Who is Blassie?

  • Published
  • By Airman John Day
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A rich history exists within the gates of Columbus Air Force Base. Much of that history lies in the buildings, halls, plazas and streets, most of which are named after a distinguished individual.

Building 230, home to the 14th Operations Support Squadron, is dedicated to 1st Lt. Michael J. Blassie.

Blassie was raised with his parents and four siblings in Florissant, a suburb north of St. Louis, Missouri. Upon graduation from St. Louis University High School in 1966, he enrolled in the Air Force Academy and received his officer's commission in June 1970.

He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training right here at Columbus AFB and graduated with Class 72-02, receiving his aeronautical rating as a pilot in 1971. Shortly after, Blassie qualified on the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly.

During his first and only deployment to Vietnam, he served with the 8th Special Operations Squadron. On May 11, 1972, Blassie was killed when his aircraft was shot down near An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon.

His aircraft was found by a South Vietnamese Army patrol five months after his death. Recovered were his remains and parts of his flight suit. The body was initially identified as Blassie, but was later determined to not be him based on projected age and height.

The body was buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

His family, unaware of Blassie's location, received word that his body might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns. They petitioned for the tomb to be opened to discover if Blassie was buried there. In 1998, the tomb was opened and the remains classified as X-26 were analyzed again with advanced technology and identified as Blassie's.

His remains were sent back to St. Louis to be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. During the military ceremony, a formation of four F-15 jets flew overhead and one of the four broke away in the traditional "missing man" salute.

Many friends, relatives and veterans attended the funeral to pay their final respects. All four of his siblings spoke at the funeral.

"He was strong, he was fearless, and he loved what he was doing," said his sister, Patricia Blassie. "He was the heart, the soul and the spirit that is America."

The grave marker at Arlington was replaced with one that read, "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen."