Steward Chief Petty Officer Aurelio D. “Papo” Abrigo

Early Life

Aurelio Abrigo was born on October 23, 1926, in Iba, Zambales, Philippines. He was born to Rufino and Magdalena Abrigo. He had four brothers: Solomon, Diog, Esteban, and Carlino, and five sisters: Auring, Berta, Mayang, Teresita, and Pin. During Abrigo’s childhood, Iba’s economy was predominantly agricultural, known for cultivating mangoes and iba, a sour fruit. These crops were vital to the local diet and economy. The Zambales region was also rich in mineral resources, including chromite, which contributed to mining activity in the area. Abrigo’s family was likely involved in either farming or mining during this time.  

In the early 1930s, the U.S. Army Air Corps built Iba Airfield to serve as a training and defense facility. By 1941, it had become one of the primary training sites for gunnery practice of the 3^rd Pursuit Squadron. In late 1941, the first operational SCR-270 radar was installed there, and on December 8, 1941, it was one of the first places attacked during the Japanese invasion. (Due to the International Date Line, it was already December 8 in the Philippines when the attacks began.) Abrigo was 15 years old. 

Homefront

On December 9, 1941, the remnants of the 3^rd Pursuit Squadron relocated to Nichols Field, south of Manila. On December 10, the Japanese invaded Luzon. By December 20, the United States had abandoned the airfields.

The Japanese attack and occupation created tense and difficult moments for many Filipinos, who had a rich history. Iba, once a Spanish colony in the Philippines, is home to the Zambales ethnic group. The Zambales people are indigenous to western Luzon, though early migrations across the Celebes Sea may have influenced their origins. After centuries of Spanish rule, the Philippines was ceded to the United States following the Spanish-American War in 1898. American influence expanded through the establishment of schools, infrastructure, and military bases, including the Iba Airfield. This set the stage for the region’s strategic importance during World War II. 

As a result of the attack, a Japanese garrison was stationed in Iba, Philippines, during World War II. The Philippines was on a path to independence under an agreement with the United States, scheduled to take effect in 1946. However, the Japanese occupation disrupted the established timeline. Imperial Japan imposed harsh rule on the Filipinos during its occupation. Many Filipinos suffered greatly, facing oppression and violence.

As a result of this mistreatment, Filipinos formed guerrilla groups against the Japanese. The Filipinos were finally liberated from the Japanese in 1944 by the United States Army. This liberation led Abrigo and many Filipinos to seek new opportunities.

Abrigo enlisted in the United States Navy in 1945. Before enlistment, he married the love of his life, Monica.

Military Experience

Aurelio Abrigo enlisted in the U. S. Navy on August 10, 1945, in Subic Bay, Philippines. He enlisted as a steward’s mate third class at the beginning of his career. His responsibilities included feeding the crew, cleaning and maintaining officers’ living and dining areas, and handling linens and uniforms. Due to a segregated military, the steward role was one of the few areas in which nonwhite members were permitted to serve. He eventually worked his way up to the rank of steward mate first class petty officer over the course of his distinguished career. 

Abrigo served on many ships and also at duty stations in the United States. His primary duty station was Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia. He served on the USS Wisconsin, USS Albany, and USS Neosho. During the Korean War, Abrigo served on the USS Bellatrix and the USS Mitchell, which operated out of Japan. He served on these two ships in three separate deployments from 1949 to 1961, earning a Korean War Service Medal for his participation in the war. 

A majority of his service in the United States Navy was aboard cargo ships that played a vital role in resupplying other ships and military installations around the globe. When not aboard a ship, Abrigo served at a Receiving Station in Long Beach, California, and a Supply Center in Bayonne, New Jersey. As a result of his conduct and professionalism, he received numerous medals and awards for the campaigns he served on during his 27-year career. 

Veteran Experience

Abrigo and his family became naturalized U.S. citizens in Seattle, Washington, at the end of World War II. He always had a kind, caring smile that others often saw in his personality and service to the United States. After his service, he settled down in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. He worked at Great Steaks as a butcher, a role for which his Navy experience as a steward’s mate had prepared him. Through his vibrant personality and outlook on life, Abrigo was named Employee of the Month multiple times.

Abrigo and Monica eventually had seven children: Romeo, Rey, Rodel, Lucy, Lena, Gloria, and Mary. Their family eventually grew to include 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to spending time with his family, he and his wife enjoyed working in their garden, which included Philippine vegetables. He was also passionate about fishing. 

Additionally, Abrigo was dedicated to honoring the history of Filipinos in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area by volunteering and dedicating his time to the Philippine Cultural Center, which was founded in 1976. The Philippine Cultural Center’s main purpose is to preserve and perpetuate the culture and traditions of the Filipino people. It allowed Filipino seniors an opportunity to share their rich stories of the past. 

Commemoration

Abrigo passed away on January 26, 2020. He is buried at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia. Through his dedication to service and his heritage, he had a profoundly positive impact on many people.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“Aurelio Abrigo.” Altmeyer Funeral Home and Cremation. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.altmeyerfuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/Aurelio-Abrigo?obId=31556802. 

Aurelio Abrigo, DD-214, Department of the Navy. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

“Aurelio Abrigo.” Virginia Pilot [Hampton Roads, VA], January 30, 2020. https://www.pilotonline.com/obituaries/aurelio-abrigo-virginia-beach-va/. 

Aurelio Abrigo. Petition for Naturalization, 1890-1991. Digital images. https://www.ancestryclassroom.com/.

Aurelio Abrigo. U.S. Navy World War II Muster Rolls, 1938-1949. https://ancestryclassroom.com.

Philippine Invasion, 1941-42. Photograph. 1941. Library of Congress. Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/us-entry-into-wwii-japanese-offensive/1941-december-8-1942-may-6-philippines/japanese-invasion/lc-lot-9431-19.html.

USS Bellatrix (AKA-3). Photograph. 1950s. Naval History and Heritage Command (NH 91925). https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-91000/NH-91925.html.

Secondary Sources

“1934-1964: War and Independence.” Frontline World. Updated June 2003. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/philippines/tl02.html

“Aurelio D Abrigo.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/AURELIODABRIGO/98fc09. 

“Aurelio ‘Papo’ Abrigo.” Find a Grave. Updated January 30, 2020. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206670682/aurelio-abrigo. 

Correll, John T. “Disaster in the Philippines.” Air & Space Forces Magazine, November 1, 2019. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/disaster-in-the-philippines/. 

Cruz, Peri. “Philippine Cultural Center bridges community to their rich culture & history in Hampton Roads.” WTKR News, May 17, 2023. https://www.wtkr.com/news/philippine-cultural-center-bridges-community-to-their-rich-culture-history-in-hampton-roads.

“History of Iba.” Municipality of Iba. Updated 2020. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.ibazambales.gov.ph/history-of-iba/. 

Sicat, Gerardo. “Forex controls in the 1950s: Philippine economic history.” Philippine Star, October 24, 2018. https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/10/24/1862529/forex-controls-1950s-philippine-economic-history.

“World War II Facts.” History of American Wars. Accessed April 29, 2025. http://www.history-of-american-wars.com/world-war-ii-facts.html#gallery[pageGallery]/1/. 

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.