1st Lt. Michael Blassie was a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. On May 11, 1972, he was the pilot of a Cessna Dragonfly Attack Aircraft (A-37A) on a mission near An Loc, South Vietnam, when his aircraft was hit by hostile fire, crashed and exploded. His remains were recovered on November 2, 1972 and identified on July 8, 1998. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. For a time, Blassie's remains were designated as the "unknown" service member from the Vietnam War and interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on May 28, 1984. In 1998, his family secured permission to have his remains disinterred for DNA testing with the hope of Identifying the remains as that of 1st Lt. Blassie. In June 1998 the Department of Defense announced that the remains were indeed Blassie's. Later that summer, he was re-interred in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Following the removal of Blassie's remains from the Tomb of the Unknowns, the marker at Arlington was replaced with one that read "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen."
-Information provided by the American Battle Monuments Commission

More information:

https://www.military.com/history/air-force-1st-lt-michael-blassie.html

https://www.vvmf.org/stories/Michael-Blassie/

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Michael Joseph Blassie lived in Florissant, Missouri. His interests included school, music, sports and strong civic engagement. At the age of 22 he became a soldier in the Air Force. Blassie made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War in a combat mission. The National Library of Medicine states, “ Michael Blassie, a decorated Air Force pilot, was shot down in his A- 37B dragonfly near An Loc, South Vietnam, on May 11, 1972. During his 138th combat mission, his aircraft explotting i enemy-held territory.” This evidence demonstrates strength and bravery by risking his life for the war and his country. In conclusion, honoring Michael Joseph Blassie’s legacy is justified by his military service in the Vietnam war, his distinguished service medals, and the eventual identification of his remains, which were initially buried at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
Before becoming a soldier, Michael was the oldest child out of five. He graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1948 then joined the AirForce where he “fell in love with flying.” Michael entered the Air Force Academy in 1966 and received his Officer's Commission in 1970. During a tour of Vietnam, he was a member of the 8th special operations squadron. Michael was awarded the silver star for his bravery in action. His actions were instrumental in helping friendly forces maintain their positions and successfully defend the town of An Loc.
Blassie deployed to Vietnam in 1972, serving the 8th special operations squadron, 377th Air base wing, 7th Air Force. May 11 1972, during his 132nd combat mission, Blassie’s aircraft was hit by ground fire near An Loc. His plane went into an inverted nosedive and exploded. Michael Joseph Blassie was shot down and killed while piloting an A-37B dragonfly aircraft in South Vietnam. Blassie went missing after the attack, and in 1998 they found his remains.  Blassie was then disinterred from Arlington National Cemetery in 2014. 

Due to Blassie’s bravery during the Vietnam war he received a Silver Star for gallantry and actions against a hostile force during an air mission. Blassie also received the distinguished Flying Cross, for the extraordinary achievement in aerial flight and a Purple Heart, for his actions and service; including being shot down and killed. Michael Joseph Blassie is important to remember because his story also highlights the importance of honoring all fallen service members, even those initially buried as “unknown.”

MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE

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