Minnesota World War II veteran finally gets his due more than 80 years after his death
Aug. 9—ULEN, Minn. — A Minnesota veteran who died as a prisoner of war in World War II is finally receiving the military memorial service he never had.
John L. Opgrand, 25, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, will be honored in his hometown roughly 40 miles northeast of Fargo in Ulen, Minnesota, on Saturday, Aug. 12, more than 80 years after his death.
His family only recently received the entirety of the awards and medals he was due, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Lori Pladson, a great-niece of Opgrand who lives in Hatton, North Dakota, is one of several family members who've been working for about a year to make it happen.
"He just meant so much to everybody. As a family, we're like 'We're not giving up.' We're going to keep going until he gets what he deserves," Pladson said.
The memorial service will actually be part of the family's annual reunion in Ulen, a tradition started five years ago to connect members of the large family, many of whom are scattered across the country and had not previously met.
Through genealogy searches, Pladson discovered there are 706 Opgrand descendants.
"It's really brought our family together," said Dave Opgrand, a nephew of the late veteran and resident of Spokane, Washington.
John "Johnny" Opgrand was born April 3, 1917, the fifth of 16 children born to Anton and Gida (Eina) Opgrand in Hitterdal, Minnesota.
He worked as a farmhand, picking potatoes and helping with the grain harvest.
Growing up in nearby Ulen, he also played a lot of baseball with his brothers, all of whom excelled at the game.
On Oct. 27, 1939, John Opgrand enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as private first class with the 19th Squadron, 20th Air Base Group.
He was later sent to the Philippines, where he was captured and became a prisoner of war.
He survived the Bataan Death March in April 1942 but did not survive the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines, being declared dead on June 10, 1942.
John Opgrand's name is inscribed with more than 36,000 others on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Four of his brothers also served at the same time during World War II. "Johnny was the one that never came home," said Pladson, whose grandmother was the second oldest of the 16 children.
"She'd always cry about Johnny or get emotional on June 10 because that's the day they pronounced him dead," Pladson said.
In the many years since his death, John Opgrand's parents, siblings, nephews, nieces and now great-nephews and nieces searched mostly in vain for any additional information, remains or belongings to be recovered for the family.
But around five years ago, one of Pladson's sisters made a connection through the Fargo Veterans Affairs, learning of major distinctions for John Opgrand, including the Purple Heart, that had never been awarded.
The remainder of his awards were delivered by National Guard members last week, bringing the total to 10.
Pladson said it's unclear why the honors weren't awarded earlier; she was told a fire that destroyed thousands of U.S. military records many years ago might have been a factor.
The memorial service with full military honors is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen and will include the presence of the FM Legion Riders based out of American Legion Post 21 in Moorhead.
While there are no remains to bury, a marker for John Opgrand will be placed next to the graves of his parents at Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in Ulen.
Dave Opgrand has reverence for his uncle's military service, as his own father, Frank Opgrand, the youngest son of the Opgrand siblings, served in the Korean War.
Frank was just a preschooler when big brother Johnny went off to war.
Dave Opgrand is among several family members who've submitted DNA to a database, in the event that possible remains of his uncle are ever found.
"It was really an honor for me to be able to do that ... bring me some closeness to him," he said.
