In May 2002, Robert Ballard led a National Geographic expedition, that found the sunken remains of John F Kennedy’s PT-109. It has taken six years for the US Navy experts to declare that the wreck found in 360 metres of water is actually the boat JFK’s skippered.
American troops were based on various islands of the South Pacific, after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War11, including a base of Santo in Vanuatu, where 100,000 Americans arrived in May 1942. A second base was on Efate, Vanuatu, where 25,000 troops were stationed. The task of the American troops was to halt the Japanese advance down the South Pacific chain of tropical islands.
Nearly 60 years ago a Japanese destroyer appeared suddenly out of the dark around 2.00a.m. in the morning. It ploughed over the top of a PT-109, skippered by 26 year old JF Kennedy, millionaire heir, ambassador’s son and soon to be US president. The Japanese destroyer sliced through a PT-109, killing two crew members and leaving the rest clinging to the still-floating bow section.
Fearing that there would be no rescue for them, the sailors decided to make a several-hour swim to a nearby deserted island. Kennedy was suffering from a back injury, but managed to assist one of his crew by holding onto the sailor’s vest with his teeth.
Exhausted, thirsty and starving, the men were eventually rescued by some Solomon Islanders in dugout canoes. The Islanders were able to move around in the daytime, undetected by the Japanese. They had discovered a coconut carved with a rescue message from Kennedy and passed it onto a coastguard.
Kennedy and his crew were finally hauled aboard a sister ship, six days after their boat was destroyed. The coconut that saved the men’s lives sat on the Oval desk at the White House during Kennedy’s presidency, reminding everyone that in life there are Blue Moon Opportunities, if you have the courage to act on them. Opportunities that change lives.
To know more about the author take a few minutes to stop off at Win A Resort and another Blue Moon Opporutnity
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.