Dear Mr. Surles

Thank you for your letter to President Clinton Concerning the award of the Medal of Honor to the late First Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie, United States Air Force. As you might imagine, the President is unable to respond to each and every inquiry he receives. Accordingly, his staff provided your letter to the Department of the Air Force for response.

The Blassie family previously requested the Department of the Air Force award Lieutenant Blassie the Medal of Honor (MOH) which was awarded to the Tomb of the Unknown. The Air Force posthumously recognized Lieutenant Blassie for his combat tour in the Republic of Vietnam with the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. After considerable review, the Acting Secretary of the Air Force determined that the valorous decorations awarded to Lieutenant Blassie in recognition for his combat tour in Vietnam were appropriate. The Acting Secretary of the Air Force made his recommendation to the Secretary of Defense, who, with his most senior officials, carefully reviewed the Blassie family's request, and determined that the Air Force does not have the authority to transfer the MOH awarded to the Vietnam Unknown to Lieutenant Blassie.

On My 25, 1984, Congress enacted specific legislation authorizing the award of the MOH to "the unknown American who lost his life while serving in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam era" selected to lie buried in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. This law closely mirrors similar statutes authorizing the award of MOHs to honor American service members who lost their lives during WWI, WWII, and Korean conflict. The language of these laws and their legislative histories reflect that Congress' intent was to authorize the MOH as a symbolic award to the Unknowns to represent all service members who lost their lives in these conflicts. Our review of the language and hostory of the 1984 law indicates that Congress' intent for the MOH awarded to the Vietnam Unknown buried at Arlington was also symbolic, rather than personal to any individual service member.

The Air Force intends to keep the Vietnam Unknown MOH on display at Arlington National Cemetery as a tribute to all, who, like Leiutenant Blassie, unselfishly gave their lives in service to our nation during the Vietnam conflict. We trust this information is helpful.

Sincerely

(signed)

JEFFERY A. RAMMES, Major, USAFChief,
White House Inquiry Branch
Office of Legislative Liaison