Vining
Virgil V. Vining's Biographical Sketch


    When WW-2 commenced, I was stationed on the USS Bittern in Manila Bay in the Philippines.   This ship was a Navy mine planter.   It was bombed December 10, 1941.   I then boarded another mine planter, the USS Finch and it was bombed April 10, 1942.   I then went to Corregidor and was there when it surrendered May 2, 1942.

    As a POW, I worked on the Nichols Field detail until August, 1944.   I then rode a Japanese cargo ship to Moji, Japan, and was sent to the POW Camp Nurami;  worked in a locomotive factory in Nagoya.   I was liberated September, 1945 by the Red Cross and flew home to the United States and the Navy hospital in Norman, OK.

    I went back to full duty May 10, 1946 and retired from the Navy in 1954 after twenty years service."

    Virgil Vining

    Update: Virgil Vining died March 8, 2004
    at Boswell Hospital, Sun City, Arizona at the age of 92 years