Review of
PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II,
by Robert J. Donovan
Five out of five stars
The making of a President
Starting with
George Washington, many of the U. S. Presidents risked their lives in fighting
for their country. This book is a reasonably accurate historical account of the
wartime actions of John F. Kennedy. Even though he had a back condition that
could have kept him out of World War II, Kennedy pleaded with his father to
find a doctor that would certify him fit for duty.
He eventually
ended up as the skipper of PT 109, a fast boat that operated against the Japanese
in the islands of the South Pacific around Guadalcanal. Like many members of
the armed forces, much of their time was spent in routine tasks that bored
them. Yet, one night the 109 was cut into pieces when it was rammed by a
Japanese destroyer. This initiated a difficult fight for survival among the
crew, it was here that John Kennedy proved his worth as a sailor.
Although he
only commanded a small crew on a small boat, Kennedy’s actions were truly
heroic and all the men that survived the collision were eventually rescued. It
is a story of perseverance against long odds in the presence of the enemy. Worthy
of the song and movie that were made about it. Given the small margin of
victory over Richard Nixon in the 1960 Presidential election, the wartime
action of John Kennedy likely provided the margin of victory.
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