Kumana, Eroni (scout), 138–139, 143–153, 145, 156–157, 160–161, 164, 165, 169, 171, 172–173, 204, 241, 265–269
Lambu Lambu Cove, 187, 188, 190
Landing Craft, Personnel Large (LCPLs), 189
Landing Ship, Tank (LST 449), 35–36, 37–38
Lanphier, Thomas G., 40
Larson, Bryant L., 51
Lasky, Betty, 27
Lasky, Joe, 27
Lawford, Patricia Kennedy, 213, 214, 269
Lawrence, T. E., 17
Lawrence, William J., 165
Leorava Island, 134, 136
Liebenow, William F. “Bud,” Jr. (commander PT 157), 53–54, 56, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74–75, 76, 80, 82–84, 85, 92, 108, 112, 131, 160–162, 164–172, 166, 174, 202, 227, 273–276
Life magazine, 184, 200, 201
Lind, Jennifer, 254
Lodge, Henry Cabot, Jr., 211–212, 218, 220, 221
London, Jack, 121
Look magazine, 240
Lowrey, John, 73, 80, 83, 84, 91, 92, 104, 105, 112, 131, 161
Luce, Clare Boothe, 18, 173
Lumbari Island, 59
MacArthur, Douglas, 21, 25, 73, 214, 243
Macht, Ray, 165, 169
Macmillan, Harold, 259
Maguire, John Edward (PT 109 survivor)
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 80, 85, 86, 92, 94, 96, 97, 105
on Jack Paar show, 271
with JFK on PT 59, 182
joins crew of PT 109, 47, 48
lost at sea, 108, 110, 112, 117, 122, 124
rescue of, 150, 176
survival efforts, 136, 139
Mailer, Norman, 223
Makuti Island, 74
Mandel, Lee, 14
Marines, U.S., rescue mission of, 188–190
Marion, Francis, 27
Marney, Harold William (PT 109 crewman), 70, 98, 231
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 92, 93, 96
disappearance of, 96, 112, 171
joins crew of PT 109, 47, 48
Martinson, Leslie, 240
Marvell, Andrew, 195
Mauer, Edman Edgar (PT 109 survivor), 64, 78
appearance with Senator Kennedy, 224–225
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 96, 97
on Jack Paar show, 271
with JFK on PT 59, 182
joins crew of PT 109, 44, 47, 48
lost at sea, 108, 110, 114, 117
rescue of, 159, 176
M’Banika Island, 45
McCawley, USS, 62
McKelvy, Sydney Lawford, 269
McMahon, Patrick H. “Pappy” (PT 109 survivor)
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 92, 97, 99
on the front line, 64, 70
on Jack Paar show, 271–272
at JFK’s inaugural festivities, 235
joins crew of PT 109, 47–48, 50
lost at sea, 109, 111, 112, 114, 116–117, 118, 122–124
rescue of, 158, 159, 170, 171, 176–177
survival efforts, 136, 140, 141
Meade, John, 61–62
Meredith, James, 256–257
Michener, James, 41
Midway, Battle of, 193
Miller, Hugh Barr, 120
Mitsubishi, 252–253
Miyazaki, Shuichi, 59
Miyazaki, Takashi, 58
Moa, HMNZS (New Zealand minesweeper), 39
Morison, Samuel Eliot, 36–37, 155
Munda Island, 67, 128, 181
Mussolini, Benito, 19
Nakasone, Yasuhiro, 242
Naru Island, 142, 143–144, 147, 149–159
Nasaw, David, 28
Nash, Benjamin Franklin, 125–126, 127, 128, 130, 149, 153, 202
National Geographic Society expedition, 264–268
Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 192
Navy Log (TV show), 224
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, 200
New Georgia Islands, 53, 67, 113, 181
New Guinea, 37
New York Times, 27, 174–175, 184, 234, 239, 260, 261
New Yorker, Hersey’s PT 109 article in, 201–205
Newport, Frank, 261–262
Newsweek, 240
Nikoloric, Leonard, 57
9th Marine Battalion, 67
Nixon, Richard M., 229, 234, 264
Nomura, Ryosuke, 58–59
North American Newspaper Alliance, 195
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 259
O’Donnell, Kenny, 210–211
Ogilvie, Lawrence, 229–230
Olasana Island, 140–142, 144–152, 158–159
Onozeki, Fujio, 222
Operation A (I-Go Sakusen), 37–39, 40
Ormsby-Gore, David, 16
P-38 Lightning aircraft, U.S., 39–40
P-40 fighter aircraft, New Zealand, 134, 142, 190
Paar, Jack, 269, 271
Palmer, Paul, 201–202
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii attack, 22, 37
Peleliu, USS (aircraft carrier), 268–269
Peters, Charles, 227–228
Pius XII, Pope, 19
Plaza Hotel, New York City, 24–25, 26, 29–30, 235
Plum Pudding Island, 115, 118, 119–141
Potter, Philip A., 74, 87, 91, 92, 104–105, 112, 131
Powers, David, 210–211, 235, 238
Prados, John, 193
Pritchett, Florence, 196, 197, 199
Profiles in Courage (Kennedy), 223
PT 59, JFK’s command of, 181–193, 183, 224, 273
PT 109
in Battle of Blackett Strait, 81–104
book about, 237, 239
collision, explosion, and aftermath, 5–9, 95–97, 100–103, 105–159
combat in the Solomons, 53–106
construction and design of, 41–43
crew at JFK’s inaugural festivities, 235
firepower of, 66–67, 68, 77
Hersey’s PT 109 article, 197, 199–205, 210, 224, 227–228, 231
JFK’s command of, 40, 41–106, 49
JFK’s search for captain of Amagiri, 212, 215–216, 218–220, 241–242
lost narrative of sinking of, 313–314
media coverage after incident, 179–180
movie about, 239–241, 263, 272
Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 192
Oval Office with mementoes of, 237
rescue of survivors, 160–178
search for wreckage of, 264–268
story and JFK’s political career, 207–212, 223, 224–226, 225, 226–228, 229, 257–258
survivors after World War II, 271–273
survivors of, 8–9, 96–100, 104, 105–159
survivors on JFK’s PT 59, 182
television reenactment of PT 109 incident, 224
PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II (Donovan), 239
PT 109 movie, 239–241, 263, 272
PT (patrol torpedo) boats, 3–4, 21–22, 25, 26
as barge-hunters, 57, 66
barge-hunting gunships, conversion to, 181–182
in Battle of Blackett Strait, 81–106
Divisions A, B, C and R, Warfield’s, 73–74, 84, 86, 87, 89, 91
JFK into PT boat service, 29–30, 31, 32, 33–34
life aboard, 43–44
Mark VIII torpedoes on, 55–56, 75, 94
mass PT boat attacks, 68–80, 180–181
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 2, 34, 40, 42, 59, 165
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, 25
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 9, 71, 73, 165, 176
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 10, 60, 63, 176, 188
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Training Center, Melville, Rhode Island, 33, 46, 48, 71, 77, 196, 200
PT 23, 22
PT 47, 45
PT 59, 53
PT 101, 33
PT 103, 89
PT 104, 88
PT 105, 42, 50, 76, 89, 90, 91, 92, 104, 105, 128, 131
PT 106, 88
PT 107, 43, 74, 87–88, 133, 138
PT 108, 88
PT 117, 70
PT 157, 73, 76, 80, 82, 84, 85, 92, 108, 131, 160, 161–162, 164–172, 166, 202, 227, 273
PT 159, 63, 73, 82, 84
PT 162, 73, 80, 83, 85, 92, 105–106, 112, 131, 229–230
PT 163, 74, 87
PT 164, 70
PT 166, 77
PT 169, 74, 87, 91–92, 104, 106, 112
PT 171, 74, 86–87, 162, 167
PT 172, 74, 87
PT 174, 74, 89
PT 199, 274
PT 796, 235
PT boat base, Rendova Island, 59–62, 61, 67–80, 68, 88, 131, 147–148, 160–162, 172, 180
PT boat base, Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 41–53, 45, 175–178, 181–182, 184, 193–194
PT boat service and candidates, 29–31, 32, 33–34
PT men killed in action, 96
radar-equipped, 56, 76, 81–82, 84, 87
Rabaul, New Britain (Japanese air and naval base) at, 2, 7, 37, 45, 58, 91, 187
Ratchford, Fred T., 165, 170
Reader’s Digest, 180
Hersey’s PT 109 article in, 200, 201–202, 205, 210, 227–228, 231
“Red Dragonfly” (folk song), 249–250
Reed, James “Jim,” 16, 177, 184
Reischauer, Edwin O., 247, 250–251, 262
Rendova Island, PT base at, 59–62, 61, 67–80, 68, 88, 131, 147–148, 160–162, 172, 180
Reston, James, 260
Rhoades, Ed, 268
Rhoads, Robert Lee “Dusty,” 182, 187
Rickover, Hyman, 237
Robertson, Cliff, 240
Robinson, Ted, 185
Rochambeau, USS, 34
Roche, Mark, 269
Rome, Russell, 74, 89
Rometsch, Ellen, 261
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 21, 25, 28–29, 31, 230, 233
Roosevelt, Franklin D., Jr., 228
Ross, George “Barney” (PT 109 survivor), 130, 177
on article about PT 109 survivors, 205
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 81, 83, 92, 93, 94, 96, 99
joins crew of PT 109, 77–78, 80
lost at sea, 109, 110, 113, 115, 117, 122, 124
meeting with JFK, 269, 270
misinformation about death of, 133
presidential staff appointment given to, 271
rescue of, 144, 147, 149, 150, 154–155, 156, 158, 159, 169, 171, 176
survival efforts, 137–138, 140, 141, 142
Ross, Harold, 201–202
Roviana Island, 156, 157
Royal Australian Navy, 125, 126–127
Ruff, John, 165
Rusk, Dean, 255
Russell Islands, 53, 59
Salinger, Pierre, 239
Sanjuan, Pedro, 255
Saturday Evening Post, 184
Savo Sound, 36–37
Sawada, Mitsuaki, 101
Schnell, Edward James, 189–190
Scribner, Vivian, 224
Seigenthaler, John, Jr., 245, 246, 248
Selkirk, Alexander, 118–119
Sendai (Japanese cruiser), 8
Sepo Island, 138, 139, 144
Sesa, Moses, 158
Shigure (Japanese destroyer), 2, 4–5, 7, 91
Shriver, Eunice Kennedy, 269
Shriver, Tom, 269
Sidey, Hugh, 237
Silver Star, 274
Sinatra, Frank, 52, 196
Skakel, George, 252
Smith, Jimmy, 165
Solomon Islands, 2–3, 34, 36, 37, 39
Battle of Blackett Strait, 81–106
Coastwatchers on, 125–130, 127, 134, 138–139, 143–144, 149, 153–154, 158, 159, 163, 202
largest mass PT boat attack on, 68–80
PT 109 survivors on Naru Island, 142, 143–144, 147, 149–159
PT 109 survivors on Olasana Island, 140–142, 144–152, 158–159
relations between Americans and Solomon Islanders, 129–130
Rendova, PT boat base on, 59–62, 61, 67–80, 68, 88, 131, 147–148, 160–162, 172, 180
search for PT 109 wreckage, 264–268
Tulagi, PT boat base on, 40, 41–53, 45, 175–178, 181–182, 184, 193–194
Solomon Islands, PT 109 survivors on
in combat, 53–59
Kasolo Island (Plum Pudding Island), 115, 118, 119–141
rescue of, 160–178
Sorensen, Theodore, 225–226, 255
South Pacific (Aug 1943), 1–9
Spencer-Churchill, Lady Sarah, 20
Stack, Robert, 18
Starkey, Raymond L. (PT 109 survivor), 48, 92, 96, 100, 111, 147, 176, 225, 271
Stevens, Lieutenant (medic), 189–190
Stevenson, Adlai, 223, 226
Stone, I. F., 260
Stork Club, New York City, 196, 197–199
Strong (U.S. destroyer), 120
Sullivan, John, 87–88, 133
Sutton, William J., 209–210
Swanson, Gloria, 27
Tachiya, Yuzo, 245–247, 246, 248
Takagi, Sokichi, 193
Terutsuki (Japanese destroyer), 7
They Were Expendable (White), 30
Thom, Leonard Jay (PT 109 survivor)
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 92, 93
death of, 271
joins crew of PT 109, 46, 48
lost at sea, 110, 117, 123
rescue of, 146, 146–148, 152, 153, 169, 176
role in Hersey’s article about PT 109, 202
survival efforts, 135, 136, 137
Time magazine, 218, 220, 237, 251–252
Tokyo Express Japanese supply convoys, assaults on, 59, 62–63, 68–69, 71, 73, 74, 75, 81, 82, 87, 90–91, 104, 132, 155
torpedoes, 55–56, 75, 94
Toyama, Yasumi, 3
Tulagi, PT boat base, Solomon Islands, 40, 41–53, 45, 175–178, 181–182, 184, 193–194
Turner, Kelly, 62
Turner, Lana, 196
United Press, 162, 200
Vanga Point, 81
Vanga Vanga, 73, 130
Vella Gulf, 71, 73
Vella Gulf, Battle of, 155
Vella Lavella Island, 91, 113, 181, 187, 190
Victura (sailboat), 12, 21
Vietnam War, 258
Vila Plantation, 71, 86, 91, 128
Voza coast (Solomon Islands), 189, 190
Walsh, David I., 33–34
Wana Wana Island, 153, 173
Warfield, Thomas G. (PT Commander), 60–62, 68–69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75–76, 84, 88, 89–90, 92, 105, 131–132, 133–135, 160–162, 164, 173–174, 180–181
Warm Springs, Georgia, 230–231, 232, 233–234
Warner Bros. studios, 239–240
Warner, Jack, 239, 240
Warrior River (Choiseul Island), 189, 191
Waseda University, Tokyo, 242–251, 246
Weill, Kurt, 52
West Virginia, JFK’s presidential campaign in, 226–228, 229
West, Welford, 160, 165, 168, 169
Wharton, Joseph B., Jr., 175–176
White, Byron “Whizzer,” 184, 186, 271
White, Theodore H., 228–229
Wilkinson, Theodore, 68, 71
Williams, Chester, 88
Willy, Wilford John “Bud,” 206
Wilson, Susie, 248, 252
Winter, David, 268–269
Wright, George S., 45–46
Yamamoto, Isoroku, 37, 39, 40
Yamashiro, Katsumori, 5, 6–8
Zeros, Japanese (fighter plane), 35, 58–59
Zinser, Gerard Emil (PT 109 survivor), 78, 225
and Battle of Blackett Strait, 92, 96, 100
on Jack Paar show, 271
on JFK’s death, 272–273
joins crew of PT 109, 47, 48
lost at sea, 109–111, 114
rescue of, 176
survival efforts, 139–140, 156, 158
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A 2015‒2016 Fulbright Scholar, WILLIAM DOYLE served as director of original prog
ramming and executive producer during his seven years at HBO. He is the coauthor, with former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, of the New York Times bestseller American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms. His other books include A Soldier’s Dream: Captain Travis Patriquin and the Awakening of Iraq, An American Insurrection (winner of the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and the American Library Association’s Alex Award; and a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award finalist), Inside the Oval Office (a New York Times Notable Book), and A Mission from God (with James Meredith). He was co-producer of the PBS special Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story, for which he co-wrote the companion book. He lives in New York City.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
ALSO BY WILLIAM DOYLE
Inside the Oval Office:
The White House Tapes from FDR to Clinton
An American Insurrection:
James Meredith and the Battle of Oxford, Mississippi, 1962
A Soldier’s Dream:
Captain Travis Patriquin and the Awakening of Iraq
A Mission from God
(with James Meredith)
American Gun:
A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms
(with Chris Kyle)
Navy SEALs:
Their Untold Story
(with Dick Couch)
CREDITS
COVER DESIGN BY ADAM JOHNSON
COVER ART: COURTESY OF THE US NAVY (PT BOAT); COURTESY THE DAVID RUMSEY MAP COLLECTION (FRENCH MAP OF SOLOMON ISLANDS); COURTESY OF HARRY MCCORMICK / JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (DRAWING); COURTESY OF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (KENNEDY ABOARD PT 109)
COPYRIGHT
PT 109. Copyright © 2015 by William Doyle. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
Maps designed by Nick Springer, copyright © 2015 Springer Cartographics LLC
ISBN 978-0-06-234658-2
EPub Edition OCTOBER 2015 ISBN 9780062346605
15 16 17 18 19 OV/RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
PT 109 Page 31