The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. The remains were reclassified as unknown when their projected age and height were judged not to match Blassie's.[1]. But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. 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. They denied it. . He died in 1991. 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. Even though he knew about the missing wallet, the head of the lab, using now outdated techniques, determined that the remains did not match Michael Blassies physical description. Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. "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. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. Blassie, a decorated pilot, was 24 when he died in May 1972. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). Plot 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.. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? One of them told her once that their mission guarding the Unknowns is never really over. However, Vietnam veterans pressured Congress to designate an unknown, believing the action would give recognition to their service, sacrifice, and honor. The remains did not consist of much, just six bones. Id also remind them that Michael was never an Unknown Soldier. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family,but that wasnt the case. All rights reserved. Jean Blassie dies; she fought to get her son buried at home in St. Louis. 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. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. On July 10, Blassie's remains arrived home to his family in Saint Louis, Missouri and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 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. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. Michael was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he died. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. On the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he might condemn Blassies remains to permanent oblivion. Jean Blassie lost her son twice. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. 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. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . It can represent all soldiers. The timely and accurate identification of men and women who die while serving in the armed forces has long been a priority for the United States government. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. It is very austere and moving. For Pat Blassie, Michael's sister, the once unknown soldier still is a symbol for the country. The remains would eventually arrive at the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, but not before thewallet which was critical in linking the remains to Blassie went missing. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. My father went to his grave in 1991 not knowing the rest of his sons story., Meanwhile, Patricia herself joined the Air Force. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. In: Spitz, W.U. At flight school, Michael was assigned to fly a ground attack aircraft known as the A-37. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). They must have never actually been there. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. No one knows how many remains from Vietnam and elsewhere were buried in the wrong graves because of these flawed identification procedures. A hunch told him there might be something to Sampleys claims, and he began his own investigation. Try again later. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. [6] After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. For the Blassie family and the country as a whole, this is a very difficult time. USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. When Britain dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, it garnered a lot of attention. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." 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. Failed to report flower. 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. 0 cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. That they all made the ultimate sacrifice for me. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. That is, he fell outside the approximated ranges on both counts. On Friday, Family and friends gathered to welcome his return at Scott Air Force Base, near Blassie's hometown of Florissant, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. She was sad about Michaels death but was happy to have him back, Patricia Blassie said. 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. Helton, L.M. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35 On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched a massive surprise attack on the South. Without a positive match, due to Army policy, the Blassie family could not even be told that any remains had been found. The Romans were fond of honoring them with an empty sarcophagus. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. Captain Parnell wrapped the remains, and the other items found at the crash site, in plastic and held them overnight. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. His jet lost a wing, crashed and burned. 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. The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. Try again later. I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. 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. Though discovered in South Vietnam at the crash site, along with personal effects and survival gear, the remains of US Air Force pilot 1st Lt. Michael Blassie got labeled Unknown. It took the hard work of an eccentric Vietnam veteran activist, an investigative reporter, and the Blassie family to cut through years of bureaucratic bungling, official stonewalling, and government deceit to rescue Blassie from the Tomb and bring him home. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. well, that was simply too much to believe. A 1970 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Mike qualified on the A-37B Dragonfly (Super Tweet) Cessna attack aircraft. The remains were confirmed to be those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. 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. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. In part, because the formula was so easy to follow all that was needed was the body of a single unknown soldier. 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 . Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Oops, we were unable to send the email. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. On 11 May 1972 the city of An Loc SVN was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the so-called Spring Offensive. Visit the digital memorial page of Veteran Michael Joseph Blassie where you can share stories, photos, biographies, obituaries, tributes and more. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. 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". I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. It was so exciting," she says. He knew morphological approximation was a flawed identification technique, and he suspected that someday, X-26 might be identified, especially given the personal effects and documents associated with the bone fragments. There, a plaque holds words from. But the evidence that they were Blassie's was too slim, so the designation was removed in 1979. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. A fellow airman saw tracer rounds directed toward Mikes A-37. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. Articles in U.S. Blassie was declared missing in action and presumed dead. 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. They were just looking out for him until he could go home. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. After his remains were identified by DNA testing in 1998, they were reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. Out of the fog of war comes another version of the incident, one in which Michaels Dragonfly inverts upside down, and Michael ejects from the stricken aircraft. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Serving as next-of-kid, President Ronald Reagan received the folded flag and made brief remarks. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. Jean Frances Adrian grew up in Jennings. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. Please reset your password. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. 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. . Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. This browser does not support getting your location. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. 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