Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad will be the first Filipino Medal of Honor recipient to have a combat ship named after him, ABC 10News reported.
The USS Trinidad is the first U.S. Navy ship named after a Filipino Medal of Honor recipient and the second named after an AANHPI Medal of Honor Recipient following the USS Daniel Inouye, according to a statement from the Veterans of Foreign Affairs (VFW).
Trinidad is the first Asian American and only Filipino American to be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was honored in 1915 after he saved the life of two fellow crewmembers during a series of boiler room explosions on the USS San Diego, VFW stated.
In commemoration of the 106th anniversary of Trinidad receiving the Medal of Honor, the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign (USSTTC) launched its initiative to name the ship after Trinidad, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum.
“People like Telesforo Trinidad and people that followed him allowed people like me to serve and eventually get to the position where we were,” retired Navy captain and head of the campaign Dan Gruta said to ABC 10News.
Gruta stated that work on the USS Trinidad will start in 2024 and be in commission by 2028.
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The article left out a word “Sailor” to describe the MOH Recipient. It should state”Trinidad is the first Asian American and only Filipino American Sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor.”