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OS3c Vicente De Castro
Vicente De Castro was born Jan. 8, 1906 in Batangas province in the Philippines south of Manila. His mother was Juana Gutierrz, but publicly available records do not identify his father.
He enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 1, 1928, as a mess attendant third class — an entry-level job.
Mr. De Castro was an officer’s steward and petty officer third class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
As a native of the Philippines, Mr. De Castro was discriminated against by the Navy in a policy dating to the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. Sailors from the Philippines or Guam or who were Black could enlist in only one job before the start of World War II: mess attendant. Messmen cooked, cleaned, and performed other services. They could advance to become stewards or cooks for officers, but that was their limit.
Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Navy enlistment records and muster rolls; U.S. Grant passenger list. Note that Mr. De Castro’s service number is inconsistent on ship muster rolls, with a single digit changing here and there, probably a result of typing errors. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.