William Peter Trinen
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

William Peter Trinen served as an enlisted man in the Washington National Guard and served with the 2nd Armored Division during World War II. He reached the rank of Technical Sergeant and was awarded the Silver Star Medal per General Orders: Headquarters, 2nd Armored Division, General Orders No. 17 (1945).

In August 1950, First Lieutenant William Peter Trinen was serving with Company C, 72nd Medium Tank Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 31 August, 1LT Trinen's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Changyong, Korea. That night, 1LT Trinen was commanding a task force, consisting of five tanks and an infantry platoon, whose mission was to open an escape route for an infantry battalion that had been completely encircled by the enemy. At first contact, the advanced enemy elements were stunned by the aggressive ferocity of the task force's attack and retreated. As 1LT Trinen's unit moved further forward, the reorganized enemy, backed by seemingly unlimited reserves, launched a massive attack. During this action, the infantry platoon leader was killed and 1LT Trinen opened the turret of his lead tank and directed the infantry attack by arm and hand signals. Despite hits on his tank by enemy anti-tank weapons and satchel charges, he continued to press forward in the attack, forcing the major elements of the enemy force to withdraw to the protection of a nearby slope. The aggressive leadership, courage and sound tactical judgment displayed by 1LT Trinen resulted in the success of the mission. This earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 16 September 1950, 1LT Trinen was Killed in Action during another engagement with the enemy.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Armor) William P. Trinen (ASN: 0-1996377), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 72d Medium Tank Battalion, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Trinen distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Changyong, Korea. On the night of 31 August 1950, Lieutenant Trinen was designated to command a task force, consisting of five tanks and an infantry platoon, with the mission of opening an escape route for an infantry battalion which had been completely encircled by the enemy. At first contact, the advanced enemy elements, stunned by the aggressive ferocity of the task force's attack, retreated in panic. As Lieutenant Trinen's task force moved further forward, the reorganized enemy, backed by seemingly unlimited reserves, launched a massed attack. During this action, the infantry platoon leader was killed and Lieutenant Trinen immediately opened the turret of his lead tank and directed the infantry attack by arm and hand signals. Despite hits on his tank by enemy anti-tank weapons and satchel charges, he continued to press forward in the attack, forcing the major elements of the enemy force to withdraw to the protection of a nearby slope. The aggressive leadership, courage and sound tactical judgment displayed by First Lieutenant Trinen resulted in the success of the mission.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 572 (July 22, 1951)

Burial

First Lieutenant William Peter Trinen is buried at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bremerton, Kitsap County, WA.

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