Commanding PT-109
In April 1943, Kennedy was assigned to Motor Torpedo
Squadron TWO, and on April 24 he took command of PT-109, which was based at the
time on Tulagi Island in the Solomons. On the night of August 1–2, PT-109 was on its
31st mission with fourteen other PTs ordered to block or repel four Japanese
destroyers and float planes carrying food, supplies, and 900 Japanese soldiers
to the Vila Plantation garrison on the southern tip of the Solomon's
Kolombangara Island. Intelligence had been sent to Kennedy's Commander Thomas
G. Warfield expecting the arrival of the large Japanese naval force that would
pass on the evening of August 1. Of the 24 torpedoes fired that night by eight
of the American PT's, not one hit the Japanese convoy. On that dark and moonless night, Kennedy
spotted a Japanese destroyer heading north on its return from the base of
Kolombangara around 2:00 a.m., and attempted to turn to attack, when PT-109 was
rammed suddenly at an angle and cut in half by the destroyer Amagiri, killing
two PT-109 crew members.
Kennedy gathered around the wreckage his surviving ten crew
members to vote on whether to "fight or surrender". Kennedy stated:
"There's nothing in the book about a situation like this. A lot of you men
have families and some of you have children. What do you want to do? I have
nothing to lose." Shunning surrender, around 2:00 p.m. on August 2, the
men swam towards Plum Pudding island 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of the
remains of PT-109. Despite re-injuring
his back in the collision, Kennedy towed a badly burned crewman through the
water to the island with a life jacket strap clenched between his teeth.[45]
Kennedy made an additional two-mile swim the night of August 2, 1943, to
Ferguson Passage to attempt to hail a passing American PT boat to expedite his
crew's rescue and attempted to make the trip on a subsequent night, in a
damaged canoe found on Naru Island where he had swum with Ensign George Ross to
look for food.
On August 4, 1943, he and Lenny Thom assisted his injured
and hungry crew on a demanding swim 3.75 miles (6.04 km) southeast to Olasana
Island, which was visible to the crew from their desolate home on Plum Pudding
Island. They swam against a strong current, and once again Kennedy towed the
badly burned motor machinist "Pappy" MacMahon by his life vest. The
somewhat larger Olasana Island had ripe coconut trees, but still no fresh
water. On the following day, August 5,
Kennedy and Ensign George Ross made the one hour swim to Naru Island, an
additional distance of about .5 miles (0.80 km) southwest, in search of help
and food. Kennedy and Ross found a small canoe, packages of crackers, candy and
a fifty-gallon drum of drinkable water left by the Japanese, which Kennedy
paddled another half mile back to Olasana in the acquired canoe to provide his
hungry crew. Lieutenant "Bud" Liebenow, a friend and former tentmate
of Kennedy's, rescued Kennedy and his crew on Olasana Island on August 8, 1943
aboard his boat, PT-157, with the help of coast watcher Lieutenant Reginald
Evans and several native coast watchers, particularly Biuku Gasa and Eroni
Kumana.
Commanding PT-59
Kennedy took only a month to recover and returned to duty,
commanding of the PT-59, first removing the torpedo tubes and depth charges and
refitting her in one month into a heavily armed gunboat mounting two automatic
40mm guns and ten .50 caliber Browning machine guns. The plan was to attach one
gunboat to each PT boat section to add gun range and power against barges and
shore batteries which the 59 encountered on several occasions in mid-October
through mid-November. On October 8,
1943, Kennedy was promoted to full lieutenant. On November 2, Kennedy's PT-59 took part with
two other PTs in the successful rescue of 40-50 marines. The 59 acted as a
shield from shore fire and protected them as they escaped on two rescue landing
craft at the base of the Warrior River at Choiseul Island, taking ten marines
aboard and delivering them to safety. Under doctor's orders, Kennedy was relieved of
his command of PT-59 on November 18, and sent to the hospital on Tulagi. From there he returned to the United States in
early January 1944. After receiving treatment for his back injury, he was
released from active duty in late 1944.
Kennedy was hospitalized at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in
Chelsea, Massachusetts from May to December 1944. On June 12, he was presented the Navy and
Marine Corps Medal for his heroic actions on August 1–2, 1943, and the Purple
Heart Medal for his back injury while on PT-109. Beginning in January 1945, Kennedy spent three
more months recovering from his back injury at Castle Hot Springs, a resort and
temporary military hospital in Arizona. After the war, Kennedy felt that the medal he
had received for heroism was not a combat award and asked that he be
reconsidered for the Silver Star Medal for which he had been recommended
initially. Kennedy's father also requested that his son receive the Silver
Star, which is awarded for gallantry in action.
On August 12, 1944, Kennedy's older brother, Joe Jr., a navy
pilot, was killed while volunteering for a special and hazardous air mission.
His explosive-laden plane blew up when the plane's bombs detonated prematurely
while the aircraft was flying over the English Channel.
On March 1, 1945, Kennedy retired from the Navy Reserve on
physical disability and was honorably discharged with the full rank of
lieutenant. When later asked how he
became a war hero, Kennedy joked: "It was easy. They cut my PT boat in
half."
In 1950, the Department of the Navy offered Kennedy a Bronze
Star Medal in recognition of his meritorious service, which he declined. Kennedy's two original medals are currently on
display at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Military awards
Kennedy's military decorations and awards include the Navy
and Marine Corps Medal; Purple Heart Medal; American Defense Service Medal;
American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three 3⁄16"
bronze stars; and the World War II Victory Medal.
For extremely heroic conduct as Commanding Officer of Motor
Torpedo Boat 109 following the collision and sinking of that vessel in the
Pacific War area on August 1–2, 1943. Unmindful of personal danger, Lieutenant
(then Lieutenant, Junior Grade) Kennedy unhesitatingly braved the difficulties
and hazards of darkness to direct rescue operations, swimming many hours to
secure aid and food after he had succeeded in getting his crew ashore. His
outstanding courage, endurance and leadership contributed to the saving of
several lives and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United
States Naval Service.— James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy
No comments:
Post a Comment