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Topic: Rendova Harbor PT Boat info 2009 |
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QM
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Posted on: Jan 9, 2010 - 5:56pm
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Here we go again. First, I am not one of those who believe that Kennedy was at fault for the collision with a Japanese DD. I was out many of those nights when you could not see anything. In addition, did the CO of the DD see the PT in time to avoid a collision? His ship was disabled and he had to limp home. He could have lost his ship. I have always questioned why the other boats who saw the burning 109 did not proceed to the scene to see what was happening. There could have been a DD to finish off. There was definitely men to be rescued.
What did Kennedy do of a heroic nature? His rescue and the rescue of the remainder of the crew was made possible by a coast watcher and his local resident assistants. Kennedy was one of those rescued. The movie "PT 109" like "They Were Expendable" was part fiction. JFK was the beneficiary of a politically influential father who waged an intensive public relations campaign. He had what we called "PI". I do not know what influence Joe Kennedy had in the making of the movie. Joe Kennedy had owned a Hollywood movie studio. He had considerable influence in Hollywood.
Kennedy did not establish the reputation of PT's. Their reputation was established long before JFK.
Has anyone heard of brainwashing or possibly spin? |
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 9, 2010 - 9:20pm
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Holy moly! I guess I'm the one who stirred up the PT 109 topic again.
I don't know what to say about this other than, for good or for bad, for better or for worse, that particular 80' Elco PT is, and always will be, THE most famous PT boat in the United States Navy.
I've always found the 109 story fascinating for several reasons, primarily because she was one of the first Elco 80-footers to engage in combat during the early days at Guadalcanal. After all, the boat WAS fought, in combat, by several different crews under several different skippers, around Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, and Rendova.
While the 109 didn't have a particularly distinguished combat record compared to some of the other PTs, she DID become famous because of the story of her rather spectacular and unique end, and the subsequent evasion, survival and rescue of her crew behind enemy lines. To say that PT 109 "never would have been heard of" if her last skipper hadn't gone on to become President of the United States is nonsense -- anyone who was interested in World War II history, particularly anyone interested in PT boat history -- would have eventually read and studied the 109 saga, no matter who her last skipper had been.
The 109 story, of course, wouldn't have gotten the huge "play" it eventually did before the public if her last skipper hadn't been first, an Ambassador's son (who promoted the 109 story) and then, a charismatic young politician who rose to the Presidency, but... Audie Murphy wouldn't have been recognized as often, and been bemedaled as much, if he hadn't had very active and aggressive 3rd Infantry Division publicity officers. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of infantry soldiers who performed just as valiantly as Murphy did during the war -- who "have never been heard of" -- and never will.
Another reason the PT 109 story has held my interest has been Robert J. Donovan's well-researched-and-written book ("PT 109 - John F. Kennedy in World War II"). The book details a great deal of PT boat life, trivia and information, and presents a fascinating picture of PT life and ops in the Solomons at the time. JFK really isn't treated with kid gloves, and is in no way lionized or made iconic, by Donovan's book. He comes off as a pretty typical 26-year-old, albeit one with something of a "pedigree" and a Harvard education. The guy was a good enough boat handler to have been made a PT instructor at Melville (conspiracy theory -- "he was kept out of combat by his connections!"). While JFK was always demonstratively proud of having volunteered for and serving in the PTs -- and allowed the 109 story to be told and retold as he ascended in politics -- he was certainly never proud of losing his boat or two crewmen.
As far as the "war grave" BS concerning the found (or not) torpedo tube on the bottom of Blackett Straight by Ballard, this was straight from Teddy Kennedy (whom I never liked, nor respected) through the U.S. Navy. It is patent nonsense to seriously believe either Kirksey or Marney's remains are with, or even proximate, to what's left of the 109.
Anyway, I'll still mention PT 109 once in a while. For instance, along with Gene Kirkland, I now believe she probably carried black, unshaded boat numbers on her charthouse, port cockpit and starboard turret under JFK. What does it matter, you ask? Well...it's PT boat trivia, and we deal with that all the time here on the board. I'll always be interested in ALL the other PTs, their skippers and crews. I've learned a lot on this site about them, and sometimes pass on what I think, or have learned, also.
Apologies to those who can't stand to hear about the 109 or JFK any more. She's still the most famous PT boat of all time.
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Shaneo2
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Posted on: Jan 10, 2010 - 10:49am
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The funnel mouth measured from my photos of the day:
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Will Day
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 Posted on: Jan 10, 2010 - 10:53am
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A thoughtful post, Drew. I think it sums up the feelings a lot of us have about the 109 "saga" and the boats in general.
Will
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jan 10, 2010 - 10:53am
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Light cover found poking out of the sand in Rendova Harbor. This was found 8'-10' feet from the funnel, which was barely exposed that day.
Regards-
Shane
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Mikefinn
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Posted on: Jan 25, 2010 - 3:55pm
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My dad was on the 164 when it was destroyed by a single bomb while at the dock. The 117 was also damaged at the same time. I am new to this but have more info. And as far as I know both men were killed on the 164. My dad died 8-02-78 and recieved 2 purple hearts from that incident. The second was after he survived the August 2 bombing, he was evacuated to a hospital vessel and that was also hit on or about the 6th if I remember his story correctly. There are existing photos of this incident. I will try to find them.
Mike Finn
My dad: William R. Finn
Radioman 1st class.
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