World War II Honoree

Philip Colby Elliot

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Essex Fells, New Jersey

Honored By

The Elliot Family

ABLE BODIED SEAMAN. SERVED ON THE MS STANVAC CALCUTTA, GALLANT SHIP OF THE MERCHANT MARINE. ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 1942 WHILE ABOUT 500 MILES OFF RECIFE, BRAZIL THEY ENGAGED THE GERMAN ENEMY RAIDER STIER. DURING THE BATTLE THE GERMAN SHIP FIRED 148 ROUNDS AT THE MS STANVAC CALCUTTA AND ONE TORPEDO. THE MS STANVAC CALCUTTA GUN CREWS KEPT FIRING UNTIL THE AMMUNITION MAGAZINE WAS HIT AND THE SHIP BEGAN TO SINK. ON JULY 27, 1942 HE WAS ONE OF TEN MEN TRANSFERRED TO THE MS CHARLOTTE SCHLIEMANN. THESE MEN LANDED AT YOKOHAMA IN OCTOBER 1942 AND WERE IMPRISONED AT CAMP FUKUOKA. AFTER BEING DECLARED DEAD IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS AMONG THE 27 OF THE MS STANVAC CALCUTTA'S 42 MERCHANT MARINE CREW AND 9 NAVAL ARMED GUARD WHO SURVIVED THE BATTLE. HE SURVIVED INTERNMENT FOR THREE YEARS IN JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS.