US Navy secretary Carlos Del Toro has announced that a Filipino recipient of the Medal of Honor will be honored by naming an Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer after him.
The Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyer, DDG 139, will be named USS Telesforo Trinidad, after former Fireman 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad, a Filipino who served in the U.S. Navy in the 1900s.
In a statement, Del Toro praised Trinidad for his heroism.
“My first time learning about Petty Officer Trinidad’s story was as a midshipman at the Naval Academy and since being sworn in as Secretary, I have wanted to honor his heroic actions by naming a ship after him.
“This ship and her future crew will be a critical piece in strengthening our maritime superiority while also emphasizing the rich culture and history of our naval heritage.”
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Who is Telesforo Trinidad?
Telesforo Trinidad was a native of Aklan, Philippines. He was born on November 25, 1890. In 1915, a boiler explosion occurred on the USS San Diego. Trinidad leaped into action and risked his life to save his two crewmates while aboard the warship.
Trinidad survived the ordeal and passed away on May 8, 1968, at the age of 77 in Imus, Cavite.
What is the USS Telesforo Trinidad?
The USS Telesforo Trinidad is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, specifically a Flight III guided-missile destroyer.
According to Naval Technology, there are currently five Flight III destroyers under different stages of construction. Nine of these ships, including the USS Telesforo Trinidad, are under contract phase.
Construction on the first Flight III warships began in 2019 and are the newest destroyers in the US Navy. They are equipped with anti-air, advanced anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare systems. It is a type of multi-mission warship designed for land-strike roles and anti-aircraft warfare.
NOTE: This article first appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made.
