Kennedy's PT Boat Found in Pacific

AP | 5/29/02

[MJM59]

From what I understand, the 109 was idling, and therefore moving at a crawl. And, unless you have been on the ocean at night, you just don't really know how dark, darkness can truly be. Having spent my fair share of time at sea, I could see that the 109 was pretty much in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The story of the PT 109 crew's survival is truly one of courage and bravery in times of war. Something that our present and previous president cannot relate to. BTW, I am referring to "W's" military record and not his presidency. What Bush is going through now is not a fair comparison. There were no advisors on the 109.

[Robert A Cook PE]

It's another verification of how effective he is using the Navy's underwater "unclassified research" money to find out how to find (and recover) other, more highly-classified underwater "warfare" targets.

[StriperSniper]

Bttt

[xp38]

Please give the National Lampoon credit for that thought.

[OldSmaj]

Who gives a rats a$$ about what the Kennedy's think about this?

If I may be so bold:

Who gives a rats a$$ about what the Kennedy's think about this?

There, that feels better.

[null and void]

If Ted Kennedy had driven a Volkswagaon, he'd be former President Kennedy today.

You are assuming it was an accident. Suppose it was a way of eliminating a pregnant political embarasment. (Not that a Kenedy would be a womanizer). Mary Jo was not autopsied, and her body was cremated, an extremely rare thing for a Catholic at that time...

[Lee'sGhost]

"Something that our present and previous president cannot relate to. "

What! Where the hell did that come from? I can understand the contrast to the draft dodging America hater, but Bush? I respect the fact the JFK actually served, and that he survived such an ordeal is amazing. But even Klintoon could have sat in boat and gotten run over by another ship -- that doesn't take a lot of talent. The survival part pretty much comes instinctually after that -- something Klintoon applied in his politically life every day after Monica Lewinsky was revealed. And I'll not fault W one bit for serving in the National Guard.

[Kenny Bunk]

JFK's Naval Exploit is the equivalent of getting a lobster boat rammed by the Nova Scotia Ferry.

I got no problem with them giving old Jack the medal for towing that crewman to shore, but they should have given the guy the medal at his court martial for losing his boat, as they would have done to anyone else.

Note: The McCormack Family, bitter rivals to the Kennedys in Assachewshuts, named their family yacht the Yamagiri, after the destroyer that rammed Jack's PT 109. Ha!

[pasquale]

courage and bravery in times of war. Something that our present and previous president cannot relate to.

Oh puhleeze.

I'm sure W said to himself "I could get hurt if I went to Vietnam. I'd better do something nice and safe. I know, I'll become a fighter pilot, like my dad. That's safe."

Please don't put W in the same boat as his predecessor.

[wasp69]

You are absolutely right and I don't disagree one bit. However, his boat got split completely in two. Not clipped, but ran over.

[Jimmyclyde]

In related news, Ballard has also been hired by Ted Kennedy to raise a prized case of Chivas Regal, which was lost overboard when Ted rammed his sailboat into a dock.

Alcohol "may" have been a factor.

No charges were filed.

[MJM59]

And Bush flew just how many combat missions? How many SAMs did he have to evade? How many MIGs did he go up against? Just how much of a scarifice did he make in the National Guard? Just because you serve in the military does not make you a hero or even honorable. I have known more than my fair share of FUs that have served in the active duty military. You cannot compare John Kennedy's wartime bravery to anything George W Bush has ever faced. Out currect situation included. But this is just my opinion.

[Rodney King]

LOL

[Drawsing]

In times long past I have read detailed accounts of this incident and this is the first I've heard of the "towing lifejacket in teeth" part. I do remember reading that Kennedy's men were put off by his leadership style and were not impressed by his conduct after they reached shore.

[BlueLancer]

"...this is the first I've heard of the "towing lifejacket in teeth" part."

I'm no fan of the Kennedy clan but, from everything that I've read, this fact is pretty well-established. McMahon was very severely burned and unable to use his arms so JFK purportedly put one of the lifejacket straps between his teeth and towed the wounded engineer until they hit land.

I also remember that phrase from the song Jimmy Dean did about the incident:
McMahon, the Irishman, was burned so bad that he couldn't swim;
"Leave me here. Go on", he said, "'Cause, if you don't, you'll all be dead."
The PT skipper wouldn't leave him, a man to die alone at sea,
So, with a strap between his teeth, he towed the Irishman through the sea.

[Eternal_Bear]

PT-109 was the only American warship to be sunk by ramming during WWII. Not a good distinction at all.

[metesky]

You cannot compare John Kennedy's wartime bravery to anything George W Bush has ever faced.

Nor Kennedy's stupidity to Bush's inteligence.

[CharlieDarwin]

Did they find any remains of a scantily clad blonde at the wheel?

[MJM59]

George W. Bush, one of the great minds for the new century. Listen the next time he says the word nuclear. It is not "nucular." Why do I think that if you cannot pronounce the word, yours is not the one who's finger should be on the button.

Listen folks, I am not saying that GWB is all bad. He just hasn't won me over yet. At least he hasn't screwed the pooch yet. He has good people behind him and that is half the battle. But this Iraq thing is going to get a lot of Americans killed, if he decides to invade.

[ittybittyspider]

Are they now going after GWB Sr.'s downed TBM Torpedo Bomber? These could be auctioned on EBAY.../Sarc