Lonnie Vinson

Lonnie Vinson enlisted in the Navy eleven days after Pearl Harbor. He was stationed as a member of the Naval Armed Guard aboard a merchant ship in the Atlantic. He was fighting on the critical frontline in the of the Battle of the Atlantic- the United States and Great Brittan’s battle to supply strategic (and Basic) war materials to remain in the fight against Nazi Germany. On May 29, 1942 the Stanvac Calcutta, a tanker, sailed from Montevideo, Uruguay heading north unescorted. Aboard the ship was a crew of 42 Merchant Marines and Seaman 2nd Class Lonnie Vinson and eight other Naval Armed Guards. On June 6 off the coast Recife Brazil the ship was spotted by the German raider Stier [Schiff 23]. When the lookout spotted the German ensign/flag, the captain ordered full steam and attempted to out distance the enemy. Both deck guns fire 20-25 shells each. The heavier armed Stier responded with 148 rounds and torpedoes. The Stanvac Calcutta soon became dead in the water, sinking, the 37 surviving crew members were taken aboard the Stier. On June 12 the Stier meet supply tanker Charlotte Schliemann and transferred her prisoner to this ship.On May 29, 1942 the Stanvac Calcutta, a tanker, sailed from Montevideo, Uruguay heading north unescorted. Aboard the ship was a crew of 42 Merchant Marines and Seaman 2nd Class Lonnie Vinson and eight other Naval Armed Guards. The prisoners were transferred to the Japanese SS Nanking were the remained until transferred to prison camps. Seaman Vinson was imprisoned at Pow Camp #3-B Kokuro in Fukuoka Japan at Yalata Steel Works. Yalata steel major producer of steel for Japan. Camp was liberated on September 13, 1945