Irvin Casper Ellingson was born on January 5, 1920 to Tommy and Ella Ellingson, living one mile north of Dahlen, ND, on the home farm. He had two sisters and five brothers. He attended grade and high school in Dahlen and graduated in 1936 as class salutatorian.

After a three-month stint in the Civilian Conservation Corps working in Oregon, Irvin attended Mayville State Teachers College from 1937-1939. He was on the college football team. In April, 1940 he worked as an enumerator for the US Government counting the 1940 census (Dahlen township) and supported the war effort working at the Solar Aircraft in San Diego, California as well as working on the home farm.

Irvin enlisted in the US Army Air Corp on December 23, 1942 and was sent to Sheppard Field in Texas for Basic Training. Irvin was then trained as a Radio Operator and Mechanic at the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command in Chicago, Illinois graduating in June 1944.

Irvin did further training as a Radar Observer throughout 1943 and 1944 in Boca Raton and Panama City, Florida as well as Salina and Herington, Kansas. He departed for Saipan on November 10, 1944.

Irvin flew 16 combat missions over Tokyo aboard a B29. On April 14, 1945 his plane was shot down on a combat mission over Tokyo. He parachuted to safety but was captured by the Japanese Army and brought to a POW camp called the Tokyo Military Prison.

It was at the Tokyo Military Prison where he died, along with 61 American Airman, when the wooden structure of the prison burned down on May 26, 1945 due to a US low level, incendiary bombing mission.

Irvin’s remains were listed as unrecoverable after the war and were marked as an unknown and brought to the American Cemetery in Manila. The DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) disinterred 39 caskets marked as unknowns from the American Cemetery in Manila and brought them to the forensic lab at the Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii in March and April 2022 for identification.

Irvin’s family was notified that his remains were identified on June 17, 2025.

Irvin’s family (all deceased) includes, parents Tommy and Ella Ellingson, sisters Alpha Lundmark and Clarice Enerson. Brothers, Omer, Trueman, Clayton, Dennis and Leland Ellingson.

To Honor Irvin's Homecoming, the following events have been planned

Thursday, June 18, 2026  at 2:00 p.m. a procession will leave from Fargo, ND, arriving in Grand Forks Veterans Park (2357 S. 34th St.)  with a ceremony planned at 4:00 pm, subject to time adjustment.

Saturday, June 20, 2026 a Final Farewell Tribute will be held at Dahlen, North Dakota   Guestbook registration and viewing of Irvin's casket will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m.  Interment will follow in Middle Forest River Cemetery at Dahlen. There will be light refreshments served by the Dahlen Lutheran Church Women at the church following the burial.