U.S. Navy toasts formal naming of USS Telesforo Trinidad

Secretary Del Toro (left) with ship sponsors Christine Trinidad (center), and US retired Rear Adm. Connie Mariano (rightt) cutting the cake. (PH Embassy photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Navy formally named a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Telesforo Trinindad (DDG 139) at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10.

Telesforo de la Cruz Trinidad was a fireman in the U.S. Navy, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in saving the lives of fellow crewmen during a fire in Mexican waters near La Paz, on board the USS San Diego on Jan. 21, 1915. He is 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.*

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro officiated the naming celebration after the late Filipino American Petty Officer 2nd Class Telesforo de la Cruz, a Medal of Honor recipient. He was joined by Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and Defense Attache Philippine Navy Captain Salvador Henry Quinto.

US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro (left), US Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones (2nd from the left), PH Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez (2nd from the right), and PH Defense Attache Navy Captain Salvador Henry Quinto (rightmost) at the naming celebration of the USS Telesforo Trinidad. (PH Embassy photo)

Del Toro also presented the ships’ sponsors, namely: Christine Trinidad, a great-granddaughter of Petty Officer Trinidad, and retired Rear Adm. Connie Mariano, the first Filipino American to become a U.S. Navy Admiral and the first military woman to be appointed White House Physician.

U.S. Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones and several active military members also of Filipino heritage also attended the event.

In his opening remarks, Del Toro said, “I am excited for the enduring partnership that Christine and Connie will build with this ship and the crew in the years to come.”

“I am sure that the family of the late Telesforo Trinidad is just as proud and honored as we are in the Philippines.” the Ambassador Romualdez said.