SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After decades of uncertainty, the remains of U.S. Navy Ensign Howard A. Holding, who lost his life near Yap Island in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, have been brought back to his hometown of Salt Lake City.

At the young age of 22, Holding was killed in 1944. For many years, his body remained undiscovered, leading to an 81-year-long period of waiting for his family, who longed for closure. This October, his relatives gathered at the Salt Lake City Cemetery to finally lay him to rest.

During the solemn ceremony, a Navy honor guard served as pallbearers, and Holding was honored with full military rites, including a moving 21-gun salute.

A family member shared the emotional toll that the news of Holding’s death took on his mother all those years ago, underscoring the deep impact of his loss.

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.”