"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier"

[Mitch]

It never occured to me that there is no longer a soldier from the Vietnam era interred there.


An unidentified soldier from Vietnam was added in 1984, but his body was exhumed in 1998 and identified through DNA testing as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. Blassie's remains were returned to his family in Missouri, and the Vietnam crypt remains empty.

Apparently, DNA testing has made finding an unknown virtually impossible.

The crypt, which once held the remains of the Vietnam Unknown, has been replaced. The original inscription of "Vietnam" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknowns#The_Unknown_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.

I have been to the Tomb three times in my life - which equates to the number of times I have been in the DC area longer than just passing through. If & when I get a chance to go up there again, I will make a fourth visit.

[alfromcolorado]

It never occured to me that there is no longer a soldier from the Vietnam era interred there.




Apparently, DNA testing has made finding an unknown virtually impossible.



I have been to the Tomb three times in my life - which equates to the number of times I have been in the DC area longer than just passing through. If & when I get a chance to go up there again, I will make a fourth visit.

I go there on occasion since my father is buried there too. Arlington has a lot of interesting things to see.

DC does suck though, doesn't it?

[Costa]

I try to make a yearly pilgrimage as my father is buried there too.