The future DDG 139 will be named USS Telesforo Trinidad in honor of Fireman 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad. Trinidad was the second service member and only Filipino in the U.S. Navy to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Trinidad was born November 25, 1890, in Aklan Province, Panay, Philippine Islands. On January 21, 1915, Petty Officer Trinidad was serving aboard USS San Diego when the captain decided to conduct a four-hour full-speed and endurance trial to determine if the ship could still maintain its officially rated flank speed. Following the trial, an obstructed tube in one of the ship’s boilers gave way, creating a chain reaction.
Trinidad re-entered the closed space to the No. 2 boiler to save Fireman 2nd Class R. W. Daly. As he was carrying Daly through the No. 4 fireroom, an explosion of No. 3 boiler hit Trinidad, which burned him in the face. After seeing Daly to safety and despite his injuries, Trinidad then assisted in rescuing another injured shipmate from the No. 3 fireroom.
In gratitude for his bravery, the Navy awarded Trinidad the Medal of Honor. Trinidad survived the ordeal and lived a long life, passing away at the age of 77 on May 8, 1968, in Imus, Cavite, Republic of the Philippines.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.