Stepanoff, George Vladimirovich. B: 04/23/1893 (or c.1887)Moscow, Russia. Father: Vladimir Stepanoff. Mother: Katherine Vassakovitch. (Vassilkovitch). Uncle: V. Vassakovitch(Vassilkovitch) Event: 05/–/1923 George V. Stepanoff was a passenger on the U.S.A.T. Merritt sailing from Manila, Philippines on May 1923 arriving at San Francisco on July 1, 1923. He is married, age 36. Occupation: Marine captain He speaks, reads & writes in English & Russian. Nationality: Russian. Last residence: Vladivostock, Siberia. Nearest relative: Uncle: V. Vassakevitch in Vladivostock, Siberia. Final
destination: San Francisco, CA. Born in Moscow, Russia. Event: 04/01/1930 U.S. Federal Census of San Pedro, Los Angeles Co., CA., CA shows George V. Stepanoff, at Coast Guard Section Base Seventeen, San Pedro, CA. He is age 36, married, age at first marriage 26, born in Russia, both parents born in Russia. Emigrated to U.S. in 1923 (Na). Occupation: Boatswain.

Other family members on USAT Merrit in 1923:

Stepanoff, George V., age 36, b.1887
Stepanoff, Valentina P., age 25, b.1898
Stepanoff, Hennadius V., age 26, b.1897
Stepanoff, Knipa G., age 2, b.1921
Stenpanoff, Alexander, age 27, b.1896
Steponoff, Zeneida P., age 27, b.1896
Stepanoff, Alexander A (or S.) age 24. b.1899

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Imperial_Russian_Navy_destroyers#Novik-class.C2.A0destroyer_.281260-1620_tons.29.2C_49_ships

There is no mention of the ships being transferred to the Japanese, but several other ships were interned in France and then transferred back to the Soviet Union. Presumably ships in the Pacific would have been interned in Japan.

Superb post. Thank you for giving us an incredible and uniquely American story.