In order for a PT boat to be cut in two (rammed broadside) by a Japanese destroyer, you really had to FU as a PT boat commander. JFK, the PT boat commander, was decorated for his wartime exploits in this incident ... mostly at his father's insistence.
I believe the PT was died in the water. Waiting for some type of contact from an Aussie coast watcher or whatever.
I think the decoration was more for his actions in keeping his surviving crew alive and together for 6 days without being captured until they were rescued. Give the man credit for that at least.