michaels case, just this once, their mission was completed. Twenty-six years after he died, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie came home. Even though they were still officially believed to belong to Blassie, the lab was ordered to strip the remains of their believed to be designation, and give them the anonymous designation X-26. Test your knowledge! Michael Joseph Blassie was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. Interestingly, the soldiers identities *were* known and the Danes made an effort to give each soldier his last rites. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. It may be that forensic science has reached the point where there will be no other unknowns in any war. He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. I dont care what happened, but the documents showed that patrol went into Michaels crash site to find him, and they did. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days. 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. 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. 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. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. Michael was no longer Unknown. Michael Blassie in his Air Force Academy cadet uniform. They must have never actually been there. 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. His jet lost a wing, crashed and burned. Michael Blassies skeletal chart, VBC Happy Hour screenshot, 2021. Try again. 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. There is nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors. Two weeks after the offensive began, combined NVA and Viet Cong forces laid siege to the provincial capital of An Lc, located 100km north of Saigon. The preferred term is sentry which I feel gives a stronger sense of gravity. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. 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. 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. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. I dont know any of them. Updated: June 21, 2016 . We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. (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. 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. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. This is a carousel with slides. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. 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. They petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, a technology that had been unavailable . 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. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. CDC warns drug-resistant stomach bug a "serious public health threat" 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. [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. A seven-month CBS News investigation has revealed, reported correspondent Eric Engberg, that the identity of the unknown serviceman is almost certainly known, and that some military officials, for whatever reason, knew it all along and tried to hide it.. based on information from your browser. Patricia still visits the tomb. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. Plot Your donations are vital to keeping us independent and strong! Producer Joe Rosenberg spoke with Robert Poole, author of On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery; Patricia Blassie; Bill Thomas, reporter for the Washington Post; Chris Calhoon, former Army Ranger; Vince Gonzales, reporter for CBS Denver, During the last segment of your podcast, Roman asked Joe if there were any other national monuments that had a guard like this. Western reporters called it a mini-Stalingrad, the ugliest kind of siege warfare. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. ). Try again later. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. 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. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. 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 . The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. 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. But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. Blassie was born in St. Louis in 1948. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. 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 . Verify and try again. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. There was an error deleting this problem. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The President also acted as next of kin to the unidentified Blassie by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998. This browser does not support getting your location. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. 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. . Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. 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. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. Hurtful also were the objections she and her family received from Vietnam veterans, who resented the Blassies for taking away their Unknown. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. When it came to tracking MIAs, Sampley was shrewd and tireless. . 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. Oops, something didn't work. Failed to report flower. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. If he couldnt do it, Webb would be ordered to sign off on the burial.