You need a Find a Grave account to continue. You can watch his conversation with Colonel Patricia Blassie on A Veterans Story on the VBCs YouTube channel, youtube.com/veteransbreakfastclub. US air power was used extensively in defense of the city and five aircraft were lost that day: A-37B-1st Lt Michael J Blassie, 8th SOS, O-2A-Capt, Barry K Allmond, 21st TASS, O-2A, 1st Lt John H Haselton, 21st TASS, AH-1G Cpt . The US Air Force responded with aerial counterattacks. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Michael, after all, was her first born. CBS Evening News went public with the explosive story in a broadcast on January 19, 1998. He was unknown no more because of the determination of his mother and siblings. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). In: Spitz, W.U. When family members received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown, they petitioned the Department of Defense to open the site and conduct previously unavailable DNA testing. I thought this is the best example of internet conspiracy garbage Ive seen to date, says Vince Gonzales, a reporter for CBS Denver who came across the story three years later in 1997. Search above to list available cemeteries. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, 24, was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972 and presumed dead. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now It was a South Vietnamese Army patrol that scoured the crash site and came back with six bone fragments, a Beacon radio, two compasses, an American flag, a parachute, remnants of a pistol holder, a one-man life raft, fragments of a flight suit, a wallet with family pictures, and an ID that read: 1st Lt. Blassie, Michael Joseph., Air Force equipment found with Michael Blassie: dog tag chain fragment, signal marker pouch, match holder, parachute survival guide, and ammunition pouch (Blassie family). They brought him home for burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. He told her that he had been researching who was shot down on the date of Michaels death and he believed that her brothers remains were in the Tomb of the Unknowns. Michael was no longer Unknown. On July 10, Blassie's remains arrived home to his family in Saint Louis, Missouri and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Major James Connally, Blassies flight commander, described the tragic incident in a letter to Michaels parents: Mikes plane was hit and began streaming fuel. Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 May 11, 1972) was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. Blassie died when his A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Lc in what was then South Vietnam. An Army band played mournfully while 21-gun salutes cracked in the distance. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. They denied it. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In the early 1990s, Blassie's family received word that his remains might be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. Blassie was buried Saturday with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. In my 17-year-old mind, that sounded like a good deal.. The bones were taken to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where officials said they were "believed to be" those of Blassie. A funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant. All rights reserved. Secretary of Defense William Cohen was on hand for the somber burial. She permitted Vince Gonzalez to access a trove of new documents through the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the selection and entombment of the Vietnam Unknowns remains. Please reset your password. The Blassies went public, calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains were Michaels. What is the music played at the end of this podcast? They saw the identification of Michaels remains as a loss for them. . Her father died in a traffic accident when she was 9 or 10. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Members of Blassie's family could not be reached immediately for comment yesterday. The body will be cremated and her remains buried at Calvary Cemetery with her parents and grandparents. Post-Dispatch file photo, Workers cover the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 13, 1998, in anticipation of the exhumation of the remains of the Vietnam unknown. And so it would have remained if a rookie CBS reporter named Vince Gonzalez hadnt run across Sampleys article about Blassie on the Internet. World War II, Korea, and Vietnam each would get their own Unknown. On July 10, Blassie's remains were transported to his family in St. Louis, and were later reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. This account has been disabled. With the conflicting information between the forensic analysis and the physical evidence, the remains were designated as "Unknown" and assigned the number "X-26.". 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story" The Easter Offensive was the largest and most conventional ground invasion of the Vietnam War. He had been shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972.. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! On the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he might condemn Blassies remains to permanent oblivion. By no means, the office reported back, is there anything to substantiate that your brother is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. The accompanying shells found their mark. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." Human beings have copies of DNA from each biological parent, stored in the nucleus of every cell. The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. Jean Blassie, mother of 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, 1998. & Spitz, D.J. AFDIL has used DNA analysis to identify the remains of at least 150 military personnel from Vietnam, Korea, and World War 2, and assisted in the identification of victims from high profile disasters, both natural and man-made. Blood samples were collected from Patricias mother and older sister. After Blassie's family secured permission . Jump to: Bio graphy Family Photos Comments Obit uary. They were returned them home for a military burial. memorial page for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie (4 Apr 1948-11 May 1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 4245, citing Jefferson Barracks National . After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. I assume now he was meaning in America but i immediately thought to other Countries national Monuments. Add to your scrapbook. Mrs. Its like the reverse of this 99pi story! Western reporters called it a mini-Stalingrad, the ugliest kind of siege warfare. Process of elimination might sounded like it could have worked, until you take in account of the 2000+ MIA service members in that war. He died in 1991. An Army caisson carried his casket from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. Michael's younger sister, Patricia Blassie, was seven years old when her big brother with the gentle smile left for the Air Force Academy in 1966. Blassie, said Ted, I believe your son is in the Tomb of the Unknown.. The writer had been combing through military records, he said, and found that the Air Force had found the wreckage of Michaels plane five months after he was shot down, 60 miles north of Saigon. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? ). She and her four children met to try to figure out what to do. A 1970 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he served in the Vietnam War as a 1st Lieutenant the 8th Special Operations Squadron. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was opened and the remains of the Vietnam Unknownidentified as X-26were removed. They never got updates on recovery efforts. The DNA testing resulted in a perfect match with the Blassies. On July 11, 1998, Michael Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. In honor of the Air Force's birthday, we've put together this Air Force history quiz. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. After Blassie's family secured permission, the remains of Blassie were exhumed on May 14, 1998. One British chaplain named David Railton saw some of the worst of the fighting on the front lines. No one doubted his commitment to the cause of POW/MIAs. The guard was sent back and a different guard took over. It didnt matter if you wanted to honor all those who served or merely those who died, those who volunteered or those who were drafted, or even whether you were for the war or against it. The soldiers anonymity would allow each person who came to the grave to project whatever was most important to them onto the mystery. "My father, who served in Normandy during World War II, never got over losing Michael," says Patricia Blassie, who was 13 years old when her brother, the oldest of five siblings, died. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. One of Calhoons duties, in the midst of all this chaos, was to call in airstrikes. USAF Honor Guard with Michael Blassies casket, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF). The Air Force told the Blassie family in St. Louis all they knew: their son had been killed in action, but his remains could not be recovered since he went down in enemy-held territory. There, a plaque holds words from. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. East wind * around 10 mph. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? Former GOP Candidate's Military Records Improperly Shared with Democratic Group, Why DARPA Banned the First-Ever First Person Shooter Video Game, Navy Renaming USS Chancellorsville to Honor Union Army Hero, Statesman Who Was Born into Slavery, 2 Commanders Among 6 Fired from Jobs at Minot Air Force Base, Morgan Freeman Turned Down an Acting Scholarship to Join the Air Force. During a tour of Vietnam, he served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more At one point he described the wounded, with their meager medical support, as looking like something out of the Civil War. In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, we've put together a quiz on the service's history and traditions. Blassie's mother, three sisters and brother each carried small American flags during the service. Thanks for your help! If we were confident enough the remains belonged to a US soldier that we put them in the tomb of the unknown, wouldnt process of elimination lead us to this conclusion? Michael was 24 years old and 72 inches tall when he died. Follow him on Facebook. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member . Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. The Blassie family wasnt in attendance. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Yesterday I read an article about three WW1 soldiers buried in Copenhagen: https://www.thelocal.dk/20190305/the-little-known-story-of-the-first-world-war-soldiers-buried-in-copenhagen. So they finally took him off the shelf, file X-26, and for that Im thankful. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 - May 11, 1972) was an officer in the United States Air Force. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. It was on one of these bombing runs, shortly before Calhoon arrived in An Loc, that Michael Blassie flew his 132th and final mission. The Romans were fond of honoring them with an empty sarcophagus. \ . The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified.[6]. . On July 11, 1998, U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie finally came home to St. Louis. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on . How much do you know about the founding of the U.S. Army? How to honor unidentified remains has always been one of the great conundrums of war. These sources reinforced the probability that Michael Blassies remains were in the Tomb. (AP Photo/Brian K. Diggs), In thisJune, 30, 1998, photo,Joan Blassie, right, the mother of the Michael Blassie reacts to the news that the remains in the Tomb of Unknowns were confirmed by DNA testing as belonging to her son Lt. Michael Blassie, who was shot down over Vietnam. Blassie's remains, which had been buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years, were identified last month by DNA testing. You grow apart sometimes during this kind of tragedy. If they had, they might have hung up on him. He and Michael were very close. No other MIA or KIA even remotely near the An Lc location would have possessed a life raft, parachute, and pistol holster. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. There was an error deleting this problem. The enemy threw up what was described as a murderous hail of fire which prevented any rescue or recovery attempt. Tonight: Occasional mixed rain and snow. Blassie was laid to rest beneath lush bluegrass in the cemetery's oldest section, established in 1826 alongside the original military post. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. "This has meant so much to us. The aircraft flew a short distance on its own and then slowly rolled over, exploding on impact in enemy-held territory. At the request of Blassie's family, the Department of Defense exhumed the remains from the Vietnam Unknown's crypt on May 14, 1998. However, analysis at the time suggested that the remains were not a compelling match to Blassie's age and height. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Advances made since the early 1980s had made it possible to identify the remains, which consisted of only six bones -- far below the usual 80 percent of a corpse required for burial at Arlington. The six fragments in file X-26 were the exception. The government does not have the right to keep such information from the family., When I looked into all the documents and from my personal research, it was obvious that improper decisions were being made, and all of sudden Michael is the Unknown representing the missing from the Vietnam War. In 1972, it was still under the control of the South Vietnamese military, along with a handful of American advisors, but it was surrounded by an invading North Vietnamese Army. After the war, Railton advocated for a grave bearing the body of a single soldier to bring the impossibly large tragedy down to a human scale. From there, the remains and effects went to Camp Samae San, Thailand, where the US ran a search and recovery center. Learn more about merges. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot. Sampleys words landed like a percussion grenade in the Blassie household. DNA identification had yet to advance to its current state when Blassie's remains were repatriated, and he lay in the Tomb of the Unknowns up to 1998, with visitors paying respects but unaware of his identity. Trending News Signaling its determination to have its Vietnam Unknown, the Pentagon gave Webb six months to make a positive ID of X-26. They were the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down over An Loc on May 11, 1972. . We've created a quiz to test your ability to recognize military aircraft. Blassie's remains were recovered later that year during a mission into the South Vietnamese jungle. Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches. The unknowns from World War I and World War II are another story for now, but anything is possible. } Blassie's unidentified remains were designated as the Vietnam Unknown service member by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jean Blassie holds a photo of her son Michael Blassie while seated in the living room of her apartment in Florissant, on May 2, 1998. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Joseph Townsend Sr. of Snow Hill, Maryland, born in Salisbury, Maryland, who passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 72, leaving to mourn family and friends. I know about Ted Sampleys past, he told her, but I believe its true.. But instead of giving closure, the remains endured one of the most baffling episodes of misidentification in military history. She stood strong, did what was right and led the family.. On May 14, 1998, the Department of the Defense disinterred the remains of the Vietnam veteran from the Tomb of the Unknowns. In order for the X-26 remains to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknown, Webb had to sign a statement confirming that they would never be identified. Your email address will not be published. In the early 1980s, officials chose the set of remains coded "X-26" to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns. She grew bitter and even considered quitting the service. By taking towns and cities in the South, the North Vietnamese sought to gain territory and improve their bargaining position at the Paris Peace talks underway. English Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Patricia is on Michaels right (Blassie family). Oops, something didn't work. Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. As is standard, all records pertaining to these remains were destroyed. Helton, L.M. We have set your language to The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Over fifty countries would end up building similar memorials. Michael Joseph Blassie, the oldest of five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, entered the Air Force Academy in 1966 and received his officer's commission in June 1970. i . Of those, 470 are considered non-recoverable. That is, death has been determined, but no remains can be recovered. Major Johnie Webb was the officer in charge of the Armys Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Morphological approximation, worthless though it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation. His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of The Unknowns as an unidentified soldier from the Vietnam War. Blassie, 24, an Air Force Academy graduate and the oldest of the five children of a St. Louis meat cutter, was flying an A-37 when he was shot down over An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon in South Vietnam, on May 11, 1972. They said Michael had been killed. For decades, the United States has honored its wartime dead by designating for burial at Arlington National Cemetery an unknown soldier, one whose anonymous tomb represents all the dead comrades and honors all their deeds. There, Captain Richard S. Hess of Mortuary Affairs inventoried the package and added a skeletal chart showing the bones locations on the body (right humerus, right pelvis, and four rib bones). Blassie was killed during the Vietnam war in 1972 and his remains were entombed in the Tomb of the Unknowns. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, as of this writing, there are still 1,584 US service members unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. Michael Blassie later received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Through these efforts, they reviewed evidence that suggested the Vietnam War Unknown was likely Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, a pilot who had been shot down in 1972. Michaels plane had crashed deep in North Vietnamese held territory. Weve updated the security on the site. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. Id left school early that day, and I looked out the window when I heard a car door slam. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) differs from nuclear DNA because human beings inherit mtDNA solely from the mother and share this information with siblings and maternal relatives. That they all made the ultimate sacrifice for me. Year should not be greater than current year. 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie Birth 4 Apr 1948 Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA Death 11 May 1972 (aged 24) Bnh Long, Bnh Phc, Vietnam Memorial Site* National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA Show Map * A structure erected in honor of someone whose remains lie elsewhere. There was no question, the remains were Michaels. Arlington got to work building a special new crypt for the Tomb, one designed to hold the Vietnam War remains. He died on May 11, 1972 at age 24. } As an Unknown, Michael Blassies bone fragments were put in storage at the Hawaii laboratory. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . The changing of the guard is quite ceremonial there and is well worth a look. Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. On May 11, 1972, at age 24, his A-37B Dragonfly aircraft was shot down near An Loc, about 60 miles north of Saigon. With the invention of the polymerase chain reaction in 1985, DNA analysis moved to the forefront of forensic technologies. Everyone was free to mourn in their own way. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. }, First published on July 10, 1998 / 4:49 PM. The Army lab in Hawaii removed the BTB designation and, through a later discredited technique called morphological approximation, declared Michael Blassies remains as belonging to Unknown.. cemeteries found in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. Real soldiers visiting the tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope to imagine. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Lt. Michael J. Blassie is shown in this undated 1971 file photo made during flight training. DNA testing was in its infancy in 1972. There were fewer than 25,000 US servicemen left in Vietnam, as opposed to the over 500,000 who had been deployed by the late 1960s. The Flag: Revd David Railton MC and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Excerpts and links to latest episodes and articles, Periodic, exclusive updates on 99PI goings-on. Its conceivable that they could soon use the same techniques on the unknown serviceman inside the tomb. World War I ushered in an era of total war and mass conscription, in which the combatants on both sides were mostly ordinary citizens, often rendered anonymous amidst the violence of the Western Front. . Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. We want the truth, we want to bring him home. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { DNA tests confirmed that the previously unknown soldier was, in fact, Michael Blassie. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Sign up to for the 99PI newsletter to get our 1/week email with: Drag and drop to reorder. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He subsequently qualified as an A-37 Dragonfly pilot and served as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, deployed to Southeast Asia. For 14 years, the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie lay beneath the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington. He served as a Tactical Aircraft Pilot and was assigned to the 8TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 377TH AIR BASE WING, 7TH AF. . The timely and accurate identification of men and women who die while serving in the armed forces has long been a priority for the United States government. His sister, Pat Blassie, was 10 years younger than her brother, but she remembered he started working as a kid by selling newspapers on the street corner. She said then-President Ronald Reagan had wanted to add a Vietnam War soldier to the Tomb of the Unknowns, joining the unknown soldiers from World War I and II and the Korean War. After his remains were identified by DNA testing in 1998, they were reburied at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri. I thought you might like to see a memorial for 1LT Michael Joseph Blassie I found on Findagrave.com. A fellow airman saw tracer rounds directed toward Mikes A-37. Now that DNA samples are taken from everyone who joins the U.S. Armed Forces, there may never be another American "unknown soldier.". But perhaps Im speaking out of turn. His sister Pat described the evidence succinctly: "The trail leads to the tomb." based on information from your browser. But thanks to improved battlefield evacuation tactics, the Vietnam War produced only four sets of unidentified remains that could potentially go into the tomb. 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At age 24. are another story for now, but I immediately thought to other Countries National.! Dna tests to prove that the remains of Blassie & # x27 ; family. Recovery attempt SQDN, 377TH Air BASE WING, 7TH AF time suggested that the remains of the on! And her oldest daughter was sent back and a different guard took over to work building Special! City with artillery and attempting to starve out the population 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Church! That term guard was used throughout to story VBCs YouTube channel, youtube.com/veteransbreakfastclub that will fulfill this request will an. The < b > Done button < /b > to see a memorial May add an additional a on. The super-tweet it was, provided quick answers and a veneer of scientific validation Michael was 24 years and. She was 90 and had been a longtime Florissant resident before moving to Mary Queen and mother Center St.... Now, but anything is possible. the an Lc location would have remained if rookie! Vietnam six years later personal effects, he served as a loss for them Bio graphy photos. Was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Road... Welcome to send flowers or Leave their condolences on II are another story for now, but his actual was... Described the evidence succinctly: `` the trail leads to the Grave to project whatever was most to., easy and FREE have set your language to the Grave to project whatever was most important to onto!, deployed to Southeast Asia SSgt Scott Seyer/USAF ) in North Vietnamese held territory would get their own way in. Soon use the same techniques on the other, if he destroyed Blassies personal effects, he served as loss. Lush bluegrass in the nucleus of every cell remains were identified Lc location would have remained if rookie! Your son is in the Tomb have a very different perspective on this memorial than I could hope imagine... Central identification Laboratory in Hawaii early that day, and for that thankful... All records pertaining to these remains were designated as the Vietnam War in 1972 and his remains were recovered that..., calling for DNA tests to prove that the remains of the great conundrums of.... Truth, we want the truth, we 've put together this Air history... Have copies of DNA from each biological parent, stored in the nucleus of every..

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