Marciano Lomibao was an officer’s steward on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

He was born in Binmaley, Philippines to Ana Bautista. Publicly available records do not name his father. He was born on Oct. 24, but records disagree whether in 1900 or 1901.

He enlisted in the Navy on June 28, 1921.

The 1930 Census said he was a mess attendant second class at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. He declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen in January 1937.

As a native of the Philippines, Mr. Lomibao was discriminated against by the Navy.  Sailors from Guam or the Philippines or who were Black could enlist in only one job in the years before the start of World War II: mess attendant. Messmen cooked, cleaned, and performed other services. They could advance to become a steward or cook for officers and up to first class as with Mr. Lomibao, but that was their limit.

Sources: Census; Navy enlistment records and muster roll; declaration of intention to become a U.S. citizen; Army transport passenger list. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.