Reprinted from The Washington Times , 5am -- May 15, 1998
Journey into the unknown
Somber ceremony begins
mission to identify soldier
By Jennifer Harper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
For 14 years, the bone fragments of an American killed in Vietnam were sealed in a casket under 7 tons of granite at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
At Arlington National Cemetery Thursday, the casket stood in the morning sunlight, draped in an American flag, the remains within to be tested for identification.
"If it be your holy will, make known the identity of this unknown Vietnam serviceman and bring peace of mind to an American family," Army chaplain Col. Joseph O'Keefe said during an hourlong disinterment ceremony.
Two weeks ago, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen made the difficult and unprecedented decision to unseal the tomb. The family of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie has offered evidence that the remains are those of Lt. Blassie, who was shot down over Vietnam in 1972.
Members of several families stood opposite the casket, united by the possibility that the remains might be those of a lost son, brother or husband. Defense Department experts have narrowed down the probable identity of the remains to nine missing men.
"It means so much to be here," said Pat Blassie, younger sister of Lt. Blassie. After the solemn ceremony, she was hemmed in by boom microphones and a few pushy journalists who insisted their questions be answered first.
"We believe this is Michael," she continued. "I didn't expect it to be such an emotional time. But Michael represents 2,000 people also missing in action in Vietnam. They are part of this, too."
Steve Amesbury brought his two small sons, Conor and Ryan, to the ceremony that honored the grandfather they never met -- Air Force Maj. Harry Amesbury, who was shot down in his C-130 transport plane over Vietnam in 1972.
"This is the closest I will get to a funeral for my father," Mr. Amesbury said. "It's been 26 years since he's been gone, and some say, 'Just let it go.' I can't. This was my father. You want to know what happened. You want some closure.
"If this is not my father, if it's not possible to identify him, I'll accept that," Mr. Amesbury added.
At the time of his decision, Mr. Cohen said he had to choose between the sanctity of the tomb and honoring America's commitment to identifying fallen soldiers.
"We disturb this hallowed ground with profound reluctance," Mr. Cohen said Thursday to a crowd that included military brass, members of Congress, Vietnam veterans and a phalanx of media kept at bay by uniformed military guards.
"If advances in technology can ease the lingering anguish of even one family, then our path is clear," Mr. Cohen said.
The disinterment ceremony itself, punctuated by the precision of an honor guard and brass band, was brief but poignant. Hundreds of tourists milling about on the manicured grounds below the tomb halted and remained silent for the duration.
The remains were taken by military escort to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. They will be analyzed with DNA testing at an armed forces laboratory in Rockville, Md. Results could take 90 days.
Army historian Tom Sherlock said the actual disinterment took five hours on Wednesday. Workers used a diamond blade to delicately split the seams of the crypt, then dug down 6 feet to reach the casket, which he said was in good condition.
"Everything is back in place now," Mr. Sherlock said.
The decision to open the tomb has uncovered some mixed feelings, however. At least one of the families involved disagrees with the decision, saying it won't change anything. Last week, an American Legion spokesman acknowledged, "It's going to be a real hurt for some people."
Though he was moved by Thursday's ceremony, Thomas Burch of the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition said he is weary of mistaken identities and limited information on America's missing service members.
"Though [the Defense Department] has done the right thing today," he said, "there's still the issue of using the identities and even the remains of armed forces members to achieve political objectives. They have to make more of an effort to get the information to the families."Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
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