PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy is a non-fiction book by best-selling author William Doyle released by Harper-Collins in 2015 that describes the ramming and sinking of future President John F. Kennedy's Patrol Torpedo Boat 109 by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri off the coast of Kolombangara Island in the Solomon Island Chain on August 2, 1943. The book also chronicles the crew's difficult three mile swim to Plum Pudding Island and the subsequent week of living there and on adjacent Olasana Island until Patrol Torpedo Boat PT-157 rescued them on August 8. The novel also discusses the considerable impact the experience had in helping to launch Kennedy's political career, beginning with his election to the House of Representatives in 1946. JFK's aid David Powers has written, "without PT 109, there never would have been a President John F. Kennedy".
Crew on PT-109s last mission
The following men were aboard on PT-109's last mission:
John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTJG), commanding officer (Boston, Massachusetts). Leonard J. Thom, ensign (ENS), Ohio State football athlete, and excellent swimmer, executive officer (Sandusky, Ohio). George H. R. "Barney" Ross, Ensign (ENS) On board as an observer after losing his own boat. Attempted to operate the 37 mm gun but suffered from night blindness. (Highland Park, Illinois). Raymond Albert, Seaman 2/c, gunner. Killed in action 1943 (Akron, Ohio). Charles A. "Bucky" Harris, gunner's mate 3/c (GM3) (Watertown, Massachusetts). William Johnston, Motor Machinist's Mate 2/c (MM2) (Dorchester, Massachusetts). Andrew Jackson Kirksey, Torpedoman's Mate 2/c (TM2) Killed in collision. (Reynolds, Georgia). John E. Maguire, Radioman 2/c (RM2) (Dobbs Ferry, New York). Harold William Marney, Motor Machinist's Mate 2/c (MM2). Killed in collision, manning turret closest to impact point. (Springfield, Massachusetts) Edman Edgar Mauer, Quartermaster, cook, 3/c (QM3) (St. Louis, Missouri). Patrick H. "Pappy" McMahon, Motor Machinist's Mate 1/c (MM1) (Wyanet, Illinois). Only man in engine room during collision, was badly burned, but recovered from his wounds. Only member of the crew besides Kennedy mentioned by name in the popular 1960's PT-109 song. Ray L. Starkey, Torpedoman's Mate 2/c (TM2) (Garden Grove, California). Gerard E. Zinser, Motor Machinist's Mate 1/c (MM1) (Belleville, Illinois). Erroneously called "Gerald" in many publications, Zinser remained in the Navy for a career following the end of World War II, eventually retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. The last living survivor of PT-109, he died in Florida in 2001.
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Shipwrecked August 2
Off the coast of the round volcanic island, Kolombangara in the Solomons in the early morning hours of August 2, 1943, the Japanese destroyer Amagiri cut through John F. Kennedy's Motor Torpedo Boat 109, creating a 100 foot high ball of flame, and instantly killing two deckhands, nineteen year old William Marney, and twenty-five-year-old father, Andrew Kirksey.
Swims to Ferguson Passage, Olasana and Naru Islands
After the collision, Kennedy and Ensign Thom gathered the crew by the sinking bow of PT-109 and later completed a 3.5 mile swim to Plum Pudding Island with Kennedy towing badly burned crewman Patrick McMahon. After resting, Kennedy swam on August 2, to Ferguson Passage to attempt to hail a passing American PT boat, though none appeared that night. On 4 August, he and Ensign Lenny Thom assisted his injured and hungry crew on a demanding swim south to Olasana Island which was visible to all from Plum Pudding Island. They swam against a strong current, and once again, Kennedy towed McMahon by his life vest. They were pleased to discover Olasana had ripe coconuts, though there was still no fresh water.
On the following day, 5 August, Kennedy and George Ross swam for one hour to Naru Island, visible at an additional distance of about southeast from Olasana, in search of help and food and because it was closer to Ferguson Passage where Kennedy might see or swim to a passing PT boat on patrol. Kennedy and Ross discovered a small canoe, packages of crackers and candy, and a fifty-gallon drum of potable water left by the Japanese, and Kennedy paddled both back to Olasana in the acquired canoe to provide his crew. It was then that Kennedy first spoke to native Melanesian coastwatchers Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana on Olasana Island.
Fearing the castaways were Japanese, but finally realizing they were with Americans, the coastwatchers brought a few yams, vegetables, and cigarettes from their dugout canoe and vowed to help the starving crew. But it would take two more days for a full rescue.