 Today I'm wearing the pin of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in the history of our nation. 442nd was composed of Japanese-American soldiers who fought with valor and distinction in World War II, even as many of their loved ones were confined to internment camps. One of those soldiers was Captain Daniel Inouye, whose courage under fire earned him the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Congressional Medal of Honor. He would go on to become a United States Senator, and the namesake for one of our newest Arleigh Burke destroyers, the USS Daniel Inouye. It was my honor to personally commission that ship this past December. Generation upon generation of brave Asian-American and Pacific Islanders have made our military and our country stronger. They carry the proud legacy of all who served before them. As we recognize Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we must remember sailors like Sue Ann Cuddy, the first Asian-American woman to serve as a naval officer, Commander Lynn Chow, the first female gunnery officer aboard a combat ship, and Gordon Chung Hoon, the first Asian-American to reach the rank of Navy Rear Admiral. I ask you to remember Marines like Major Kurt Chew Ann Lee, whose heroism and in-shawn earned him the Navy Cross. Remember Firemen's 2nd Class Telethforo Trinidad, the only Filipino in the United States Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1915, while serving aboard USS San Diego, Petty Officer Trinidad risked his own life and well-being to save two of his shipmates during a catastrophic bullet explosion. Trinidad is the 2nd service member to receive the award in peacetime. I learned about Telethforo Trinidad as a midshipman right here at the Naval Academy. It was always inspired by his courageous story. That is why I am proud to announce that I am naming the future DDG-139, USS Telethforo de la Cruz Trinidad. I ask you to thank the many Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders serving throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. Today we have almost 29,000 sailors, 9,900 Marines and 27,000 civilians in our department who proudly represent the Asian-American Pacific Islander heritage. We are proud to have sailors and Marines of all ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life whose values of hard work, perseverance and opportunity enrich our Navy culture. You serve as freedom's torch around the world and I am proud to be your secretary. Thank you and your families for your service to our nation.