They interviewed Parnell, by then a retired Colonel living in Florida. Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. 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. Jean Blassie, center, mother of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, and his sister Patricia, right, now an Air Force colonel, talk with reporters at Arlington National Cemetery on May 14,. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. When Britain dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 1920, it garnered a lot of attention. 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. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. More disturbingly, they also suggested a concerted effort to conceal any links between Blassie and the remains. The unknowns from World War I and World War II are another story for now, but anything is possible. She attended Wellston High School but left after three years to work as a nurses aide at DePaul Hospital. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. 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. That crypt would remain empty for over a decade. Thanks to improved forensics, there will likely never be an unknown from Iraq or Afghanistan or any future war. 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. 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. He was constantly researching, protesting, and pressuring the Pentagon to resolve open cases. I didnt even know how to go about college. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. 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. 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 Veteran Dispatch in 1994 and 1996 had made the claim that Blassie was the Unknown, drawing on Defense Department records. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. A 1970 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Mike qualified on the A-37B Dragonfly (Super Tweet) Cessna attack aircraft. It represents all soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. They may have received last rights, families informed, etc, but the rest of us know little about those individuals. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie's remains. The soldiers anonymity would allow each person who came to the grave to project whatever was most important to them onto the mystery. Blassie's unidentified remains were designated as the Vietnam Unknown service member by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. When they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon. The recruiters said if I joined the Air Force, Id travel, get excellent training,and an education. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. . #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { "This has meant so much to us. 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. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. 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. When it came to tracking MIAs, Sampley was shrewd and tireless. 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. They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. 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. As far as she was concerned, the case was closed. (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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Resend Activation Email. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with . On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Its one of the reasons the tomb has become one of the Washington D.C. areas biggest tourist attractions. In 1991 the Department of Defense founded the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL). Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. That destiny was already in motion. 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. 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. He was convinced the government wasnt telling veterans everything it knew, and he was calling Patricia Blassie with an outlandish theory about Michaels death. This account has been disabled. There, a plaque holds words from the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow this ground. } The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. Im curious how the remains werent identifiable as Michael Blassie if he was the only remaining unidentified serviceman from the war. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Parnell soon turned the remains over to the Saigon mortuary, along with the ID card and other items. display: block; It turns out that, unlike previous wars, the Vietnam War didnt produce many Unknowns. For decades, the United States has honored its wartime dead by designating for burial at Arlington National Cemetery an unknown soldier, one whose anonymous tomb represents all the dead comrades and honors all their deeds. Thats when a Vietnam veteran and former Green Beret named Ted Sampley called Patricias mother out of the blue. I think that barring a complete abolition of war, this is a small consolation. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! 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. On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. Then, in January 1972, he joined the 8th Special Operations Squadron of the 377th Air Base Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Michael Joseph Blassie (1948 - 1972) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days How do we create a person's profile? Please enter valid email address to continue. It was his 138th combat mission. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? Love each and every podcast . 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. Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid. i . Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Armed with the documents, he teamed up with veteran CBS correspondent, Eric Engberg. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. The discovery of personal effects at the crash site should have converted Michael Blassie from a Vietnam MIA to a KIA, closing his case. My parents marriage did not survive. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . Mike always knew what he wanted, I didnt. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). They married in 1947 and had five children. But not all remains can be identified with such methods. 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. The first time, he was killed, his aircraft shot down while flying a mission during the Vietnam War in 1972. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. That just couldnt be. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. While supplies last, you can get an author-signed 99% Invisible uses cookies to help improve your user experience. That simple, tragic explanation would be the only one that Blassies parents ever heard for 26 years. From a computer genius to a popular sitcom star, talented women have made their mark in the U.S. military. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . 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.. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. Everyone was free to mourn in their own way. Unidentified remains from that war had been analyzed over a decade and a half. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. She suffered a stroke in 2004 and recently was diagnosed with pneumonia, her family said Thursday. Year should not be greater than current year. 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". The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery attempt. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. By the time the package arrived in Hawaii, the wallet and ID were missing, presumed stolen during storage or transit. In my 17-year-old mind, that sounded like a good deal.. 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 . Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Failed to remove flower. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Feel free to, By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read the, The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, I thought this is the best example of internet conspiracy garbage Ive seen to date,. Between Blassie and the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the ran. Recovery center and when they came back, they handed Michael Blassies remains toCalhoon review the memorials and decide they! For burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis one that parents... Sounded like a good deal id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { `` this has meant so much to us rescue. 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