NO ONE LEFT BEHIND
NO ONE FORGOTTEN
Jefferson Barracks
POW-MIA Museum
16-18 Hancock Ave., St.Louis, MO 63125
The Museum is Now Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10-2
WHY A POW-MIA MUSEUM?
“While we can debate the rights and wrongs of war, what is not open to debate is what these men and women did for their country. This country called, and they answered that call, and many did not return.
People ask why this is important, it’s important because this country sent men and women into harms way and made them a promise. The promise was that they would be returned and it is a promise made not just by our government and our military, it was a promise made by each individual American. Each one of these men and women were somebody’s father or mother, they were somebody’s brother or sister, they were somebody’s husband or wife. All of us are those mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters. That makes the promise we made to them one husband or wife to another, one mother or father to another, one brother or sister to another, and this is a promise that we’re determined to keep.” – Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command
The Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum will be a part of this promise, a part of that commitment with which we have been entrusted. A commitment through which our fellow Americans will be able to see and understand — a promise made, and a promise kept.
Latest Museum Updates
Remembering Mike and the Blassie Family
On this date May 11th, in 1972 U.S. Air Force Lt. Mike Blassie, call sign “Hawk Zero Two,” went Missing in Action when his A-37 Dragonfly was shot down near An Loc, South Vietnam close to the Cambodian border. It would be almost 6 months before Mike’s remains were recovered. However having been mistakenly reclassified as “Unknown,” from 1984 till 1998 Mike's remains would rest in the Vietnam War Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington representing all of our Missing and Unaccounted For from that conflict.
In 1994 the Blassie Family received evidence that the remains in the Vietnam War Tomb of the Unknown gravesite were very likely Mike’s. Strengthened in knowing that if any one of them were ever lost Mike would move heaven and earth looking for them, the Blassie Family began a 4 year ordeal to identify and bring Mike home.
Finally in May of 1998 through the courage, persistence, and determination of the Blassie Family, the remains in the Vietnam War Tomb of the Unknown were disinterred and DNA testing proved without a doubt that that they were indeed those of Lt. Mike Blassie. Per his mom’s belief that he had been away from home long enough, Mike was brought home to St. Louis, Missouri and on July 11, 1998 was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with full military honors. The Blassie Family had found their son and brother... and brought him home.
Lt. Mike Blassie...
Do not forget, thank you for their sacrifice
Rest in peace. Thank you for your service. God bless.
LT. BLASSIE grave is always so beautiful during December. The Family does a wonderful with the decorations.
God bless the Blassie family… not all Heroes wear uniforms. 🇺🇸
Just went today
🇺🇸🦅 0 2🫡
April 9th is significant in that in 1942 over 76,000 American and Filipino troops were captured when the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines fell to the Japanese during WWII. It was the largest number of Americans ever taken as Prisoners of War. The next day April 10th, the infamous "Bataan Death March” began. In 1988 at the request of former American Prisoners of War, April 9th was formally proclaimed as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
NEVER FORGET
Remembering POW Ralph Mertz, US Army, 75th Ordnance Company, Bataan Death March survivor, died as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese on September 18, 1942. His remains have not yet been recovered. Ralph is the uncle of Tracey Jackson who’s dad, Harold Jackson was a radio operator with the 305th Bomb Group, shot down on the October 14, 1943 Scheinfurt raid (“Black Thursday”) and a Prisoner of War in Stalag 17 B. 🇺🇸 Tracey Jackson
Congratulations to Dixon, IL, on becoming our 53rd JBPMM POW-MIA City (sm).
Dixon recognized as POW/MIA city
www.shawlocal.com
The designation, given by the Jefferson Barracks POW/MIA Museum in Missouri, is reserved for communities that actively honor United States service members who were captured or declared missing in acti...A BIG thank you to IBEW Local 1 Veterans Committee for volunteering their labor and donating materials for this ongoing project.
Electrical Connection Donates Services/Materials To Upgrade Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum |
electricalconnection.org
ST. LOUIS – When the family of Mel “Sandy” Masters came to donate memorabilia to the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum , they discovered a small group of workers doing what they could to honor t...Board of Directors president Paul Dillon was nominated by Joan Althaus (widow of Ex-POW Ralph Althaus, 64th Inf., Battle of the Bulge) to receive a Quilt of Valor. This quilt was designed and made by the St Paul’s Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Also present for the presentation were board members: Amy Bazzell, secretary, and Rich Claspill; and volunteers Christine and Charlie Bernroth Petrotto and Bunny Dillon.
Well deserved! Paul you do an absolutely amazing job and we are all SO thankful for all your hard work.
Outstanding. Beautiful quilt.
Paul, Well deserved by a true patriot.
Great job Paul and congratulations on all the work you've done
Paul is wonderful..,,and deserves this!
Congratulations 🎉 my friend! Well deserved! You know Red is honking that horn!❤️