Posted on Aug 2, 2016
Historic John F Kennedy's island, SOLOMON ISLANDS (the PT109 story, Pacific Ocean)
3.35K
31
22
9
9
0
2:00 a.m. on 2 August 1943, on a moonless night, Kennedy's boat was idling on one engine to avoid detection of her wake by Japanese aircraft when the crew realized they were in the path of the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which was returning to Rabaul from Vila, Kolombangara, after offloading supplies and 900 soldiers. Amagiri was traveling at a relatively high speed of between 23 and 40 knots (43 and 74 km/h; 26 and 46 mph) in order to reach harbor by dawn, when Allied air patrols were likely to appear.
The crew had less than ten seconds to get the engines up to speed, and were run down by the destroyer between Kolombangara and Ghizo Island, near 8°3′S 156°56′E. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Torpedo_Boat_PT-109
The crew had less than ten seconds to get the engines up to speed, and were run down by the destroyer between Kolombangara and Ghizo Island, near 8°3′S 156°56′E. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Torpedo_Boat_PT-109
WWII World War Two
Military History
Warfare
Survival
Swimming
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
4
4
0
SGT John " Mac " McConnell I am always reminded that JFK and GHWB served their country in wartime and came close to not making it. They were in good company as a number of other prior presidents also served. Serving seems to have gone out of fashion or style in more recent years among many presidents or presidential candidates. Now all candidate has to do is make a good show of supporting SMs and vets and gets a pass on serving. Times have certainly changed.
(4)
(0)
SGT John " Mac " McConnell
Maybe someday . Being in the service might mean something for our future leaders. Thanks Tom.
(0)
(0)
(1)
(0)
PO3 Donald Murphy
Johnson and Ford served as well. LBJ got a Silver Star flying combat missions in the South Pacific as a Navy LT. Ford served onboard a light carrier in the Pacific, also as a Navy LT.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
I've always had a fascination with the Kennedy's, all of them. I don't always agree with the methods they used to accomplish things but they sure make an interesting read.
(3)
(0)
SSgt Robert Marx
I believe JFK to be among the best of men. Anyone who would rescue swim his men through shark infested waters while grievously wounded has tenacious self-control & a warrior's spirit. I would have voted for him had I had the opportunity. He was of the same fiber as Harry Truman.
(3)
(0)
SFC Richard Giles
SSgt Robert Marx - I agree with you. But if what is written about his private life and behind the scenes antics is even half true he sure did live a double life. As I think we can say about a lot of us.
(1)
(0)
SSgt Robert Marx
SFC Richard Giles - yes, sir, JFK was a womanizer. The press operated on a different level then and actually did not publicize that fact. Kennedy's nerve was as steal and the Soviet folly in Cuba with placing active nukes on our shores took us to the thresh hold of global war. He saved our chestnuts and so his heroism is above reproach.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
CW5 Andrew J. Foreman
SGT John " Mac " McConnell - Not sure I totally agree with great man. He was a WWII vet and give high marks for that. However, he did cheat on his wife and was an okay President.
(2)
(0)
PO3 Donald Murphy
CW5 Andrew J. Foreman - He was a little more than "okay". He accelerated the space program, gave us the White House "hotline" and civil rights among others. Looking at him with 1963 eyes, the cheating didn't exist because the press of the day had restraint. The true indicator of his success is that the opposition didn't want him continuing it and felt it was so important that they killed him over it.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google