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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: (Yet) Another Book on PT-109!
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3754



My name is William Doyle and I am writing a new book on JFK and PT-109 that will come out later this year. Why on Earth a new book on PT-109 you may ask? Good question. Some days I ask myself the same thing, but I believe I've found enough new material since the last mass-market book on the subject came out 52 years ago to make an attempt at what I hope will be an interesting new book. I am already getting very valuable help from several of the people on this forum, as well as Bud Liebenow, the good folks at PT Boats, Inc. and a number of PT Boat veterans.
Do you know of any PT Boat veterans who were in Blackett Straight on August 1/2 1943 who I could reach by phone?
And do you have any 1943-era photographs of Lt. Commander Thomas Warfield or PT officers Phil Potter (169), John Lowrey (162) or William Battle (171) that you could share with me for my book?
Thanks very much.
FYI, here's some info on my work:

ABOUT WILLIAM DOYLE:
Co-Producer of PBS documentary film NAVY SEALS: THEIR UNTOLD STORY, premiered November, 2014; co-author of companion book:
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365359070/
New York Times Bestselling co-author of AMERICAN GUN: A HISTORY OF THE U.S. IN TEN FIREARMS (2013); Author of A SOLDIER'S DREAM: CAPTAIN TRAVIS PATRIQUIN AND THE AWAKENING OF IRAQ (2011); author of AN AMERICAN INSURRECTION: JAMES MEREDITH AND THE BATTLE OF OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI, 1962; author of INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE: THE WHITE HOUSE TAPES; co-author of James Meredith's A MISSION FROM GOD: A MEMOIR AND CHALLENGE FOR AMERICA (2012).
Fulbright Scholars Program Specialist roster, 2014-2019.
Former Director of Original Programming, Executive Producer, Home Box Office.
Winner of Writers Guild of America Award for Best TV Documentary for A&E White House Tapes Special.
Winner of American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award for Best Book on the Law and the American Legal System; Winner of the American Library Association Alex Award for Best Book for Young Adult Readers; African-American Scholars Favorite Book; Washington Post Best Book of the Year; New York Times Notable Book of the Year; Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Finalist.
Guest Speaker, 2003-2013: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, New York University, University of Mississippi, Columbia University Teachers College, the Pentagon.
Fox News on Doyle's work: "phenomenal," "captivating," "staggering".
Indianapolis Star: "Doyle is a master of crackling prose and a
tireless hunter for vital facts and perspectives."
https://www.facebook.com/williamdoylenyc

William Doyle in the News:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1274909740001/a-soldiers-dream/
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Navy-SEALs--Their-Untold-Story/282357261
http://video.foxnews.com/v/3885728186001/never-before-heard-ronald-reagan-recordings-released/?playlist_id=930909787001#sp=show-clips

William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:38am
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



Welcome to the PT Boat Forum, Bill.

You'll find lots of posts -- and opinions -- about the seventh PT 103-class 80' Elco PT boat and her last skipper here.

Many of us who post on the Forum have been reading, researching, studying, and modeling PT 109 and PT 109 under JFK's command in depth since -- or even before -- that "mass-market book" came out 52 years ago.

I'll warn you that PT 109 can sometimes be somewhat of a touchy subject here, as some PT veterans, researchers, and enthusiasts have (understandably) grown tired of all the attention and concentration on one particular PT and one of her skippers to the seeming exclusion of all other World War II PT boats, but...the boat, and her short life (April-August 1943) under the command of her last skipper continues to fascinate many others.

You might want to include an email address, so some of us can contact you off-Forum. Good luck with your research and book.





Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 5, 2015 - 11:16am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am



Thanks very much, Drew!
My email address is: billdoyleus@gmail.com


William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 5, 2015 - 12:07pm
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



Hi Bill,
I just finished reading American Sniper by Chris Kyle. I didn't realize until after reading the book that Chris was murdered by somebody he was trying to help. Unbelievable. My condolences.

I was surprised to hear that you were writing a book on PT-109. I recently finished reading John Domagalski's book, Into the Dark Water, The Story of Three Officers and PT-109". I thought maybe that would be the last word on the subject.

Most of the people I was aware of that worked with President Kennedy are not with us anymore. Hopefully one of our veterans may be able to help you with that and it sounds like you're getting help from the good folks at PT Boats Inc.

Did you catch the PBS Boston panel discussion with Mr. Keresey and others?

If there's anything we can do to help please let us know. Good luck with your project.
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 6, 2015 - 6:01am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



Hello, David,
Yes, I enjoyed both "Dark Water" and the PT panel. I'll try to justice to the subject, and to the expertise of people like those on the Forum.
Thank you!
Bill

William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 6, 2015 - 7:11am
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



Welcome Bill, it has been a real joy for me to provide you with items for the new book. I am very excited to see it when it comes out, I know you are working hard to produce a first class book that promises to provide some new information on PT-109..........................



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jan 6, 2015 - 12:25pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am




Hello, David,
Yes, I enjoyed both "Dark Water" and the PT panel. I'll try to justice to the subject, and to the expertise of people like those on the Forum.
Thank you!
Bill

William Doyle


We'll be looking forward to it Bill.
Dave


David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 6, 2015 - 8:23pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



I am very interested in the opinions of PT Boat Forum members on three questions:
1.) What were the PT Boats finest hours in World War II?
2.) What was the PT Boats impact on the war?
3.) On the PT-109, what controversies, misunderstandings or little-known points do you think should be illuminated?
Thank you very much for any ideas you can post here or shoot me at billdoyleus@gmail.com
Bill

William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 7, 2015 - 3:33am
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



[green]1.) What were the PT Boats finest hours in World War II?[/green]

Between dusk and dawn. Seriously though, their many rescues stand out in my opinion. So does the more proactive lifesaving done by their disrupting the enemy supply chain.

I can't answer 2 in an educated way but another opinion on 3 would be details of the sinking. There was a 109 discussion here a while back that I found very educational. It has interesting bits like how rounded the bow of the Amagiri was. The angle of the hit as drawn by JFK and seconded by another being much more longitudinally acute as opposed the "t-boned like a car at an intersection" commonly depicted. The heeling of the Amagiri as it turned into the 109. Here's a link to the discussion starting with Ted's drawing at the bottom of the page: [url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=3637&sc=20&pg=1&x=0[/url].




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jan 7, 2015 - 2:05pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am



I think what stands out in my mind after reading several books about PT's in the Solomon Islands was like Jeff said and that is disrupting the Japanese supply chain. They didn't do much damage but they kept the Japanese soldiers from getting much needed supplies of food and weapons. As Jeff said they were also involved in supporting covert operations with Alamo Scouts and conducting rescue operations.

I'm wondering what direction you want to take this book. A JFK book? A book about the crew? A book about the boat? All of the above? Are you going to do like most and transition to PT-59? I'm not sure what's really new to talk about in terms of facts that hasn't already been discussed. I get a little concerned about memoirs from crew members. Reading the JFK Reckless Youth book I was amazed at the contradictions from the guys that were there. So much is conjecture at this point.

I think that the movie, PT-109, did a fair job of confusing the facts in peoples minds, but that's Hollywood and what film producers feel they need to do to make a movie entertaining. My wife has a saying when we hear somebody sing the National Anthem.... "just sing it". So I guess my advice is just tell the story. I don't think it needs embellishing. It's a pretty amazing story.

Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 7, 2015 - 7:36pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



I don't know how it would fit into a narrative form, but it might be fun to have some kind of flow-chart showing all of the major points of contention and the various sources they are drawn from.

Just sayin'..........

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 7, 2015 - 9:22pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



That's a novel idea Will.




Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jan 8, 2015 - 3:28am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am



That's a really bad pun Jeff! :-)
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jan 8, 2015 - 4:38am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm



lol

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 8, 2015 - 3:18pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



Has anybody on the forum closely studied the details of this famous PT-109 crew shot:

[image]http://pt-king.gdinc.com/images/109crew2.jpg[/image]


On the bottom of this webpage:

[url]http://pt-king.gdinc.com/PT109-5.html[/url]

I see this caption, which corresponds to others I've seen:
"The crew of PT 109, sometime in July 1943. Top row, left to right: Al Webb (standing far left, friend of the crew) MoMM2/c Leon E. Drawdy, S1/cEdgar E. Mauer, MoMM2/c Edmund T. Drewitch, RM2/c John E. Maguire, Lt. j/g John F. Kennedy (standing far right). Bottom row, left to right: GM2/c Charles A. Harris, GM3/c Maurice L. Kowal, TM2/c Andrew J. Kirksey, Ens. Leonard J. Thom."

My questions are:
- Who took the picture?
- Are these identifications correct or are any in doubt?
- Exactly where do you think it was it taken?
- Is it just me, or why does the man identified as Lenny Thom in the picture look nothing like the Lenny Thom I've seen in other pictures? Kirksey seems off, too, but perhaps it's the lighting and resolution.
- Do you think these were taken at the same time as the JFK-in-the-cockpit photos?

Thank you very much for your ideas!
Bill Doyle



William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 17, 2015 - 7:37am
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



Extreme apologies for accidentally over-posting. If the moderator would like to delete the extra posts, please do! Thank you.

William Doyle

Posted By: William Doyle | Posted on: Jan 17, 2015 - 7:52am
Total Posts: 57 | Joined: Jan 5, 2015 - 10:20am



Bill,

My opinions/best guesses on your questions on that heavily retouched photo are:

1. Don't know who took the photo - could have been one of the 109 crew, or one of the 61's crew, which (I think) was alongside at the time.

2. I think most of the I.D.'s are correct.

3. Pretty sure it was taken in the Russell Islands (May '43?).

4. You're right - Lenny Thom doesn't look like he does in his other photos, although I definitely think Kirksey does.

5. I think it was probably taken at/around the same time as the "JFK in the cockpit" photos (while in the Russells, before moving up to Rendova).





Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jan 18, 2015 - 3:55pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am