The remains stayed at the Tomb of the Unknowns until 1998.
All along, there was the thought that the remains may have been those of Michael Blassie. A CBS news report in January 1998 claimed it was Blassie. His family secured permission and Blassie was exhumed on May 14, 1998.
DNA testing proved the remains were his.
On July 10, 1998, the remains were sent to St. Louis and reinterred at Jefferson Barracks national Cemetery. The Medal of Honor, however, was not transferred.
From Find-A-Grave: The grave is in plot section 85, Site 1.
Showing posts with label Michael Joseph Blassie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Joseph Blassie. Show all posts
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Michael Joseph Blassie (Formerly the Unknown Vietnam War Soldier)-- Part 2
This change to unknown classification came about because of discrepancies with the age and height of the remains.
The remains were designated as unknown service member from the Vietnam War on May 17, 1984 at Pearl Harbor and the remains transported to California and then to Washington, D.C. where it lay in state at the Capitol and was viewed by Vietnam War veterans, dignitaries and President and Mrs. Reagan.
An Army caisson carried the remains to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on May 28, 1984 where President Reagan presided at the funeral and presented the medal of Honor to the Unknown Vietnam Veteran. The president acted as next-of-kin and accepted the internment flag at the end of the ceremony.
The remains were designated as unknown service member from the Vietnam War on May 17, 1984 at Pearl Harbor and the remains transported to California and then to Washington, D.C. where it lay in state at the Capitol and was viewed by Vietnam War veterans, dignitaries and President and Mrs. Reagan.
An Army caisson carried the remains to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on May 28, 1984 where President Reagan presided at the funeral and presented the medal of Honor to the Unknown Vietnam Veteran. The president acted as next-of-kin and accepted the internment flag at the end of the ceremony.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Michael Joseph Blassie (Formerly the Vietnam Unknown Soldier)--- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948-May 11, 1972) US Air Force officer. Prior to his identification, he was known as the Unknown service member from the Vietnam War and buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
He graduated from St. Louis University High School and the USAF Academy in in 1970. Served in the Air Force 8th Special Operations Squadron and was killed when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Loc, South Vietnam.
Five months later, partial skeletal remains were retrieved from the area and identified as those of Blassie, but further investigation at the time suggested it wasn't, so they were classified as unknown.
More to Come.
Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948-May 11, 1972) US Air Force officer. Prior to his identification, he was known as the Unknown service member from the Vietnam War and buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
He graduated from St. Louis University High School and the USAF Academy in in 1970. Served in the Air Force 8th Special Operations Squadron and was killed when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Loc, South Vietnam.
Five months later, partial skeletal remains were retrieved from the area and identified as those of Blassie, but further investigation at the time suggested it wasn't, so they were classified as unknown.
More to Come.
Arlington National Cemetery's 150th-- Part 4: "Flags-In"
7. There may never be another addition to the Tomb of the Unknown. There are 5,000 unknown, unidentified remains including from World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
A Vietnam unknown interred in 1984 had his remains exhumed in 1998 and was positively identified as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie who was then reinterred at a military cemetery in Missouri.
Advantages and improvements on DNA study have made identification much easier.
8. Soldiers have planted flags in front of every tombstone on Memorial Day weekend ever since 1948. Members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Army's official ceremonial unit known as the "Old Guard" do it with the help of military volunteers. In 2012, 1700 soldiers participated in the even, referred to as "Flags-In."
Flags are placed precisely one foot and centered in front of the tombstones. They planted approximately 220,000 flags on Thursday and removed them on Sunday.
So, Now You Know.
A Vietnam unknown interred in 1984 had his remains exhumed in 1998 and was positively identified as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie who was then reinterred at a military cemetery in Missouri.
Advantages and improvements on DNA study have made identification much easier.
8. Soldiers have planted flags in front of every tombstone on Memorial Day weekend ever since 1948. Members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Army's official ceremonial unit known as the "Old Guard" do it with the help of military volunteers. In 2012, 1700 soldiers participated in the even, referred to as "Flags-In."
Flags are placed precisely one foot and centered in front of the tombstones. They planted approximately 220,000 flags on Thursday and removed them on Sunday.
So, Now You Know.
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