The Unknown of Vietnam

The Unknown of Vietnam

The designation of the Vietnam Unknown has proven to be difficult. With improvements in DNA testing it is possible, though unlikely, that the recovered remains for every unknown soldier killed in the Vietnam War will be identified.

The Vietnam Unknown service member was designated by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr., during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, May 17, 1984.

The Vietnam Unknown was transported aboard the guided missile frigate USS Brewton (FF-1086) to Naval Air Station Alameda, California. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base, California, May 24. The Vietnam Unknown arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, the next day.

The Tomb guards stood at death watch for the entire day as thousands of people braved the dreary weather to pay their respects.

The presidential wreath was brought forward toward President Reagan during the interment ceremony for the Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Era at the Tomb of the Unknowns on May 28, 1984.

Many Vietnam veterans and President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan visited the Vietnam Unknown in the U.S. Capitol. An Army caisson carried the Vietnam Unknown from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984.

President Reagan presided over the funeral, and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown, and also acted as next of kin by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony. The interment flags of all Unknowns at the Tomb of the Unknowns are on view in the Memorial Display Room.

Identification of the Unknown

In 1994, Ted Sampley, a POW/MIA activist, determined that the remains of the Vietnam Unknown were likely those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down near An L c, Vietnam, in 1972. Sampley published an article in his newsletter and contacted Blassie's family, who attempted to pursue the case with the Air Force's casualty office without result. In January 1998 CBS News broadcast a report based on Sampley's investigation which brought political pressure to support the identification of the remains. ^[16] The body was exhumed on May 14, 1998. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists confirmed the remains were those of Blassie. The identification was announced on June 30, 1998, and on July 10, Blassie's remains arrived home to his family in St. Louis, Missouri; he was reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on July 11. ^[17] [nb 4]

Redesignation of the crypt

The slab over the crypt that once held the remains of the Vietnam Unknown has since been replaced. The original inscription of "Vietnam" and the dates of the conflict has been changed to "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen." as a reminder of the commitment of the Armed Forces to fullest possible accounting of missing service members.



Information About The Original Interment Of The Vietnam Unknown

Photo Coverage Of The Vietnam Unknown Exhumation: May 14, 1998

Vietnam Unknown Crypt Is Rededicated: 17 September 1999
Honoring and Keeping Faith With America's Missing Servicemen - September 1999
Uncovering The Mystery of the Vietnam Unknown: 30 June 1999
Vietnam Unknown Crypt To Remain Empty Says Defense Department: 17 June 1999
 An Empty Tomb Haunts Arlington National Cemetery - February 1999
 Tomb of Vietnam Unknown May Remain Empty - February 1999
Medal of Honor Won't Go To Blassie Family - August 22, 1998
Pentagon Reviews Medal of Honor Request By Family: August 19, 1998
Pentagon Reportedly Opposes Medal of Honor For Michael Blassie - August 18, 1998
Blassie's Family Seeks To Keep Medal of Honor: 9 August 1998
Veterans Groups Oppose Medal of Honor For Blassie - August 8, 1998
Michael Blassie Still A Symbol - July 15, 1998
A Letter About The Vietnam Unknown - July 14, 1998
A Stream Of Proud Visitors To Michael Blassie's Gravesite - July 13, 1998
Lieutenant Blassie Buried With Earth From Arlington National Cemetery - July 11, 1998
Lieutenant Blassie Buried In His Hometown - July 11, 1998
Lieutenant Blassie To Be Buried In Hometown - July 11, 1998
No Longer Unknown, A Soldier Comes Home: July 10, 1998
The Body of Lieutenant Michael Blassie Comes Home - July 10, 1998
Tomb Guard Feels A Bond With Blassie - July 7, 1998
Tomb of the Unknowns May Remain Sealed - July 1, 1998
Vietnam Unknown Coming Home At Last - July 1, 1998
Statement By Defense Secretary William Cohen: June 30, 1998
Blassie Remembered By Comrades - June 30, 1998
St. Louis Native's Remains Were In The Tomb - June 30, 1998
Remains of Vietnam Unknown Are Identified - June 30, 1998
Unknown Soldier Is Identified - June 29, 1998
Remains Identified As Michael Blassie - June 29, 1998
DOD Scientists Draw Good DNA Sample From Unknown - June 16, 1998
Promising DNA Sample Recovered From Remains - June 12, 1998
Tomb of the Unknowns Opened With Solemn Hope - Washington Post - May 15, 1998
Families Face Emotional Trial - May 14, 1998
Vietnam Unknown Is Exhumed - Reuters, May 14, 1998
Vietnam Unknown Is Exhumed - CBS News - May 14, 1998
Vietnam Unknown Exhumation Begins - Associated Press, May 13, 1998
Tests Planned For Vietnam Unknown - Associated Press, May 12, 1998
Strobridge's Voyage Through Life - Associated Press, May 9, 1998
Will Blassie's Remains Be Identified? - Associated Press, May 9, 1998
Cohen Orders Exhumation Of Vietnam Unknown - Washington Post - May 8, 1998
Unknown Remains To Be Exhumed On May 14, 1998 - CBS News - May 8, 1998
Family Pleased With Decision To Exhume Unknown - St. Louis Post Dispatch - May 1998
How Unknown Remains Will Be Exhumed - Associated Press - May 8, 1998
Vietnam Unknown To Be Exhumed - CBS News, May 7, 1998
Defense Secretary Orders Vietnam Unknown Exhumed - AP, May 7, 1998
Defense Secretary Announces Vietnam Unknown Decision - DOD, May 7, 1998
Department of Defense Briefing Re: Vietnam Unknown Exhumation: May 7, 1998
Laying To Rest The Last Unknown Soldier - The New York Times, May 3, 1998
Pentagon Makes A Case For Reopening The Tomb - New York Times: 4-28-98
National Public Radio Coverage Of The Controversy - April 1998
Panel Recommends Disinterment - American Forces Press Service - 4-28-98
Department of Defense Background Briefing: April 27, 1998
Department of Defense News Briefing - April 27, 1998
Pentagon Officials Recommend Opening The Tomb - CBS News - 4-27-98
Pentagon Wants To Test Remains - Associated Press : 4-27-98
Officials Close To A Decision - CBS News - 8 April 1998
A Decision About Disinterment Is Near - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 8 April 1998
Dispute Over Tomb Pits Policy Against Heart - February 15, 1998
A Name For The Unknown? - February 5, 1998
Missouri Senators Want Answers - January 22, 1998
Airman's Family Ponders Mystery - 22 January 1998
Editorial: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - January 22, 1998
Pilot Remembered In His Hometown - January 22, 1998
The Last Unknown Soldier? (Courtesy of Time Magazine, January 1998)
Pentagon Mulls Tomb of the Unknowns Mystery - 21 January 1998
Missouri Politicians Demand Answers From Pentagon - January 21, 1998
St. Louis Pilot May Be The Vietnam 'Unknown' - January 21, 1998
Vietnam Unknown May Be Air Force Pilot - 20 Jan 1998
Unknown Vietnam Vet May Be Known After All - 20 January 1998
Pentagon Dealing With Possibility That Vietnam Unknown Was Known
Some Military Officials May Have Know Vietnam Unknown Was Not Unknown