VIEW ALL PHOTOS (5)
HONORED ON PANEL 1W, LINE 23 OF THE WALL
MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
WALL NAME
MICHAEL J BLASSIE
PANEL / LINE
1W/23
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
POSTED ON 1.27.2003
POSTED BY: USAFA AOG
U.S. Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
Association of Graduates
POSTED ON 6.18.2001
POSTED BY: CLAY MARSTON
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THIS FINE YOUNG AIR FORCE PILOT<<<<<>>>>>WHOSE NAME SHALL LIVE FOREVER MORE
1ST LIEUTENANT
MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
8TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON
ON MAY 11, 1972
AT ABOUT DAWN, AS ENEMY TANKS CLOSED IN ON AN LOC's DEFENDERS,
THE KLAXON HORN SOUNDED, SUMMONING MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
AND THEN-MAJOR JAMES CONNALLY, THE FLIGHT LEADER, TO THEIR
OLIVE-DRAB A37 ' DRAGONFLY ' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.
ONCE IN THE AIR, OVER AN LOC, ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON,
THEY BEGAN TO SWOOP DOWN OVER THEIR ENEMY TARGETS TO BEGIN
THEIR BOMBING RUNS AND EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
SUDDENLY, THOUGH, LT BLASSIE's JET BEGAN TO TRAIL WHITE VAPOR
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY ONE WING APPEARED TO TEAR AWAY FROM
THE FUSELAGE. THE A37 BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND DOVE DOWN
TO THE GROUND WHERE IT PLUNGED INTO A THICK STAND OF JUNGLE,
KICKING UP A CLOUD OF SMOKE AND DEBRIS. CONNALLY DETERMINED
THAT ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE FROM THE VICINITY HAD CAUSED THE WING
ON LT BLASSIE's AIRCRAFT TO BE BLOWN AWAY CAUSING HIS DEATH.
His Commanding Officer, COLONEL MEL LEDBETTER, later said about him-
"Mike was a natural. He was just calm and tough
and very level-headed in everything he did".
1ST LIEUTENANT
MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
WAS A GRADUATE OF THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
AT COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
IN THE CLASS OF 1970
UPON HIS GRADUATION HE WENT TO
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI
FOR HIS FLIGHT TRAINING
HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED
THE SILVER STAR
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
THE AIR MEDAL with 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS
THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL
****************************************************************
From MAY 28, 1984 until MAY 14, 1998
he was interred in
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
as the Vietnam War
UNKNOWN SOLDIER
****************************************************************
"He was a mentor. He was a hero. He deserves to be known".
"Today was a significant day for us. This has meant so much to us".
"We believe Michael would have been proud
of how we pulled together to bring him home".
From a statement by his brother, GEORGE BLASSIE, before the
funeral on July 11, 1998, at JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY
To view images of his gravesite,
please go to.....
www.findagrave.com/photos/4245.html
MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
8TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON
ON MAY 11, 1972
AT ABOUT DAWN, AS ENEMY TANKS CLOSED IN ON AN LOC's DEFENDERS,
THE KLAXON HORN SOUNDED, SUMMONING MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
AND THEN-MAJOR JAMES CONNALLY, THE FLIGHT LEADER, TO THEIR
OLIVE-DRAB A37 ' DRAGONFLY ' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.
ONCE IN THE AIR, OVER AN LOC, ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON,
THEY BEGAN TO SWOOP DOWN OVER THEIR ENEMY TARGETS TO BEGIN
THEIR BOMBING RUNS AND EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
SUDDENLY, THOUGH, LT BLASSIE's JET BEGAN TO TRAIL WHITE VAPOR
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY ONE WING APPEARED TO TEAR AWAY FROM
THE FUSELAGE. THE A37 BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND DOVE DOWN
TO THE GROUND WHERE IT PLUNGED INTO A THICK STAND OF JUNGLE,
KICKING UP A CLOUD OF SMOKE AND DEBRIS. CONNALLY DETERMINED
THAT ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE FROM THE VICINITY HAD CAUSED THE WING
ON LT BLASSIE's AIRCRAFT TO BE BLOWN AWAY CAUSING HIS DEATH.
His Commanding Officer, COLONEL MEL LEDBETTER, later said about him-
"Mike was a natural. He was just calm and tough
and very level-headed in everything he did".
1ST LIEUTENANT
MICHAEL JOSEPH BLASSIE
WAS A GRADUATE OF THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
AT COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
IN THE CLASS OF 1970
UPON HIS GRADUATION HE WENT TO
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI
FOR HIS FLIGHT TRAINING
HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED
THE SILVER STAR
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
THE AIR MEDAL with 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS
THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL
****************************************************************
From MAY 28, 1984 until MAY 14, 1998
he was interred in
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
as the Vietnam War
UNKNOWN SOLDIER
****************************************************************
"He was a mentor. He was a hero. He deserves to be known".
"Today was a significant day for us. This has meant so much to us".
"We believe Michael would have been proud
of how we pulled together to bring him home".
From a statement by his brother, GEORGE BLASSIE, before the
funeral on July 11, 1998, at JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY
To view images of his gravesite,
please go to.....
www.findagrave.com/photos/4245.html
POSTED ON 1.1.2001
POSTED BY: robert friend
Less We Forget
In remembrance of this fine young man, american, and Air Force pilot.....LESS WE FORGET...may your family find peace,with love from a greatful nation, Robert A. Friend.
