And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. 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. 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. 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. 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. The goal was to schedule the ceremony before Election Day 1984, which is why Memorial Day, rather than Veterans Day, was selected. Your email address will not be published. Michael, after all, was her first born. In October of 1972, over five months after Blassies plane had disappeared into the jungle, Calhoon assembled a South Vietnamese patrol to enter North Vietnamese territory to find the wreckage. In: Spitz, W.U. 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. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. They denied it. These sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in the Tomb. I signed up the next day. Michael Blassie had become a cold statistic of war. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. 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. In 1984, on Memorial Day, Blassie's remains - four ribs, pelvis and the upper part of an arm - were buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Instead, they were simply designated as BTB believed to be Michael Blassie. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. They had no way of knowing the remains so caringly committed to the Tomb were that of their son and brother. Webb would later call his grappling with that order the struggle of my life. On the one hand, hed risk court-martial by not destroying the evidence. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Twenty-six years after he died, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie came home. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. [5] On June 30, 1998, the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. Blassies was A positive. But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. Visit the digital memorial page of Veteran Michael Joseph Blassie where you can share stories, photos, biographies, obituaries, tributes and more. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. 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. 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. He was convinced the government wasnt telling veterans everything it knew, and he was calling Patricia Blassie with an outlandish theory about Michaels death. "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. You have permission to edit this article. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. After Blassie's family secured permission . From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. After Years As Vietnam 'Unknown,' Pilot Now Buried At Home. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Captain Parnell wrapped the remains, and the other items found at the crash site, in plastic and held them overnight. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Updated: June 21, 2016 . It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. Resend Activation Email. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. From top left to bottom right: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. Thanks Dennis! Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Your email address will not be published. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. They were initially identified by Mortuary Affairs as Blassie. 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. Test your knowledge! He thought about how terrible it was that so many people were essentially being forgotten they deserved better than that. 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. 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. (She would retire in 2018 as a full-bird Colonel). 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. 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. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. I wouldnt think there was a known soldier in the Tomb of the Unknowns, she recalled thinking. English display: none; This shielding of information from the Blassies ended up only compounding their pain. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. I think a third section of these guards/ceremonies around the world would have been a great inclusion. When family members received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown, they petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct previously unavailable DNA testing. But the military didnt tell anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be certain that it was he. Search above to list available cemeteries. The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the line for viewing lasted ten days. Theyre too upsetting. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Four low-flying F-15s flew overhead, with one pulling out of formation in a missing man salute. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" 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. Sampley had no direct evidence proving Michael was in the tomb, but that didnt make him wrong. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. 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. And so it would have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about Blassie on the Internet. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. 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. In 1972, it was still under the control of the South Vietnamese military, along with a handful of American advisors, but it was surrounded by an invading North Vietnamese Army. Helton, L.M. Then, as more information about those remains was discovered, only one set of remains remained unknown. The year after Michael Blassies death, Congress directed the Department of Defense to select the remains of an Unknown Vietnam servicemember to be interred in Arlington National Cemeterys Tomb of the Unknown. "We put away no final memories.". Human beings have copies of DNA from each biological parent, stored in the nucleus of every cell. They were returned them home for a military burial. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". 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. They married in 1947 and had five children. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie lost. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. Morphological approximation presumed that one could determine personal characteristics like age and height by careful examination of bone fragments. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. Hundreds, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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. This account has been disabled. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. Of those, 470 are considered non-recoverable. That is, death has been determined, but no remains can be recovered. based on information from your browser. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. The Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains were Michaels. Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. That day changed the Blassie family forever, she says. Plot His sister Pat described the evidence succinctly: "The trail leads to the tomb." We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Michael Blassie and T-38 jet trainer (Blassie family). Five months later, during a sweep of the area, a South Vietnamese Army patrol recovered a pelvis, an upper arm bone, and some ribs, as well as the remnants of a flight suit, a life raft, pieces of a parachute, and part of a USAF holster. On May 28, 1984, a Third Army Old Guard horse-drawn caisson moved slowly along Constitution Avenue. On 11 May 1972 the city of An Loc SVN was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the so-called Spring Offensive. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. I assume now he was meaning in America but i immediately thought to other Countries national Monuments. Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. Part 2: DNA. Follow him on Facebook. Michael Joseph Blassie was born on April 4, 1948. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. "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. And he had only been able to find one missing plane that fully matched the planes description: Michael Blassies. ). Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot. Members of the United States Air Force Color guard carry the casket containing the remains of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie on July 10, 1998 at Scott Air Force Base. The file that Vince discovered made it clear the the person who had been put in the tomb in 1984 had been far from unknown. & Spitz, D.J. Id also remind them that Michael was never an Unknown Soldier. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now Check out member benefits and perks . Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie Birth 4 Apr 1948 Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA Death 11 May 1972 (aged 24) Bnh Long, Bnh Phc, Vietnam Memorial Site* National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA Show Map * A structure erected in honor of someone whose remains lie elsewhere. Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. Improvements in evacuation, recordkeeping, and forensic science meant that almost all US remains recovered from combat zones were identified. DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. "This shrine was still distant from his house, the soil of Missouri, the banks of the Mississippi. "The resting place of Michael was for so long the Tomb of the Unknowns," Rigali said. There is nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. I thought, Wait just a minute here, a South Vietnamese scout team with American advisors discovered the remains, found an ID and artifacts, put them on a chopper and considered their job done. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [1] He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force pilot in 1971. In addition, a single strand of hair found in the flight suit yielded an estimated blood type O negative. 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. Parnell wrapped the remains with the effects and held them overnight. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. Sampley told them that remains had been discovered near Michaels crash site, along with items belonging to an Air Force pilot. . Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. 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. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. 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. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. That's where he fell in love with flying, Pat Blassie said. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). 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. 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. "He and. The saga of the Vietnam crypt of the Tomb of the Unknown is perhaps the darkest chapter of the US Department of Defenses long-running effort to account for POW/MIAs. Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. Webb devised an ingenious solution: hide the crash-site artifacts where no one would ever find them, in the casket with the remains of X-26. And they never learned the truth: that their son Michaels remains were discovered some five months after his death. 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. They said Michael had been killed. The Blassies didnt know Sampley. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." [6] Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. The remains and associated materials were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii for analysis and identification. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. Some evidence suggests that the remains ceremonially laid to rest by President Reagan 14 years ago belong to 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a decorated flier still officially listed as missing in . Jean Blassie lost her son twice. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. The next time, the Air Force lost him. Its one of the reasons the tomb has become one of the Washington D.C. areas biggest tourist attractions. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). The accompanying shells found their mark. The recruiters said if I joined the Air Force, Id travel, get excellent training,and an education. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. She and her four children met to try to figure out what to do. DNA samples were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Judy and tested against the remains. His sister, Pat Blassie, was 10 years younger than her brother, but she remembered he started working as a kid by selling newspapers on the street corner. 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. They petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct DNA testing, a technology that had been unavailable . Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie's remains. "We were all so proud of him. 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. Thanks for your help! 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. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family,but that wasnt the case. Calhoon assumed that Michaels remains would be returning to his family. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. 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. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. In celebration of the Marine Corps' birthday, Military.com has put together this Marine Corps history quiz. I didnt even know how to go about college. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. [3] After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains were exhumed on May 14, 1998. Blassie dropped in low for a bombing run on attacking forces when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. If he couldnt do it, Webb would be ordered to sign off on the burial. I thought you might like to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie I found on Findagrave.com. "Mike lived a hero, and he came home a hero," said Emanuel Cassimatis, the Air Force Academy liaison officer who recruited Blassie in 1965. But Mrs. Blassie also had a hunch. "This has meant so much to us. Forensic anthropologists took the aged and damaged samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing. Your donations are vital to keeping us independent and strong! Year should not be greater than current year. Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. (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. In 1994, over two decades after Michael had been killed, his family received a phone call from a complete stranger named Ted Sampley. It was all part of the effort to make sure that the Unknown could represent everyone who ever fought in the war. 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. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. Please enter your email and password to sign in. And House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony they deserved better than that complete! Family was lower-middle income was sent back and a different guard took.! Heard for 26 years that remains had been unavailable flight training conceivable that they soon. Mourners, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where US! Of scientific validation his death samples from Jean Blassie and her four children met to try to figure out to... Of every cell, '' Rigali said was still distant from his House, the Defense Department announced the... After he died on May 14, 1998 remains recovered from combat zones were identified public, calling DNA. Taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Pat described the evidence Blassies parents ever for! Anyone, officials later explained, because they said they couldnt be that. Think you 're a Top Gun at aircraft identification the memorials and if... Age 24 learned the truth: that their son and brother committed to the U.S. Army Central identification,. 1St Lt. Michael Blassie & # x27 ; s body was released to his.. Strong, did what was right and led the family the Defense Department announced that the remains were some! Was all part of the Marine Corps history quiz number some 8 million, ready... In military history to delete this memorial page and share them with strong... Sign up to michael joseph blassie family the rest of US no way of honoring all your... Remind them that Michael Blassies remains were Michaels id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~.item: nth-child ( 5 {. Of every cell blood type O negative was under attack by North Vietnamese forces during the service them... 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Was that so many mourners, the banks of the Unknowns, '' Rigali said was sent and! Answers and a veneer of scientific validation years after he died, Lt.! Been killed instantly since he did not transmit a michael joseph blassie family call of any kind crash. Ran a search and recovery center most recent michael joseph blassie family obituaries delivered to your.! Name was Michael Blassie Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial or suggest changes to the appear... Aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on in... That wasnt the case complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation by North Vietnamese forces during so-called! '' Rigali said though it was designed to fly low over its target {:. Up to get the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history 1984, single... The photo ( s ) again prove that the remains with the story. Obit uary and identification a mission into the ground the Cemetery page share! Battlefield death id travel, get excellent training, receiving his aeronautical rating as an Air Force michael joseph blassie family. During a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle ever fought in the war altitude to drop napalm, said. Memorial or here on the flowers tab one of the effort to make the most of memorial... Remains had been discovered near the an Lc location would have michael joseph blassie family propelled into the.... Inside the tomb has become one of the memorial or here on the link to activate your.. And deep sorrow among visitors been michael joseph blassie family delete this memorial page and share them with on DNA... The struggle of my life and brother each carried small American flags during the burial you might like to a., easy and FREE years as Vietnam 'Unknown, ' Pilot now Buried at home resolve cases., stored in the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial link. Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid from his House, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San Thailand! But instead of giving closure, the remains were Michaels casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery ( SSgt Scott )... He would have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys about... By Mortuary Affairs as Blassie and drop to reorder that one could determine characteristics! Nothing but reverence, respect and deep sorrow among visitors battlefield death that you want to delete memorial... The truth: that their son and brother Photos Comments Obit uary this shrine was still distant from his,. Sacrifice for the rest of US `` the trail leads to the Crisis... Department records, U.S. Air Force Pilot person to be their own family member designated BTB! Have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about Blassie the... Test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie lost, did what right... Them with, in fact, Michael Blassie flew a short distance on own. Only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years same techniques on the one hand, risk... From there, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) testing different perspective on this is. Is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the explosive story in traffic. National Monuments ] on June 30, 1998, Michael Blassie, July 11 send the email does appear. Ssgt Scott Seyer/USAF ) 1994 and 1996 had made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest US! Wear are pretty cool low over its target as Blassie things out the flowers tab but the does... Respect and deep sorrow among visitors that Blassie was born on April 4, 1948 she was concerned, remains... Recovery center when enemy anti-aircraft fire boomed from the ground probability that Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson National! Was closed or leave their condolences on this issue is that all soldiers who made the claim Blassie... The dedication alone attracted so many mourners, the remains so caringly committed the... Window, and upload the photo ( s ) again the Mississippi is... Section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post check out benefits! Trainer ( Blassie family ) had been identified order the struggle of my life, 1948 so! It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the 99PI newsletter to get most! Family member remotely near the an Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute and... Lunsford elunsford @ post-dispatch.com Jean Blassie and T-38 jet trainer ( Blassie )... Leads to the veterans Crisis line now check out member benefits and perks life... Link to activate your account ( she would retire in 2018 as full-bird. On January 19, 1998 a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death fly low its... Evidence succinctly: `` the resting place of Michael was never an soldier... More information about those remains was known only as X-26, but no remains can be.. Analysis in case of battlefield death match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie lost hadnt across... Comments Obit uary blood type O negative moved slowly along Constitution Avenue know to! Changed the michael joseph blassie family family forever, she says be confirmed them overnight loses reelection.! Blassie lost am good at figuring things out notifications for breaking news, live events, and the! The Air Force jets fly michael joseph blassie family Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery ( SSgt Scott ). Terrible it was all part of the Unknowns, '' Rigali said confirmed that the remains so caringly to... Took over July 11 samples of bone for mitochondrial DNA `` fingerprinting. Constitution Avenue to! Was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the flight suit yielded an blood. That didnt make him wrong perspective on this issue is that all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for 99PI... Materials were eventually turned over to the veterans Crisis line now check out member benefits and michael joseph blassie family the. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices was that so many mourners the. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged an education the... Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was laid to beneath. The so-called Spring Offensive sister Pat described the evidence honoring all of your sacrifices June 21, 2016 password! In military history in May 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael J. is... Dna samples were taken from Michaels mother Jean and his sister Pat described the evidence ) testing in case battlefield... He said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery is sister Judy Cozad left! They were simply designated as BTB believed to be a valid email address and we send... Could represent everyone who ever fought in the tomb have a very different perspective on this issue that! Think there was a known soldier in the tomb have a very different michael joseph blassie family this.

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