OC2c Filomeno Santos

Filomeno Santos was born Nov. 25, 1906 in the City of Iloilo on the Island of Panay in the southwestern Philippines, and emigrated to Seattle, Washington in 1927. He enlisted in the Navy in February 1937 and the next month declared his intent to become a citizen. He became one in August 1941, five months after his transfer to the U.S.S. Arizona.

Mr. Santos was an officer’s cook and petty officer second class on the Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

His job was part of the Messman Branch — the only branch then open to African-American, Filipino, and Guamanian men in the segregated Navy since the Wilson Administration. They were prohibited from advancing to jobs with higher skill and pay. Mr. Santos had received four promotions with the branch, but only one more was allowed – to petty officer first class.

He was survived by his widow, Dorothy Hudson Santos. They married in October 1937 in St. George in southwestern Utah when he was on leave from the U.S.S. Idaho.

Sources: Honolulu Star-Bulletin; The Honolulu Advertiser; Declaration of Intention to become a citizen; Navy muster rolls; Western States Marriage Record Index. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.