Memorial Day

Remembrance

Jefferson Barracks National

Cemetery

The Service Academies conduct this ceremony for all who

have died of all ranks in the service of our country. We also honor alumni who have died in the past year and those from

the area who have died on duty this past year.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Ten O’Clock

Ceremony

WELCOME Mike Carnes ´74 Cdr. USN Ret’d PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS U S Naval Sea Cadet Corps NATIONAL ANTHEM Sherry Gerain, VFW Post 3944

OPENING REMARKS Craig Galloway ´75, Capt. USN Ret’d

INVOCATION Deacon Richard Renard, Former Marine

HOMETOWN FALLEN HEROES Maj Jason Frei ´94 USMC Ret’d Jack Senneff ´96 USMA Mike Carnes ´74 USNA Kirk McDonald ´90 USAFA

Cpl. Aaron Ripperda Spc. Sterling Wyatt Pfc. Richard Mc Nulty III USMC US Army US Army

CAPT Brandon Cyr US Air Force

1st

Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie

1st Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie of Florissant, MO, a 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, served in the Vietnam War and flew 130 missions with the 8th Special Operations Squadron. He was hit by ground fire, crashed, and killed on May 11, 1972 while piloting his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft in the vicinity of An Loc, in South Vietnam – 60 miles north of Saigon. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknown Soldier as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. After petitioning the United Sates Government, his family had his body exhumed and tested. DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. After 14 years in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, his remains were identified by DNA testing and moved to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1998.

The floral wreath laid at 1LT Blassie’s grave provided by:

U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, Gateway Chapter

Chief Petty Officer

Sean Patrick Sullivan USN

On 19 July 2012 a MH-53-E Sea Dragon Helicopter crashed while conducting heavy lift support operations near Muscat, Oman. He and a second member of a crew of six did not survive. This fourth generation sailor is interred in Section 1P site 121. During his career he was twice assigned to Squadron HM-15, the “Blackhawks”. They remember him as “a great leader”. His personal awards include Navy Air Medal with three Strike Flight Awards.

Band of Brothers D-Day

Comments: Gary Gilliam, Veteran of 2/506th

/101st

E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne 4 June 1944

En-route to an invasion drop: Seventeen Paratroopers, five air-crew and a load of lethal Bangalore torpedoes. They were hit by enemy fire and crashed at 01:12 hours on D Day in Normandy, France. Most individual remains could not be identified so they were first interred in a common grave there. In 1951 they were returned here and marked with the flat marker above. Those who are familiar with the book and the award-winning TV series will recognize some of the names.

“Hell Ships” Mass Grave

The remains of 100 POWS and Civilians from the United States and other countries are interred here. Ceremonies are held here to honor American, Australian, British and Dutch personnel who were transported from Manila to Japan aboard Hell Ship Oryoko Maru, one of several small freighters utilized for moving prisoners. Almost 75% died en route. More died in the prison camps. These men were brought to this central location in 1949 for us to honor.

These men were serving in the Philippines when the war started. As survivors of the Battaan Death March and later imprisonment, their heroism and dedication to duty was exceptional. The wreath presented memorializes there service

Commander Brooks was Captain of PC-7 at Luzon. He was captured in May ’42 after the falloff the Philippines. Lt. Hamilton was Engineering Officer of the fuel starved DD-228. He was severely injured in an air attack and hospitalized. He was captured there.

The Navy Wreath from the USNA Alumni bears ribbons for Alumni who died during the past year and graduates buried here. Sailors who died on duty who

were buried here this year are also honored.

Palawan Mass Grave and its

Marines

The final defense of Corregidor, the Rock at the entrance to Manila Harbor, was the assignment of the 4

th Marines

supplemented by soldiers and sailors who were integrated into that unit. When that defense was defeated the 4

th Marines ceased to exist. These men

were captured and formed the nucleus of Palawan prisoners of war.

Plaque at Jefferson Barracks The remains interred here in 1952 are from all

three services. When we learned of uncommon courage through gruesome treatment followed by the infamous massacre monuments were erected and the 4

th Marines

were cited by both countries. The Bronze Plaque here was added to the original large stone marker because of its unique historical significance.

Palawan Mass Grave

On 14 December 1944, 150 American POW's held on Palawan Island were herded into air raid shelters after the Japanese sighted an American invasion fleet they mistakenly thought was headed for Palawan. Japanese soldiers doused the wooden shelters with gasoline and set them on fire. The

Japanese soldiers then killed any prisoners Monument on Palawan who tried to flee the burning building. Most Americans never made it out alive, but a few succeeded in killing several armed Japanese in hand-to-hand combat. 139 men Marines, Soldiers and some Sailors, died that day. 11 survived by hiding and swimming to safety after night fall. After the war, the Japanese commander and some subordinates were executed for their war crimes. On 14 February, 1952, 123 of the murdered men were buried in Section 85, the largest group burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

The wreath laid at the Palawan Mass Grave provided by: VFW Ladies Auxiliary ,Post 2593

We thank the volunteers who participate in this ceremony.