![]() ![]() Kennedy called out to his men, who were scattered a hundred yards away in every direction. ![]() The collision ignited the PT 109’s reserve fuel, and another engineer named McMahon, the only crewman below decks, was badly burned on his face and arms before being pulled down into the depths and regurgitated on the still-burning surface. Front Row (L-R) Charles Harris, Maurice Kowal, Andrew Kirksey, and Lenny Thom. Back Row (L-R) Allan Webb, Leon Drawdy, Edgar Mauer, Edmund Drewitch, John Maguire, John F. An engineer named Johnston was tossed overboard and sucked down into the destroyer’s wake, where the turbulence of the ship’s monstrous propeller beat him like a heavyweight prizefighter before spitting him back up to the surface. Kennedy was spared, but thrown hard against the deck and badly hurt his back. Sure enough, two members of the 13-man PT 109 crew were killed instantly in the crash. “So this is what it’s like to die,” he thought. As the PT 109 crewmen stared in horror, the 388-foot destroyer Amagiri rammed violently into the PT 109, splintering the helpless wooden boat in two.įor Kennedy, who had escaped several brushes with death as a sickly child, it seemed his luck had finally run out. But with one active engine, there wasn’t enough time or horsepower to execute an evasive maneuver. Kennedy ordered the men to battle positions and attempted to position the PT 109 to fire a torpedo. And this one was just 200 yards away and closing fast. At first, they mistook it for another PT boat, but soon made out the towering black hull of a Japanese destroyer, the first enemy ship Kennedy had ever seen up close. Kennedy could see nothing but a large white wake cutting toward them. ![]() “Ship at two o’clock!” yelled a crewman in the forward gun turret. The Navy Marine Corps Medal and the Purple Heart presented to John F. ![]()
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