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

Doyle (coauthor, Navy SEALs) presents a gripping account of John F. Kennedy's monumental test of leadership and survival during World War II, and how his actions set him on the path to political greatness. During the summer of 1943, Kennedy commanded PT 109, a modest Navy torpedo warship. In the hostile waters off the Solomon Islands he skippered missions mainly aimed at sinking Japanese supply vessels. On August 2, virtually without warning, a Japanese destroyer struck and severely damaged PT 109—thus beginning an intense struggle by Kennedy and his crew for survival. The young officer guided his men as they swam through shark-infested seas to an uninhabited island. From the island, although plagued with severe back pain, Kennedy swam solo into enemy territory to signal for recovery. Numerous retellings of this wartime calamity have been generated including John Domagalski's Into the Dark Water, which focuses on the history of the vessel.