John Porter Derrington enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 295-28-25) on 19 August 1935 in Nashville, Tennessee.

He married Marilyn L. Platt in 1936 in California. They had two sons, Porter W. Derrington and Donald E. Derrington.

Fireman First Class John Porter Derrington was honorable discharged on 15 August 1939 in Norfolk, Virginia.

John P. Derrington (22 Tennessee) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (05 April 1940) for Henry County, Tennessee (sheet 2A, household 41, Sandy Hill Road) along with his wife, Marilyn Derrington (21 Oregon) and two sons, Porter W. Derrington (2 Tennessee) and Donald E. Derrington (1 Tennessee). He was a painter’s helper. John had completed 4 years of high school. They were living with his parents.

He reenlisted on 01 May 1940 in Nashville, Tennessee. John was sent to Norfolk, Virginia and then was transferred in October 1940 to the Navy Asiatic Station for duty.


Water Tender 2nd Class John Porter Derrington was a crew member aboard the submarine tender, USS Canopus (AS-9). He was received on board on 12 August 1941.

On 07 December 1941, the Canopus lay at Cavite Navy Yard, as tender to Submarine Squadron 20. She survived the heavy bombing by the Japanese of the Navy Yard on 10 December. In the days that followed, her men worked day and night to repair ships damaged in the daily air raids as well as to keep her brood of submarines at sea. The Canopus sailed to Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan on Christmas Day. On 29 December 1941, she received a direct bomb hit. A 500-pound armor-piercing bomb penetrated all decks and exploded on the propeller shaft housing. Six sailors were killed mostly from scalding and fires started in the engine rooms and magazines. On 01 January 1942, she received a second direct bomb hit. This time a fragmentation bomb which exploded near the top of the smokestack, resulting in substantial damage to the ship and injuries to 16 men of the gun crews.



Upon the surrender of Bataan on the night of 08 April 1942, Canopus was ordered scuttled in Mariveles Bay, Bataan, to deny her use to the enemy. On 09 April, she was backed off into deep water under her own power and the crew scuttled the ship and abandoned ship. The crew of the Canopus were evacuated to Corregidor and served with the 4th Marine Regiment on beach defenses. Many members of her crew, part of an impromptu naval infantry battalion, directly battled Japanese army forces.



John (along with nearly all Canopus crewmen) were captured by the Japanese when Corregidor surrendered on 06 May 1942. He was taken along with 6000 other Corregidor POW's to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.



WT1c John P. Derrington (age 25), USN with S/N 295-28-25 died on 22 September 1942 of Beri-beri in Camp Cabanatuan #3. His dying words were: “Take care of the children.”



He was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #63. The cemetery at Camp #3 was about 100 yards due west from the northwest corner of camp. All graved head west. The graves were marked with a bottle at the head of the grave. The bottle contained his Death Certificate.

After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Water Tender First Class John Porter Derrington’s remains were brought back to the United States. He was buried in his final resting place on 20 April 1949 in the Fort Donelson National Cemetery, Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee – Section B, Grave 736.



All together 2729 prisoners died in the Cabanatuan POW Camp system in the 2½ years it was open. Of the 548 crew members of the USS Canopus, 212 never came home.
Contributor: steve s (47126287) • [email protected]

John Porter Derrington enlisted in the U.S. Navy (S/N 295-28-25) on 19 August 1935 in Nashville, Tennessee.

He married Marilyn L. Platt in 1936 in California. They had two sons, Porter W. Derrington and Donald E. Derrington.

Fireman First Class John Porter Derrington was honorable discharged on 15 August 1939 in Norfolk, Virginia.

John P. Derrington (22 Tennessee) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (05 April 1940) for Henry County, Tennessee (sheet 2A, household 41, Sandy Hill Road) along with his wife, Marilyn Derrington (21 Oregon) and two sons, Porter W. Derrington (2 Tennessee) and Donald E. Derrington (1 Tennessee). He was a painter’s helper. John had completed 4 years of high school. They were living with his parents.

He reenlisted on 01 May 1940 in Nashville, Tennessee. John was sent to Norfolk, Virginia and then was transferred in October 1940 to the Navy Asiatic Station for duty.


Water Tender 2nd Class John Porter Derrington was a crew member aboard the submarine tender, USS Canopus (AS-9). He was received on board on 12 August 1941.

On 07 December 1941, the Canopus lay at Cavite Navy Yard, as tender to Submarine Squadron 20. She survived the heavy bombing by the Japanese of the Navy Yard on 10 December. In the days that followed, her men worked day and night to repair ships damaged in the daily air raids as well as to keep her brood of submarines at sea. The Canopus sailed to Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan on Christmas Day. On 29 December 1941, she received a direct bomb hit. A 500-pound armor-piercing bomb penetrated all decks and exploded on the propeller shaft housing. Six sailors were killed mostly from scalding and fires started in the engine rooms and magazines. On 01 January 1942, she received a second direct bomb hit. This time a fragmentation bomb which exploded near the top of the smokestack, resulting in substantial damage to the ship and injuries to 16 men of the gun crews.



Upon the surrender of Bataan on the night of 08 April 1942, Canopus was ordered scuttled in Mariveles Bay, Bataan, to deny her use to the enemy. On 09 April, she was backed off into deep water under her own power and the crew scuttled the ship and abandoned ship. The crew of the Canopus were evacuated to Corregidor and served with the 4th Marine Regiment on beach defenses. Many members of her crew, part of an impromptu naval infantry battalion, directly battled Japanese army forces.



John (along with nearly all Canopus crewmen) were captured by the Japanese when Corregidor surrendered on 06 May 1942. He was taken along with 6000 other Corregidor POW's to Cabanatuan Prison Camp No. 3.



WT1c John P. Derrington (age 25), USN with S/N 295-28-25 died on 22 September 1942 of Beri-beri in Camp Cabanatuan #3. His dying words were: “Take care of the children.”



He was buried in the Cabanatuan prison cemetery – grave #63. The cemetery at Camp #3 was about 100 yards due west from the northwest corner of camp. All graved head west. The graves were marked with a bottle at the head of the grave. The bottle contained his Death Certificate.

After the war his remains were brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin, Water Tender First Class John Porter Derrington’s remains were brought back to the United States. He was buried in his final resting place on 20 April 1949 in the Fort Donelson National Cemetery, Dover, Stewart County, Tennessee – Section B, Grave 736.



All together 2729 prisoners died in the Cabanatuan POW Camp system in the 2½ years it was open. Of the 548 crew members of the USS Canopus, 212 never came home.
Contributor: steve s (47126287) • [email protected]