The remains of a United States Navy Ensign, tragically lost near Yap Island in the Pacific during World War II, have finally returned home to Salt Lake City. The city, where Howard A. Holding was born and raised, welcomed him back after more than eight decades.

Howard A. Holding was just 22 years old when his life was cut short in 1944. At the time, military officials were unable to recover his body, leaving his family in a state of uncertainty that persisted for nearly 81 years. This October, Holding’s family gathered at the Salt Lake City Cemetery to finally lay him to rest.

The ceremony was marked by the solemn presence of an honor guard of sailors, who served as pallbearers. Holding was honored with a full military ceremony, which included the poignant tradition of a 21-gun salute.

During the service, a family member shared a poignant memory of the impact Holding’s death had on his mother. “When she heard the news, she fainted,” the relative recounted. “After she recovered, one of her hands shook… for the rest of her life.”

One of Holding’s relatives recalled the trauma Holding’s mother went through after learning of his death years ago.

“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.”