Ancestry.com has 49 pages of muster rolls for the USS Penguin covering September & October `41 but there is no George Farmer nor any Farmer listed in the crew lists for that time. Nor is there any George Farmer listed in NARA`s files for prisoners of the japanese. If your friend can gives us any more information on George maybe i can track down where he was.
I don't know when I will see him again, but will pass along info to our mutual friend, John.
I couldn't find him either. Found a few Army guys with his name, but on one in the Navy.
I emailed this gentleman, this morning...
Dear Eric:
I am conducting research for a new friend, regarding the USS Penguin and one of her crew, George Farmer. While performing research this morning, ran across this page with info about your uncle, Lieutenant James William Haviland. I read you had discovered some papers from the war, and wondered if you ran across any rosters from the ship?
I am hoping you can shed more light on the Penguin and then I turn I can pass along the info to my friend Doug. He would be very grateful.
Kindly,
Marion
Here's the page: http://navalwarfare....guin-am-33.html
I heard back from Eric this week (AUGUST 2012), and here's what he had to say:
Dear Marion:
The only information that I have are some family papers of the Captain (my grandmother's brother) and internet sources. Sorry, no roosters. I was really curious if he had served in China or the Philippines too.
I did read a letter by Chief Robert O'Brien which described the events of the Japanese attack and aftermath. http://guampedia.com...risoner-of-war/
Very interesting! The letter truly outlined the battle in a more personal way than the official military reports that I have read. Everything went wrong that morning. Ordinary servicemen, thrust into a no win situation, who rose above themselves and did their duty with great bravery and sacrifice. Truly moving to me. They make me so proud!
My other grandmother had a brother who also served in the Pacific. He was a Marine who fought on Iwo Jima. The family name is Snell, he was born in Indiana, and lived in Texas after the war. Can you suggest how I can find out more information about my other granduncle? The events of his life are not as well documented as Rear Admiral James Haviland (he continued in the Navy after his release).
It's funny, I've traveled to Japan twice, and had no idea that I was only a few miles away from the prison camp where he was kept for all those years.
Yours truly,
Eric Smith
Grandson of Jeanne Haviland (sister of Captain Haviland)
I am reading the letter from the Chief right now, and will pass along all the info to my buddy. Thanks so much Eric.
There's a Warden George Farmer on the Veteran's Walk (veteranswalk.org):
Additional information may be available to those doing family research.
Letter Veteran Honored Sec Row 1st Line 2nd Line 3rd Line WARDEN GEORGE FARMER 5 15 WARDEN GEORGE FARMER U.S. NAVY WW II
Christoph
Another question: Which USS Penguin was he looking for? You have found AM-33, but there was also ASR-12, commissioned in 1944, says Wikipedia. So if Farmer cerved on ASR-12, we cannot find him on a roster of AM-33.
Christoph
I have no idea. The gentleman inquiring only had the name and not much else. I am going on almost nothing....
Oh and of course thanks for finding what you did already. 
George was on the 2nd USS Penguin ASR- 12
From Ancestry.com. Muster roll, Report of Changes for USS Penguin - ASR-12
muster rolls on commissioning date, 31 May 1944
Line 30, Farmer, George Ernest, service number 622 81 01, Cox, date of enlistment: 4 March 1942, place: Detroit, MI.; recieved aboard 31 May 1944 from Recieving Station, Navy Yard, Charleston, SC.
Line 18, George was tranferred off th Penguin 17 Nov 1945:
Problem solved, thanks to both of you. Can't wait to share this with him. I know he will be so surprised to find anything at all, let alone the muster rolls. Two gold stars for each of ya!
I had mistyped hi S/N in the previous post (corrected now) Georges S?N is 622 81 01
Found 2 more for George E Farmer, s/n 622 81 01.
July 1943 he was at the Naval Mine Warfare Test Station, Solomons, Maryland. On 5 July 1943 he went aboard the USS Wassucc - CMc3, a coastal minesweeper, as a passenger for temporary duty, He was transfered back to Naval Mine Warfare Test Station, Solomons, Maryland on 17 July `43 at end of temp duty.
