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"PT-109, along with PT-162 and PT-169, were ordered to continue patrol of the area in case the enemy ships returned.[9] Around 0200, on a moonless night, Kennedy's boat was idling on one engine to avoid detection of her wake by Japanese aircraft.[10] With only about ten seconds warning, PT-109's crew realized they were squarely in the path of the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which was returning to Rabaul from Vila, Kolombangara after offloading supplies and 900 soldiers.[11] Amagiri was traveling at high speed in order to be safely back in harbor before dawn, when Allied air patrols were likely to appear." Wikipedia entry on PT-109

Ships do on occasion run into each other at sea. In war time where they purposely keep their own visibily low, it was just dumb luck it happened with PT-109. Was Kennedy at fault, well technically yes since he was the Captain.

At least JFK served in the miltary, along with his brother Joe who died. JFK was lucky that he also did not die.

I may not like the Kennedys, especially the ones that continue to live off the memories of JFK, but I will respect the man that served during wartime, and was almost killed in that service.

“Very few of us seem to grasp that a PT boat was designed to outrun and out manuever a destroyer, rather than get run over by a destroyer.”

For years I have been wondering if the Jap Destroyer knew they were there or not. I mean, how the hell does a PT actually get under and inside of the Destroyers gun range?