John Anton Lemke
Graduating
Class of 1936
Served in
World War II
Private First Class
John Anton Lemke
Army
200th Coast Artillery Regiment
Coast Artillery Corps
Hometown
Kaukauna, WI
Date of Birth
Location of Death
South China Sea
Date of Death
Location of Burial
Highland Memorial Park, Appleton, Wisconsin
More About Private First Class Lemke
Private First Class Lemke enlisted 10 Mar 1941.
Pfc. Lemke was captured in 1942 by Japanese forces while serving in the Philippine Islands, and was sent to POW Camp #2 near Davao, Mindanao, Philippines where 540 other American POW were held. His capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942, and the last report was made on October 24, 1944. Based on these two reports, John was imprisoned for at least 901 days (2 years and ~7 months), one of the longest captivities recorded. 2nd Lt. Lemke died in the sinking of the Arisan Maru on October 24, 1944.