Millions of Americans perceive John F. Kennedy incorrectly. And from movies to famous TV shows and even anecdotes, we have been presented with a foolproof, incorrect depiction of his life and legacy. Before John F. Kennedy was a charismatic senator, a trailblazing candidate, or a world leader facing down global superpowers, he was a young naval lieutenant commanding a sluggish, wooden motor torpedo boat in the pitch-black waters of the South Pacific. The events of August 2, 1943, did not just test his survival instincts. In fact, they birthed a legend that would shape his political destiny.
At about 2:30 a.m., on a moonless, starless night, disaster struck in Blackett Strait. The Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which was a massive 2,000-ton warship carrying hundreds of men, suddenly appeared out of the darkness traveling at high speed.
On the bridge of PT 109, lookout Ross and Lieutenant Kennedy caught sight of the churning white wake just seconds before impact. Recognizing the danger too late to maneuver or fire effective torpedoes, the massive warship slammed directly into the smaller American vessel, slicing it in two and instantly igniting its fuel tanks. Harold Marney and Kirksey were tragically killed in the crash; their bodies were never recovered.
The Controversy
Years later, the incident sparked an international controversy that soured relations between former Japanese naval officers. For instance, Captain Katsumori Yamashiro insisted the collision was purely accidental and claimed his subordinate, Lieutenant Commander Kohei Hanami, fabricated a story of an intentional ramming to sensationalize Kennedy’s life history. The dispute exposed underlying friction in the Japanese chain of command, proving that even in tragedy, post-war narratives are fiercely contested.
For the eleven surviving crew members, the immediate aftermath was a harrowing test of endurance; they said that, while floating in fuel-slicked water surrounded by fire, Kennedy demonstrated remarkable leadership and resilience. Despite suffering from severe back injuries that already plagued his daily life, Kennedy towed a badly burned crew member, McMahon, for an hour through a strong current back to the floating hull of the wreckage. Over the next several days, the crew swam to nearby islands, hunted for scraps of food, and avoided enemy patrols. Kennedy’s relentless determination, swimming out into Ferguson Passage night after night to try to intercept passing PT boats and later carving a rescue message onto a green coconut husk for local islanders to deliver ultimately saved his men.
Seven days after the ramming, the survivors were safely rescued. The harrowing ordeal showcased a cool-headed courage under pressure that would become the cornerstone of Kennedy’s public persona.
If you want to know the entire story and many aspects of John F. Kennedy’s life, explore the detailed aftermath and historical accounts of PT 109 in Eddy Joseph Neyts’ Life is Unfair: The Truths and Lies about John F. Kennedy, Tome II.
Life is Unfair (Tome II) is an expansive, revisionist-leaning historical deep dive into the life, presidency, political strategies, and personal complexities of the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. Moving away from sugary “Camelot” myths, the book systematically deconstructs core milestones and controversies of JFK’s career. It ranges from his secret diplomatic maneuvers regarding the Vietnam War (such as Torbert Macdonald’s mission to Diem) and the realities of NSAM 263 vs. NSAM 273 to his naval service on PT 109, his stance on McCarthyism, family dynamics and accusations of nepotism, relations with Congress and the press, and the complex private reality of his marriage to Jacqueline.
Written with a unique blend of a dedicated historian’s passion and the author’s personal memoir-like reflections on discovering and preserving the historical truth, this book will reveal the truth about the greatest president in American history.
Please visit the author’s website to learn more and purchase your copies of both volumes: https://eddyneyts.com/