Trose Emmett Donaldson

Trose Emmett Donaldson (born June 19, 1914 in Tacoma, Washington), was appointed a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Naval Reserve from the Merchant Marine on November 25, 1940.

Military service
Lieutenant Donaldson served in the oiler USS Sepulga (AO-20) and in repair ship USS Otus (AS-20) from March 25, 1941. On December 13, 1941 Donaldson was given command of the requisitioned tug Trabajador at Manila with the Navy's Inshore Patrol. On February 25th, 1942 he was transferred to command the British salvage tug Henry Keswick, requisitioned by the U.S. Army during the continuing siege of Manila.

He was killed in action while commanding Henry Keswick on April 9, 1942, when the tug was set on fire by Japanese artillery and beached off Corregidor. Lieutenant Donaldson safely evacuated his crew to the shore and in the last boat, rowing for shore, he was killed instantly by an enemy shell.

Awards and commemorations
Donaldson was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in December 1941 at Cavite, Philippine Islands, when he worked tirelessly to evacuate ships and wounded and to fight fires during Japanese air raids.

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States War Department.

The destroyer escort USS Donaldson (DE-44) of 1943 was named in Lieutenant Donaldson's honor.