Members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation are urging Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to name a ship after Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad, the only Filipino American to receive the Medal of Honor.
“Over a century ago, Telesforo Trinidad was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. After suffering injuries of his own, he showed exceptional heroism and risked his own life to save his fellow crew members after the USS San Diego suffered from boiler explosions on January 21, 1915,” Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) wrote in an April 4 letter to Del Toro.
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According to Naval History and Heritage Command Trinidad was born on Nov. 25, 1890 in Aklan Province, Panay, Philippine Islands. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after the United States took possession of the archipelago in the wake of the Spanish-American War.
On Jan. 21, 1915 while on patrol in the Gulf of California, the San Diego’s captain decided to conduct a four-hour full-speed and endurance trial to determine if the cruiser could still maintain its officially rated flank speed.
At the end of the trials an obstructed tube of one of the ship's boilers gave way, creating an eventual chain reaction of other boilers. The first explosion, in the No. 2 boiler, forced Trinidad from the fireroom as Ensign R. W. Cary, Jr. was closing the door. Trinidad then realized that his crewmate, Fireman Second Class R. W. Daly, was still inside. Risking his own life, Trinidad re-entered the smoke-filled fireroom and carried him out to safety while Cary secured the door.
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However, as Trinidad carried Daly through the No. 4 fireroom, an explosion of the No. 3 boiler hit Trinidad, burning him in the face. After seeing Daly to safety and in spite of his own injury, Trinidad then assisted in rescuing another injured crewman from the No. 3 fireroom.
For those actions, the Navy awarded Trinidad the Medal of Honor and a $100 gratuity. Trinidad survived the ordeal and died at the age of 77 on May 8, 1968, in Imus, Cavite, Republic of the Philippines.
“The memory of Trinidad’s heroism continues to live on, and we call on the Secretary to celebrate the first and only Filipino Navy veteran to be awarded the Medal of Honor,” Luria added.
The official request led by Luria and members of the Virginia Congressional delegation also noted the broad support for naming a Navy Surface Combatant after Trinidad and the advocacy of many service members, veterans, and community members.
The letter can be found here.
Julia LeDoux can be reached at Julia@connectingvets.com.