PT 109
The reason I chose PT 109 was because I find John F Kennedy to be one of the greatest presidents This country has ever seen. I also find the story this book is written about very fascinating. This book really interested me because I really enjoy learning about history, and they way things happened.
PT 109 is the story of a young Kennedy becoming a man. Back in 1943, John Kennedy was 25 years old and the captain of a small Pt boat in the navy. He and his crew were stationed In the solomon islands Northeast of Australia. The crew was working with the native solomon people to watch for Japanese carriers dropping troops off two islands over.
One night, Kennedy's crew and four other boats were on a short mission to take out Japanese carriers. It was around 2AM, the night was very dark, and the fog was thick. Kennedy's boat is idling on one engine. Out of nowhere, Japanese destroyer Amagiri slams against the small boat, basically splitting it in half. Two crew members die immediately. Kennedy orders the rest of the crew to jump overboard. The ship explodes and one man is badly burned. John puts the mans life jacket strap in his mouth and gathers his remaining crew on a floating torpedo tube. John Kennedy and his crew were in the water for ten hours strait. Kennedy realizes he needs to get his men to dry land. Despite his bad back, he leads his crew to a small isolated island called plum pudding island. The crew stays a night on the island then realizes their is no water source. His crew then swims to a larger island with water and some food. At this point, the rescue mission was called off because crew members on the other boats claimed they say an explosion. The men were presumed dead. John decided to swim from island to island though enemy waters in search of a friendly search party. After an unsuccessful venture, he returns to the island with his crew.
After waiting 3 and a half days, the crew has almost given up, when they see a small wooden boat being rowed in their direction. It is two Solomon natives on one last search mission for the 109 crew. The men didn't speak english so Kennedy had to carve a message on a coconut. The next day, a rescue party picks up the crew. 11 Men ended up surviving the ordeal. Once back at camp, John writes a letter to his family back at home. Referring to the men that presumed kennedy to be dead, he says "I guess they misjudged the durability of a Kennedy."
SOAPSTone Analysis
Speaker: Robert J. Donavan
Occasion: Celebrating our 35th president
Audience: Anybody interested in J.F.K.'s history or his road to becoming the President of the United States.
Purpose: To Inform People of the Kennedy's Heroic story involving his time in the war.
Subject: John Kennedy's survival story.
Tone: Stressed
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