PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy

Doyle (American Gun, with Chris Kyle) uses archival research and access to J.F.K.'s own unpublished account of the 1943 sinking of the naval vessel he commanded in the South Pacific to offer new details about the story that made Kennedy a wartime hero. The facts are dramatic. In the dark of night, a Japanese destroyer split the patrol torpedo boat in half. Of the 13 men aboard, two were killed and their bodies were never recovered. The survivors, led by the 25-year-old J.F.K., endured a harrowing week. Crewmember Patrick McMahon was badly burned, and Kennedy swam for four hours, dragging McMahon by his life jacket. The first island they reached was devoid of drinking water or food, and Kennedy swam out to a nearby passage to try to flag down a passing American boat. Eventually, with the aid of some Solomon Islanders, all 11 were rescued. While there are those who believe the disaster could have been averted in the first place, Kennedy's heroic efforts afterwards are not in dispute. Doyle, who admits to being a Kennedy partisan, nonetheless offers a balanced account, and explains how this incident paid a major role in propelling J.F.K. into the White House. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris Endeavor. (Oct.)