This chapter follows the investigation into the identity of the Vietnam Unknown buried in the tomb of the unknowns, as doubts and suspicions arise. Through diligent research and the discovery of military documents, the truth starts to emerge about Michael Blasey and the government's knowledge of his remains. It also explores the pressure to place a veteran from Vietnam in the tomb for political reasons, leading to the burial of Michael Blasey despite concerns about his identification.
Roman note: This is one of my favorite episodes of all time. Should be a movie. Enjoy!
The tradition of the Tomb of the Unknowns goes back only about a century, but it has become one of the most solemn and reverential monuments. When President Reagan added the remains of an unknown serviceman who died in combat in Vietnam to the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in 1984, it was the only set of remains that couldn’t be identified from the war. Now, thankfully, there will never likely be a soldier who dies in battle whose body can’t be identified. And as a result of DNA technology, even the unknowns currently interred in the tomb can be positively identified.
The Known Unknown