SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – In a poignant moment steeped in both history and emotion, the remains of U.S. Navy Ensign Howard A. Holding have finally returned home to Salt Lake City. Holding, who was born and raised in this city, tragically lost his life over the Pacific Ocean near Yap Island during World War II.

Howard A. Holding was only 22 years old when he perished in 1944. Efforts to find his body at the time proved fruitless, initiating a long and painful wait for his family. After more than 80 years, his relatives gathered at the Salt Lake City Cemetery in October to finally lay him to rest.

The ceremony was marked by the presence of an honor guard of sailors, serving as pallbearers, and featured full military honors, including a moving 21-gun salute. The tribute was a reminder of the valor and sacrifice of a young man whose life was cut short during a pivotal moment in history.

In reflecting on the past, one of Holding’s relatives shared the deep trauma endured by his mother upon receiving the news of his death decades ago. The return of his remains brought a sense of closure to a story that had long been overshadowed by uncertainty and loss.

In a related note, the family also shared photographs of Melodee Buzzard, drawing parallels in appearance to the late Howard A. Holding, further weaving the threads of family and memory together.

“As she heard that news, she fainted. After she recovered, one of her hands shook … for the rest of her life,” the relative said at the funeral

Holding’s niece, Terri Trick was presented with the flag that was draped over Holding’s casket before the burial.

“He was a graduate of the University of Utah and before that, East High School of Salt Lake City,” Trick said at the burial. “Howard loved music and he was a very well-known musician here in Salt Lake before he enlisted.”

Patrick Ranfranz, the founder of the Missing Aircrew Project, led the initiative to locate Holding.

“I feel honored to have played a part in bringing Howard home,” Ranfranz said.

Journey to locate Holding

According to details gathered by the project, on Sept. 6, 15 aircraft of Fighter Squadron (VF) 20 took off from Enterprise on a fighter sweep, targeting the radio and cable station in the west area of Yap Town (currently Colonia).

Holding’s F6F-3 Hellcat was part of a three-plane formation. The aircraft had just started their dives when one plane reportedly crossed from right to left, into the path of Holding’s plane.

Shortly after, the planes were next seen in tight spirals. One plane crashed in flames west of Yap Town. The other plane was also presumed to crash, but no one witnessed the crash and no parachutes were observed leaving either aircraft.

The After Action Report submitted by Enterprise stated that there was a strong possibility these planes might have collided or that both planes had been simultaneously hit by anti-aircraft fire.

The journey to locate Holding started back in 2005 in Yap Island, according to Ranfranz, when he was searching for his veteran uncle that was also killed during the war.

“I began researching all the planes and crews…over time, I connected with many of the families of the Yap missing, including Howard’s,” he recalled.

Through the course of his investigation, Ranfranz was able to trace Holding’s remains to an unknown grave at the American Cemetery in the Philippines.

“Fate has made it my mission to help find these men,” Ranfranz said.

According to one of Holding’s relatives, Friday marked a day of joy and closure, following generations of grief and countless questions.

The relative shared this sentiment while looking at Holding’s casket moments before it was lowered into Holding’s final resting place.

“We hope you are feeling right now the same peace and joy that we are feeling with this closure 81 years later.”