Michael Joseph Blassie entered the Air Force Academy in 1966 and received his officer's commission in June 1970. During his tour of duty in Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. He served with distinction and was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters for his meritorious service.
On May 11, 1972, 1Lt Michael J. Blassie was on a ground support mission in Song Be Province, Republic of South Vietnam, when his A-37 Dragonfly came under intense enemy anti-aircraft fire. Another pilot in the flight reported seeing Blassie's aircraft impact the ground near the village of An Loc where it exploded and burned. Enemy activity in the area precluded a recovery attempt at the time of the crash.

Objects on display related to the forensic identification of Michael Blassie

In late October 1972, a South Vietnamese Army patrol recovered a pelvis, upper arm bone, and some ribs, as well as associated material evidence, including personal effects and identification tags for Blassie. The remains, along with the associated materials, were eventually accessioned at the U.S. Army Mortuary at Tan Son Nhut as TSN 0673-72. The remains and material evidence remained with the Central Identification Laboratory in Southeast Asia until they were moved with the laboratory when it returned to Hawaii in 1976.

Given the physical evidence associated with the human remains, they were initially designated "Believed To Be" (BTB) Michael J. Blassie. Scientific analysis of the remains in Hawaii in 1978 suggested that the remains were inconsistent with Blassie's age and height. Based on these findings, the Armed Services Graves Registration Office removed the alleged name association of Michael J. Blassie, consequently re-designating them as unknown remains, X-26.

On May 28, 1984, in an effort to honor all who served in Vietnam, the remains of X-26 were interred as the Vietnam Unknown Soldier and buried with military honors in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Due to advances in DNA technology, the Tomb of the Unknowns was opened and the remains of X-26 were removed for analysis on May 14, 1998. Bone samples from X-26 were taken to AFDIL for mtDNA sequencing. The mtDNA sequences obtained from the bones were compared to reference mtDNA samples from maternal relatives of seven service members who were reported missing near the location where the remains of X-26 were found.

The mtDNA results from X-26 excluded six of the families and matched exactly the two family reference samples submitted by Blassie's mother and sister. On June 22, 1998, the Central Identification Laboratory identified 1Lt Michael J. Blassie using the results of anthropological and mtDNA analyses to the exclusion of all other possibilities.

The remains of 1Lt Michael J. Blassie, escorted by an Air Force honor guard, left the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on July 9, 1998, and began the journey back home to Missouri. On July 11, 1998, he was buried with full military honors in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Click here to visit the virtual exhibit "Naming the Vietnam Unknown: Michael Joseph Blassie Comes Home."