Hoeven Statement Honoring Service, Homecoming of SSGT Irvin Ellingson

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement honoring the life and service of SSGT Irvin C. Ellingson and recognizing his homecoming to North Dakota after his remains were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Hoeven joined the Ellingson family in escorting Irvin’s remains from Fargo to Grand Forks and participated in a program at the Grand Forks Veterans Memorial Park Fargo commemorating his service to the nation and marking his return to North Dakota. Ellingson served in the Pacific Theater during WWII, having been stationed at Saipan in the Marianas Islands and flying combat missions aboard a B-29 Superfortress, part of the 878th Bombardment Squadron, 499th Bombardment Group. Ellingson’s aircraft was shot down on April 14, 1945 while flying a mission over Tokyo. He was held as a POW until May 26, 1945, when he lost his life as a result of the Tokyo Military Prison fire. Ellingson was previously interred as an unknown at Manila American Cemetery along with 38 other unidentified individuals recovered from the Tokyo Military Prison. The DPAA identified his remains on June 17, 2025 and worked with the family to bring him back home to North Dakota, where he will be laid to rest in the Middle Forest River Cemetery in Dahlen. “Today’s homecoming not only honors the memory and service of Irvin Ellingson but demonstrates the commitment of North Dakotans to our military members,” said Hoeven. “It is tremendous to see over 200 members of the Ellingson family coming together to celebrate Irvin’s life and mark his return home. As with all those who answer the call to serve, Irvin was willing to leave his home to defend our country, knowing he might never see his loved ones or family again. We owe him and all of our veterans more than we can ever repay, and we are committed to doing all we can to properly honor their service and deliver the recognition they have earned.” Hoeven helped advance legislation in 2014 that created the DPAA , and since that time, he has worked to support the agency as it seeks to locate and bring home the remains of missing service personnel. In 2021, Hoeven joined his Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to allow the DPAA to proceed with disinterment of the servicemembers who died in the 1945 Tokyo Military Prison fire. The DPAA subsequently was able to conduct the disinterment, leading to the identification of Ellingson and his fellow servicemembers. -###-