Highest Honors POW / MIA
United States of America
Headstone of Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Headstone shared by 7 interments, including Ellison Shoji Onizuka
U.S. Air Force · United States United States

Ellison Shoji Onizuka

Lieutenant Colonel
1946 – 1986
Defense Distinguished Service MedalCongressional Space Medal of HonorNASA Distinguished Service MedalNASA Space Flight Medal
Life Keepsakes Service Decorations Shadow Box Also Remembered Memorials Laid to Rest In Our Keeping

Lieutenant Colonel Ellison Shoji Onizuka served in the U.S. Air Force for 16 years and 7 months. Ellison served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Ellison was 39 years old.

How He Died
Manner Accident
Cause Multiple traumatic injuries
Keepsakes
Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Ellison Shoji Onizuka 0 views
Headstone Front of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. Shared stone
Headstone Front of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views
Headstone Back of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. Shared stone
Headstone Back of Ellison Shoji Onizuka. Arlington National Cemetery. 0 views
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
1969 – 1986
Conflicts
Vietnam War Cold War
Awards & Decorations 4

For valor

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Foreign awards

NASA Distinguished Service Medal posthumous January 28, 1986
NASA Space Flight Medal

Conferred by Congress

Congressional Space Medal of Honor July 23, 2004
Memorials
Space Mirror Memorial
Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial cut as Ellison S. Onizuka
Also Remembered
Challenger
requiem.nw →
Burial Information
Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery
Section 46
Grave 1129-8
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krcs0svw6w429ksts12pd7c2
Record added August 8, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 23, 2026

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Shadow Box
Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Air Force
1969 - 1986
Lieutenant Colonel
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Congressional Space Medal of Honor NASA Distinguished Service Medal NASA Space Flight Medal

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