Torres, Simplicio S.

Simplicio S. Torres

Simplicio S. Torres was born in Cabugas, Ilocos Sur, Philippines July 28, 1905. In Rye he lived and worked as a butler at the Lufkin’s Estate on Kirby Lane. Mrs. Lufkin had three grandsons serve, Peter and Chauncy in World War II and Dan Lufkin in Korea and Vietnam.

Simplicio enlisted and served in the U.S. Army’s 2nd Filipino Regiment during World War II.

The Second Filipino Infantry Regiment was a U.S. Army unit during WWII, formed from Filipino-American volunteers in California, but it primarily served in support roles, never seeing direct combat as a regiment; its personnel often reinforced the combat-experienced 1st Filipino Regiment, and it was reorganized into the 2nd Filipino Battalion (Separate) before deploying to New Guinea and later the Philippines for security and support tasks, ultimately contributing significantly to the liberation efforts without major engagements as a whole.

Simplicio continued to serve as a Master Sergeant in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army. His service number was 32432694.

Fort Ord Soldier Passes Away in Hospital at S.F.
Military honors were accorded MSgt. Simplicio S. Torres, 57, of Fort Ord. An active service member of the United States Armed Forces, he had been with the army for 20 years and three months. Sergeant Torres passed away in a San Francisco hospital Friday November 30, 1962. He was a native of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippine Islands, and was the oldest of three children.

Prior to World War II he resided in New York. Although active in the service at Fort Ord until the time of his death, his family resided at 317 Park Street.

Sergeant Torres was assigned to Fort Ord, with the U.S. Army Hospital. He was, prior to the invasion of the Philippines in World War II with the second Filipino regiment, and was a member of the local Fil-Am Post No. 6527, American Legion.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Edilberta B. Torres: his daughter Mrs. Edilberta Magee of Porterville and son Santos B. Torres of Salinas.

The funeral was held Friday, December 7, 1962 at the Muller Mortuary, East Alisal at Pajaro Street, thence to the Sacred Heart Church where a Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul. Interment was in the Garden of Memories. Services under the auspices of Fil-Am post, American Legion, were also held in the mortuary chapel, followed by recitation of the rosary.