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John F. Kennedy Tribute, PT-109 and Crew 1943
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Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The 35th President of the United States
Born: May 29, 1917
Assassinated Nov. 22, 1963
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, USN
USS PT-109 , 1942-1943
USS PT-109 , an 80-foot ELCO type motor torpedo boat, was placed in service in July 1942 as a unit of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FIVE. She was shipped to the Pacific shortly thereafter and in September 1942 was transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TWO for service in the Solomon Islands during the ongoing Guadalcanal Campaign. During the last months of 1942 and the first part of 1943, PT-109 was employed on patrols in the waters adjacent to Guadalcanal, as part of an effort to prevent the Japanese from reinforcing their troops on the island.
After the Japanese evacuated Guadalcanal in February 1943, PT-109 remained in the Solomons. Following the seizure of Rendova Island, near New Georgia, she was based there with other PT boats, charged with interdicting enemy shipping during the fight to capture New Georgia.
While patrolling in Blackett Strait, on the southern side of Kolombangara Island, during the early hours of 2 August 1943, PT-109 was rammed by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri , cutting away the PT boat's starboard side and leaving her completely disabled. As she gradually sank during the day her eleven survivors abandoned ship to swim to an island some miles away. These men, led by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John F. Kennedy, had many adventures during the next week. With the aid of a Coastwatcher and local residents, PT-109 's men were finally returned to the Rendova PT base on 8 August.
Lt. John Fitzgerald Kennedy USNR (standing at right) with other crewmen onboard USS PT-109, 1943
Tribute To A Hero
Lt. John F. Kennedy receives the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroic conduct from Capt. Frederic L. Conklin June 12, 1944. JFK used his father's connections to get assigned to active duty. Says Dallek, "He was determined to get into combat. It was part of the culture at the time, patriotism. But he was heroic in doing that."
A Tribute To The Man That Revived The Presidential Medal of Freedom
And Made It Flourish In America To Honor Our Heroes
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Medal History
