That stroke of luck changed American history
In Tulsa I met the captain of one of the PT-Boats in Kennedy’s squadron. I asked him about Kennedy. He said that he was well liked by the other Captains.
He did add that getting rammed was a real embarrassment for a PT-Boat. After losing his boat Kennedy did perform well.
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On the foggy night of August, 2, 1943, PT-109 was idling on one engine to avoid detection while awaiting approaching enemy destroyers.”
Can you cite the error and the omission?
“and without reliable radar. “
Turning on your radar would be broadcasting a big
‘here I am’ signal.
Bataan? Corregidor?
Kennedy fell asleep.
That’s how you get rammed.
He was sawing logs when he should have been awake.
He was the Captain and he was responsible.
Good old Came-a-lot.
Nice recovery and some good swimming, but he got rammed in a big ocean.
Maybe not the best naval officer but despite being injured he risked his own life to save his shipmate. Unlike Kerry JFK showed real heroism.
The official report said his engines were off which was a major violation of orders. The Navy wanted to court martial him but his father wanted him to be awarded the CMH.
Tameichi Hara’s autobiography, “Japanese Destroyer Captain”, presents a somewhat less heroic view of that night’s events. Hara was either skipper or XO on one of the other destroyers accompanying the Amagiri, and witnessed the collision.
I do not believe he could possibly come close to saying this today if he were around. What is more, he would be drummed out of today’s rat party:
Kennedy concluded:
“The basic presumption of the moral law, the existence of God, man’s relationship to Him - there is generally consensus on those questions.”