One of the most famous small-craft actions in naval history began that night, the first of August 1943, in the Solomon Islands, between Lieutenant John F. Kennedy and a Japanese destroyer. It was a harrowing experience that would take leadership and show the mettle of the man, as Kennedy later accounted for it, with characteristic understatement, “It was involuntary. They sank my boat”.
Within the dark waters of Blackett Strait, PT-109 was one of fifteen Patrol Torpedo boats assigned to intercept the “Tokyo Express,” a Japanese supply convoy. What happened was a farce. Although the U.S. boats launched thirty torpedoes, they didn’t hit the Japanese destroyers. PT-109, commanded by Kennedy, was one of the few boats remaining for a second try.
At about 2:30 a.m., a Japanese destroyer, later identified as the Amagiri, emerged from the darkness and collided with PT-109, slicing it in two. The impact threw Kennedy around the cockpit and tossed most of the crew into the water. Engineer Patrick McMahon, who was below deck, miraculously escaped despite having been severely burned.
In the immediate aftermath, Kennedy’s quick thinking and leadership were of crucial importance. He ordered the men to abandon the ship, fearing that it would blow up, but when the fire subsided, he directed them into the wreckage. He swam out to rescue McManus and Charles Harris, towing the injured McMahon in by a life-vest strap. There they clung to the bow of PT–109, floating on its bottom, with the crew reduced to ten men for twelve hours.
As no rescue seemed in sight, Kennedy took matters into his own hands and led his men in an exhausting swim toward Plum Pudding Island, three and a half miles away. Kennedy, formerly on the Harvard swim team, towed McMahon by clenching the life vest strap in his teeth. No food or water was available on this island, which the men called “Bird Island” because of its bushes covered in guano.
Over the next few days, Kennedy’s swimming skills would prove to be crucial. He swam into Ferguson Passage to signal passing PT boats, but again, no luck. On August 4, he guided them to Olasana Island in search of fresh water and food. The island did provide them with some coconuts but no fresh water. The crew was still wary of Japanese patrols.
On the 5th of August, Kennedy and Ross swam to Naru Island where they met a Japanese supply box with some candy and a tin of water. They met two islander scouts, Biiku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, who were working for the Allies. He scratched a message on a coconut husk: “NAURO ISL COMMANDER. .. NATIVE KNOWS POS’IT. .. HE CAN PILOT. .. 11 ALIVE NEED SMALL BOAT. .. KENNEDY.”
The natives managed to bring this message around, and on the night of August 7, he was taken to the post of Lt. A. Reginald Evans. That same night, guided by Kennedy himself, PT-157 and PT-171 rescued the remaining crew members from Olasana Island.
Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart. The story, popularized by writer John Hersey, followed Kennedy into his political career. That reputation as a leader is cemented: to this day, PT-109’s ordeal speaks for itself as a case of courage and resourcefulness against almost insurmountable odds.