"Whereas the word "rammed" suggests incompetence. "
Yeah, I'm really torn by this. I find it hard to believe that JFK swam for 15 hours towing another guy by his teeth. At the same time, he WAS actually participating in the war effort and the men with him certainly deserve to be remembered for their contributions. I would love to know the facts behind all this.
According to biographer Thomas C. Reeves ("A Question of Character"), Kennedy's PT-109 incident became the butt of jokes within the Navy and the subject of serious talk of a court martial. It was the first and only time that a PT boat had been sunk in battle. Joseph Kennedy's behind the scenes ploliticking turned a possible court martial into an heroic event that got JFK the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.