Trose Emmett Donaldson was born on 19 June 1914 in Tacoma, Washington. he was appointed a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Naval Reserve from the Merchant Marine on 25 November 1940. He served on the oiler and on the repair ship from 25 March 1941. On 13 December 1941 Donaldson was given command of the requisitioned tug "Trabajador" at Manila with the Navy's Inshore Patrol. On 25 February 1942 he was transferred to command the British salvage tug "Henry Keswick", requisitioned by the U.S. Army during the continuing siege of Manila.