David Tejada Sr.

1922 - 2021

David Viluan Tejada Sr.
December 22, 1922 - March 6, 2021
After living a full and remarkable life, David V. Tejada, Sr. passed away on March 6, 2021 at his longtime home in Daly City after suffering a stroke the week before. He was 98.

David was outgoing, known for his charm, great conversation, storytelling, generosity, and unparalleled sense of humor. He could fix any automobile or piece of machinery. He loved music and hummed Tony Bennett songs. In his last weeks, he enjoyed fresh donuts as a snack.

All his family simply called him "Papa". His beloved caregivers called him "Tatay".

David was born on December 22, 1922 in Pangasinan, Philippines to Loreto and Julianna Tejada and spent most of his life at Fort McKinley where his father was in the Philippine Scouts. He enlisted in the Scouts right out of high school and WWII soon broke out. At 19, David and his father survived the Bataan Death March and were held as POWs at Camp O'Donnell, witnessing many atrocities that would remain with him his entire life. In the camp he and his father fell ill with malaria and dysentery. He and his father ultimately were released due to illness. David worked for the Red Cross when he was captured again by Japanese forces to work in a mine. He would escape and join the guerrillas until the end of the war; after the war, he learned that his father had been killed. In 1946 while in Leyte he met a smart, young beauty Herminia; they married that year and would have five children together.

David suffered terrible Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) most of his life, yet provided for Herminia and their children. When he retired after nearly 40 years as an electrician with the Military Sealift Command (Department of Defense), he started volunteering at the VA Hospital in San Francisco. He loved bringing donuts to patients, and spending time with them. From there, his volunteerism and veteran advocacy grew.

In his late 60s, he joined a PTSD group at the VA. 40 years after the war, he was finally getting help. He then sought out other Filipino veterans to join the group, driving many of them to the meetings. He would get them to volunteer and join him as he got active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, American Ex-POWs, Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, and Bataan Legacy Historical Society. He helped them apply for benefits, often driving them to appointments and helping them complete paperwork.

He loved decorating his truck for the Veterans Day parade in San Francisco, and his son David, Jr. (also a veteran, US Army) often drove the truck while David and his friends waved to the crowd.

David survived prostate cancer in his 70s – he drove himself to his radiation treatments. Even into his 80s he drove his grandchildren to and from school. In his late 80s and up until three years ago, he would run errands, go to meetings, or visit nearby friends by driving his scooter with the American flag waving tall from the tail.

David has been honored many times over for his volunteerism and service. He gladly signed arguments to support ballot measures for the Jefferson Union High School District. He received the Bronze Star and a Congressional Gold Medal, was named VA Volunteer of the Year, and, at 90, California Veteran of the Year for the 19th Assembly District. He has spoken on many panels locally and nationally. He has been interviewed by local and international newspapers and tv crews. He appeared in an award-winning documentary "Forgotten Soldiers" about the Philippine Scouts. If you go to the vast and stunning Manila American Cemetery — with a total of 17,206 graves, it has the largest number of graves of any cemetery for U.S. personnel killed during World War II — David is featured in the documentary showing in its new Visitor Center.

He is at rest with his wife of 72 years Herminia, his children David, Jr. and Araceli (the late Daniel Baraan), and siblings Lorenza, Ricarte, Edward, Loreto, Jr., Vicente, and Monico. He is survived by children Audrecio, Rosie (children Evan and Carly), daughter-in-law Kathleen; grandchildren Daniel, Jr. (wife Joice, children Katelinne and Kailee), Sean (wife Geraldine, children Ashley and Sean, Jr.), David, III (wife Stephanie, children Jared, Tyler, and Jayden), Tricia (husband Hector), Anthony (wife Nikki, children Anthony, Jr., Danielle, and Gabriella), as well as countless nephews, nieces, godchildren, and friends.

His services will be held at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, Holy Angels, and Skylawn Memorial Park. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance is limited.

To honor David, you may make donations to Bataan Legacy Historical Society or Bantay Bata.