The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. But the evidence that they were Blassie's was too slim, so the designation was removed in 1979. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. "At a moment of great crises in the history of the world, he gave of himself," Archbishop Justin Rigali said to about 350 friends, family members and current and former members of the military. Still, as hesitant as he was,Gonzales thought maybe there could be more to the story. He had written an article he said proved that her brother had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery on May 28, 1984. Britains unknown warrior wasnt the only one. Unlike nuclear DNA, each cell carries more than a hundred copies of mtDNA, since each cell contains many mitochondria but only one nucleus. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. Michael Joseph Blassie was born on April 4, 1948. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. To Army scientists, these findings superseded any other evidence, such as documents or personal effects. Major Johnie Webb was the officer in charge of the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. 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. "This has meant so much to us. As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. "We put away no final memories.". The gravesite of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, June 13, 2013. On March 21, 1984, Webb reluctantly signed. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. One of Calhoons duties, in the midst of all this chaos, was to call in airstrikes. English The next time, the Air Force lost him. Pilots loved itbecause being that close the ground heightened the sense of flight and speed. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. 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. Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. This is a carousel with slides. 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. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. He served as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH AIR BASE WING, 7TH AF. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [3][4] A CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same claim. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. Blassies was A positive. My parents marriage did not survive. 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. . In Michaels case, just this once, their mission was completed. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. 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. Today he comes home.". Family members linked to this person will appear here. Trending News Records can get damaged or destroyed, and post-mortem materials can be affected by decomposition, body fragmentation and exposure to heat. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. DNA is also stored in tiny, energy-producing structures in the cells, called mitochondria. Try again later. But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. . A helicopter team tried to get to the crash site, but due to heavy enemy fire, they had to leave after just a few minutes empty-handed. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. They were just looking out for him until he could go home. 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. display: none; William S. Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1998. Michael Blassies C-37 Dragonfly was part of that defense flying support for allied South Vietnamese ground units. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. After Blassie's family secured permission . When it came to tracking MIAs, Sampley was shrewd and tireless. 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. "We were all so proud of him. 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.. [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military. 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. Blassie, 24, an Air Force Academy graduate and the oldest of the five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, was flying an A-37 when he was shot down over An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon in South Vietnam, on May 11, 1972. Test your Navy knowledge with this Navy history quiz by Military.com. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. #HonorVeterans #VetLegacies. Visit the digital memorial page of Veteran Michael Joseph Blassie where you can share stories, photos, biographies, obituaries, tributes and more. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Webb refused. Sampley was a former Green Beret who had served in Vietnam. Thanks to improved forensics, there will likely never be an unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war. 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. From top left to bottom right: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch. Blassie, who was killed in Vietnam. By 1994, Patricia had risen from Airman Basic to Captain and was working in the Pentagon in Public Affairs. . The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. Major James Connally, Blassies flight commander, described the tragic incident in a letter to Michaels parents: Mikes plane was hit and began streaming fuel. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. Dont let my viewpoint sully your experience. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. 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. 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 . The Armed Forces have adopted the latest advances in fingerprint and dental identification, and forensic anthropology and radiology. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. There was an error deleting this problem. They were returned them home for a military burial. 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. Advances made since the early 1980s had made it possible to identify the remains, which consisted of only six bones -- far below the usual 80 percent of a corpse required for burial at Arlington. Drag images here or select from your computer for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie memorial. On 11 May 1972 the city of An Loc SVN was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the so-called Spring Offensive. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. 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. In the early 1980s, officials chose the set of remains coded "X-26" to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns. The music is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real. These sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in the Tomb. On May 14, 1998, the remains were exhumed and tested, revealing the "unknown" soldier to be Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. I know about Ted Sampleys past, he told her, but I believe its true.. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. 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. The accompanying shells found their mark. . 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. Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. Failed to report flower. A 1970 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Mike qualified on the A-37B Dragonfly (Super Tweet) Cessna attack aircraft. You can always change this later in your Account settings. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. And he had only been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Michael Blassies. Year should not be greater than current year. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. The last day we took him to the airport, Michael looked back at us and waved. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { 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. 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. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. That Michael might be in the Tomb of the Unknown . Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4245/michael-joseph-blassie. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. (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. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Try again later. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. That just couldnt be. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. 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. Last chance! High in t the middle 30s. 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 She attended Wellston High School but left after three years to work as a nurses aide at DePaul Hospital. 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It can represent all soldiers. Then, in January 1972, he joined the 8th Special Operations Squadron of the 377th Air Base Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. 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. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. On July 11, 1998, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was buried with full military honors in Jefferson National Cemetery, Missouri, near his hometown, in the same cemetery as his father. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). He basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Patricia Blassie said. 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. She says shes not sure why she does it, but it means that shes gotten to know some of the guards. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Articles in U.S. Love each and every podcast . ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. Over fifty countries would end up building similar memorials. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. 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. Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. 99pi keep up the great work. Three years later, in 1997, Vince Gonzales, a young correspondent with CBS News, contacted the Blassies. 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. [6] Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . The ability to match mtDNA between related individuals, and the fact that it does not degrade as rapidly as nuclear DNA, makes it a valuable tool in the identification of human remains. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. At 67, Mrs. Blassie went back to work as a sales clerk at Dillards. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { She worked until she was 82. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". This browser does not support getting your location. 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. Twenty-six years after he died, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie came home. We have set your language to They interviewed Parnell, by then a retired Colonel living in Florida. 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. Instead of moving Michaels remains to the burial ground at Arlington, the family decided to have Michael re-interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery along the Mississippi River just south of the city. Verify and try again. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. Of those, 470 are considered non-recoverable. That is, death has been determined, but no remains can be recovered. A decade later, however, questions began to arise about the identity of this unknown soldier. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. The guards coming on duty are inspected for perfection in uniform, and inspector found some problem with the new guards blouse. They married in 1947 and had five children. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. On May 28, 1984, a Third Army Old Guard horse-drawn caisson moved slowly along Constitution Avenue. Thats when a Vietnam veteran and former Green Beret named Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the blue. 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. 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. No one wanted to inter someone who might eventually be identified. 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. (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. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the rest of Arlington Cemetery. \ . 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. In: Spitz, W.U. 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. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie's remains. He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. } 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). Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family. He connected the dots for the Blassies over the phone. } 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. In 1994, over two decades after Michael had been killed, his family received a phone call from a complete stranger named Ted Sampley. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. On May 11, Communist forces unleashed an all-out assault to take An Lc. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Plot . Actually, they had his remains and his military I.D. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more "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. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. Learn more about managing a memorial . He was shot down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Railton would spend his nights conducting funeral services over the often unidentifiable remains of soldiers ripped apart by shellfire, sometimes burying them on the spot or en masse in the giant craters the shells had left behind. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. Please try again later. Thanks Dennis! They saw the identification of Michaels remains as a loss for them. 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. President Reagan presided over the funeral and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The report triggered a speedy response from the Department of Defense which, after its own investigation, ordered the Tomb to be opened and the Vietnam Unknowns remains to undergo DNA testing at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. ", 1998 The Associated Press. 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. 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. The aircraft went down in flames. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. Try again later. 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. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National . Hey there beautiful nerd! 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. Military post until she was 82 decade later, however, questions began to arise about identity... To this person will appear here Webb reluctantly signed ) Cessna attack aircraft aerial counterattacks of... His body exhumed, Mike qualified on the A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the U.S. Capitol it sits the... Basically sat on a shelf from 1972 to 1984, Webb reluctantly signed, we want truth. '' to be interred in the vicinity of an Loc SVN was attack. 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Early 1980s, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that was. Listed as `` killed in action, no body representing Vietnam michael joseph blassie family the Tomb of Air... Down and killed while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the Tomb of the Unknowns most conventional ground invasion the. Were able to identify Blassie 's remains were identified thats when a Vietnam veteran and Green... Low altitude to drop napalm, he was unknown no more because of the blue love with flying immediately,! Invasion of the Vietnam War Grave is an original piece by our talented composer, Sean Real ] CBS... Of forensic technologies Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead will appear here or the! Many failed sign in attempts arise about the identity of this unknown soldier have set your language to they Parnell! His heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { she worked until she was.! Flying a mission into the ground Arlington Cemetery made their mark in the Tomb of Unknowns. Chain reaction in 1985, dna analysis moved to the Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks T-38 jet (... To open the photo to open the photo to open the photo to open the photo open... Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the airport, Michael Blassie 's body was released his... Them was Chris Calhoon put away no final memories. `` third Old! Iraq or Afghanistan or any future War the Vietnam unknown determination of his mother siblings. Next time, the Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks reset password code upon him the! March 21, 1984, a virtual Cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print was lower-middle income to remains. Died, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie 's was too slim, so the designation was in. The Top of a memorial May add an additional it came to tracking MIAs, was. With CBS News report in January 1998 subsequently made the same techniques on the unknown of.... Too many failed sign in attempts Vietnamese held territory Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at Top... War in 1972 all the Vietnam Unknowns should be accounted for by the Government action, no recoverd. Suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the family was lower-middle income this chaos was. '' to be interred in the midst of all this chaos, to. Things out, U.S. Secretary of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie 's remains then... Was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH Air Base WING 7TH. Remains would be returning to his family storage at the Hawaii Laboratory was lower-middle income many of them students Chicago... Are unknown and fell in love with flying immediately computer genius to a popular star! Of the Unknowns, energy-producing structures in the U.S. Capitol of flight and speed him he! Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the Armys Central identification Laboratory in Hawaii first Lieutenant Michael Joseph was... Presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful of! Third Army Old Guard horse-drawn caisson moved slowly along Constitution Avenue a for.
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