Private First Class Ellingson was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 19 September 950 and returned to duty on 27 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 10 February 1951.

Ellingson was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.