Expressing gratitude to the United States (US) Navy for its recognition of Filipino-American Petty Officer 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad’s heroism by naming a ship after him, Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said it was a honor to attend the ship-naming event to represent the country.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington posted on Facebook a photo of the ambassador during the event to honor Trinidad.
“It is my country’s honor to be invited to today’s event as we name your ship, the USS Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139), after a Filipino American hero,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“We sincerely appreciate it and I am sure that the family of the late Telesforo Trinidad is just as proud and honored as we are in the Philippines,” he added.
He was joined by Defense Attache Philippine Navy Captain Salvador Henry Quinto, as well as US Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones, who is also of Filipino heritage, and several active military members also of Filipino heritage.
The US Navy led the naming celebration of the US Ship Telesforo Trinindad (DDG 139) at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
The celebration was officiated by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who announced the naming of the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer after Filipino American Petty Officer 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad on May 19, 2022.
During his opening remarks, Del Toro noted the “special bond” between the newly named ship and its sponsors—Christine Trinidad, a great-granddaughter of Petty Officer Trinidad, and retired Rear Adm. Connie Mariano, the first Filipino-American in history to become a US Navy Admiral and the first military woman in American history to be appointed White House physician.
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“A ship’s commanding officer will change hands, and the crew will come and go, but the sponsors hold a special bond through the ship’s entire lifetime. I am excited for the enduring partnership that Christine and Connie will build with this ship and the crew in the years to come,” he said.
Turning to Romualdez, the official added that “it has been my honor to work with you (Romualdez) these past 18 months and to visit your beautiful country and to build the strong partnership that is so deserving and has always existed between the Philippines and the United States.”
The Embassy expressed in the statement its appreciation for the “hard work” of the Filipino community organizations “in campaigning for this momentous occasion and in highlighting the honorable military service of those with Filipino heritage.”
It also congratulated the Telesforo Trinidad Campaign Committee, which now officially participates in the USS Telesforo Trinidad Commissioning Committee in partnership with the United States Navy.
Trinidad was a fireman in the US Navy, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Mexican waters near La Paz, on board the USS San Diego on Jan. 21, 1915.
He was the second service member, and the first and only sailor of Asian descent to receive the award in peacetime.
Trinidad served during both World Wars before retiring to the Philippines and dying in Imus, Cavite at the age of 77 in May 1968.
He was born in Aklan Province, Panay on November 25, 1890, and enlisted in the US Navy after the US took possession of the archipelago in the wake of the Spanish-American War.
But on Jan. 21, 1915, when the ship’s boilers caught fire, Trinidad re-entered the fireroom to save his crewmate.
Even with a boiler hitting him and burning him on the face, he assisted in rescuing another crew member.
He survived the ordeal and was awarded the Medal of Honor and a $100 gratuity.