[Servant of the 9]

JFK exactly.

JFK got heroe status by screwing up and getting his MTB T-Boned by a destroyer at night. The destroyer never knew he was there, never slowed down.

An MTB was far faster and more maneuverable than a destroyer and it took real skill to manage this.

All this was in 'They Were Expendable' by Commander Bulkelly, covering all the MTB operations out of Corrigidor, published at the end of WWII.
Funny thing, in all the run up to the 1960 election and since, this book has never been reprinted, not even in paperback.

So9

[longtermmemmory]

Is it out of copyright? It would be a perfect candidate for an e-book.

[Cloud William]

All this was in 'They Were Expendable' by Commander Bulkelly, covering all the MTB operations out of Corrigidor, published at the end of WWII. Funny thing, in all the run up to the 1960 election and since, this book has never been reprinted, not even in paperback.

Actually, They Were Expendable is available at Amazon. The author's name is White; Bulkelly (sp?) was one of the officers who related the stories (much like the way Stephen Ambrose would later compile the stories of D-Day veterans). I can't tell when the most recent publication date was, but it's a modern paperback with a UPC barcode on the back cover.

I always liked the movie; now I'll have to pick up a copy of the book.

[Vineyard]

There is an intersting story that goes with Buckley (MoH recipient too!).

In 1961, he was a twice passed over CAPT (failed to select for RADM). Time to be retired.

Well, he called the new president ... JFK. Seems Buckley was the former Commodore of the PT squadron ... so "swap stories" time, so JFK took the call cordially.

After exchanging minor pleasantries, JFK inquired how Buckley was doing, and Buckley made the minor complaint about being forced to retire when he really didn't want to.

JFK did the "politician" thing ... "the nation owes a debt of gratitude for your service, good luck in retirement, etc. etc." Then he inquired .. what are you going to do in retirement.

Without hesitation, Buckley quipped, to the effect, that while he didn't want to retire, if he had to, well he could now focus on writing memoirs and about the South Pacific Command, and various interesting stories during WWII.

After a slight hesitation, JFK inquired if Buckley wanted to stay. When Buckley answered in the affirmative, JFK promised to check into the situation.

Seems that if you check the official record (and I know a Naval Historian who did this ...) the typed list of CAPTs selected for promotion to RADM has a name that was penned in at the bottom, in JFK's handwriting... that of John Buckley. And his memoirs didn't get published for many more years!

Mike

[U S Army EOD]

The Jap destroyer captain did see Kennedy's boat at the last minute. The question is why didn't Kennedy see the destroyer. You can actually "feel" a larger ship through your hull. Who was on watch?