The Story of Three Officers and PT 109: A Tale of Courage, Persistence, and Survival

The story of three officers and PT 109 is a tale of courage, persistence, and survival. The three officers, John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush, and Gerald R. Ford, were all young men when they served together on PT 109 during World War II.

Into the Dark Water: The Story of Three Officers and PT-109

by John J. Domagalski

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	368 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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PT 109 was a small, wooden boat that was used to attack enemy ships. The boat was commanded by Kennedy, and Bush and Ford were two of his crewmen. On the night of August 1, 1943, PT 109 was patrolling the waters off the Solomon Islands when it was attacked by a Japanese destroyer. The destroyer fired several torpedoes, one of which hit PT 109 and caused the boat to sink.

Kennedy, Bush, and Ford were all thrown into the water. They managed to swim to a nearby island, where they spent several days before being rescued. During their time on the island, the three men faced many challenges. They were hungry, tired, and injured. They also had to contend with the threat of enemy attack.

Despite the challenges they faced, Kennedy, Bush, and Ford never gave up hope. They worked together to survive, and they eventually made it back to safety. The story of PT 109 is an inspiring example of the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.

The Officers

John F. Kennedy was born in 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the son of Joseph P. Kennedy, a wealthy businessman and politician, and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the daughter of John F. Fitzgerald, the mayor of Boston. Kennedy attended Harvard University and the London School of Economics. He graduated from Harvard in 1940 with a degree in government.

After graduating from Harvard, Kennedy joined the U.S. Navy. He served on a destroyer in the Atlantic Ocean before being assigned to PT 109 in the Pacific Ocean.

George H.W. Bush was born in 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. He was the son of Prescott Bush, a banker and politician, and Dorothy Walker Bush. Bush attended Yale University and the Harvard Business School. He graduated from Yale in 1948 with a degree in economics.

After graduating from Yale, Bush joined the U.S. Navy. He served as a pilot on a torpedo bomber in the Pacific Ocean.

Gerald R. Ford was born in 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of Leslie Lynch King, a wool merchant, and Dorothy Gardner King. Ford attended the University of Michigan and Yale Law School. He graduated from Yale in 1941 with a degree in law.

After graduating from Yale, Ford joined the U.S. Navy. He served on a destroyer in the Atlantic Ocean before being assigned to PT 109 in the Pacific Ocean.

The Sinking of PT 109

On the night of August 1, 1943, PT 109 was patrolling the waters off the Solomon Islands when it was attacked by a Japanese destroyer. The destroyer fired several torpedoes, one of which hit PT 109 and caused the boat to sink.

Kennedy, Bush, and Ford were all thrown into the water. They managed to swim to a nearby island, where they spent several days before being rescued.

The Rescue

On August 8, 1943, Kennedy, Bush, and Ford were rescued by a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina flying boat. The three men were taken to a hospital in New Zealand, where they were treated for their injuries.

Kennedy, Bush, and Ford all survived the sinking of PT 109 and went on to have successful careers in politics. Kennedy was elected president of the United States in 1960. Bush was elected president of the United States in 1988. Ford was appointed president of the United States in 1974.

The Legacy of PT 109

The story of PT 109 is a tale of courage, persistence, and survival. The three officers who served on PT 109 faced many challenges, but they never gave up hope. They worked together to survive, and they eventually made it back to safety.

The story of PT 109 is an inspiring example of the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity. It is a story that has been told and retold for generations, and it continues to inspire people today.

Additional Information

For more information about the story of PT 109, please visit the following websites:

• History of PT 109
• John F. Kennedy: The Ship and the Sinking
• The Lasting Legacy of PT 109

Into the Dark Water: The Story of Three Officers and PT-109

by John J. Domagalski

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8945 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	368 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE