Document-Based Questions - Debra J. Housel, M.S. Ed. 2008

Against All Odds
True Survival Stories

Seventeen years before becoming U.S. president, John F. Kennedy survived against all odds. During World War II he was the captain of a Patrol Torpedo boat serving in the Solomon Islands. These small boats launched torpedoes at Japanese ships. Most PT boats went out only after dark.

Kennedy commanded PT 109. They were in dangerous waters and cut the engine to reduce the chance of detection. It was pitch black with a fog rising from the water.

Suddenly a Japanese destroyer slid through the darkness. It sliced PT 109 in half! One half quickly sank, and two of the crew died instantly. The other 11 men would face a

long ordeal. No rescue party would search for them. Another PT captain had seen the flames from the collision. He believed that all hands were lost. Back at their base in Rendova, a funeral service was held for the men.

One man was badly burned. Another had a hurt leg. Kennedy dove into the water and pulled each one to safety on the half of the boat still afloat. Every man had a life vest, but the ship was sinking. By morning they had to get to land. Kennedy chose an island about three miles away. He took the strap of the burned man’s life vest between his teeth. Then he swam for five hours with him in tow. He still reached the island before the rest of his men. Then he went back to help the injured man and a poor swimmer.

Once all the men had hidden in bushes, Kennedy took to the water again. He wanted to go to a place where PT boats often lurked. He had to walk across a sharp coral reef that slashed his feet. But that night, no boats came. It took him the rest of the night to return to the others. He had had nothing to drink and was getting weak. The next night another man made the same trip. But again no boats came. Kennedy said that they must go to another island. Again he took the burned man in tow. It took them three hours to reach the island. That night it rained, and they got water by sucking on leaves.

Moving resulted in some luck. They found a keg of water, Japanese hardtack*, and candy. The men shared these things and felt a little stronger. Two natives paddled by in a canoe. These people had been invaded by the Japanese and were on the Americans’ side. Kennedy signaled them. He scratched “Rendova” on a coconut. The natives took it and paddled away.

The next day four natives came. The New Zealand Navy had sent them. They put Kennedy in the bottom of their canoe and covered him with palm branches. They crossed the passage right in front of Japanese troops. The men smuggled Kennedy to the New Zealand base. From there a PT boat rescued him that night. He guided it to the island where his crew awaited. They had endured six awful days and nights.

*a biscuit made of just flour and water

Navy & Marine Corps Medal

To

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, John Fitzgerald Kennedy

United States Navy

for service as set forth in the following

Citation: “For heroism in the rescue of 3 men following the ramming and sinking of his motor torpedo boat while attempting a torpedo attack on a Japanese destroyer in the Solomon Islands area on the night of Aug 1-2, 1943. Lt. KENNEDY, Capt. of the boat, directed the rescue of the crew and personally rescued 3 men, one of whom was seriously injured. During the following 6 days, he succeeded in getting his crew ashore, and after swimming many hours attempting to secure aid and food, finally effected the rescue of the men. His courage, endurance and excellent leadership contributed to the saving of several lives and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. “Lt. John F. Kennedy’s NMCM Citation.”

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq60-10.htm

Against All Odds

1. It’s clear that Kennedy was a strong swimmer since he

a. could swim for 100 miles.

b. did more swimming than the other men.

c. did not need a life jacket.

d. swam for miles towing another man.

2. Why did no one come to rescue the crew of PT 109?

a. No one knew that they had crashed.

b. Another PT captain reported that they were all dead.

c. The crew did not want help.

d. During a war, no one searches for survivors at sea.

3. The natives took the coconut from Kennedy to

a. their own homes.

b. the Japanese navy.

c. a navy on the same side as the Americans.

d. Kennedy’s home base of Rendova.

4. Moving to the second island was a good idea. True or False? Explain.

5. According to the Navy and Marine Corps Medal citation, when did Kennedy and his men suffer through their ordeal in the Solomon Islands?

6. Do you think that Kennedy’s heroism helped him to win the U.S. presidential election 17 years later? Why or why not?