Customer Reviews

PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As Daniel Schorr in the new forward to this book suggests, World War 2 brought out the best in many men, and the ones who manned the motor torpedo boats were among the bravest, setting out in small plywood boats to fight an enemy in often large ships. The ordeal that Kennedy and his crew went through after PT-109 was destroyed is a story of courage that will last the ages. It is obvious that Robert Donovan was very careful to get the facts straight as he wrote this book, it is a great war story. For me it was a page turner, written in an easy to read, flowing style. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, a gem of a book about a small piece of American history, a fascinating account indeed. Kennedy is portrayed, and rightly so, as a compassionate and intelligent young man.

In a very fine afterword to this 40th anniversary edition, Duane Hove give us additional details of Kennedy's military service, and also interesting text on the history of the PT boats before, during, and after the war, and also where you can see PT boats on display today, only a few of these magnificent boats remain with us.

This was an exciting book on John F. Kennedy. It had lots of action, and suspence. John F. Kennedy had a lot of willpower, that was surprising. The bravery was outstanding in this story. If you like action and adventure I could not recommend a better book. I gave this book a five star rating, because it was truely a good book. Even though this was an old book, it was exciting. This would be a very good book for kids, because there was not a lot of hard words.

The book is very detailed and descriptive. Some today might say the book's pace could be a little faster. However, it is still a good read. The book shows how the men of that generation volunteered to go into the service and then into harm's way; regardless of their background, education, or families money. Truly, as fellow author Stephen Ambrose stated they were "Citizen Soldiers". This book is not a combat, action-packed wartime epic but instead about Jack Kennedy and other Navy men and how they got into the PT Boat service and their experiences in the Pacific war.

It is ironic that JFK could have been killed on several occasions, such as when Japanese dive-bombers and fighters hit Rendova Harbor right before the fateful intercept patrol with Japanese destroyers. Further, Jack Kennedy just missed being killed when the incident with the Amagiri occurred. Further, the author does a very good job laying out the facts of that incident.

It is telling of Jack's leadership and character when later he asks the surviving crew members if they want to "fight or surrender". When it was about to be put to a vote, Kennedy stated, "There's nothing in the book about a situation like this. A lot of you men have families and some of you have children. What do you want to do? I have nothing to lose" (page 119). Here is a man who went to Harvard, his father was Ambassador to England with a family both well known & wealthy, and JFK states he has "nothing to lose". Whether a reader likes the Kennedy family or not, this book tells the true story of a young JFK who rose to the challeges put in front of him.

The only criticism I would have is that JFK's time as commander of the PT-59 is only very briefly mentioned in the main book. However, one could argue that this is a book focusing on Jack's time with the PT-109, only. The new Foreword and new Preface to the 40th Anniversary Edition help put things in perspective. The new Afterward gives some detailed information on the history of American PT Boats and JFK's time as Skipper of the PT-59 (after the PT-109).

I had seen the movie, but had never read the book, so when I found "PT 109..." for sale at a flea market, (© 1961, first printing, 220 pages, hardback) I decided the time had come to do so. I was 15 and too young to vote in 1960 when John Fitzgerald Kennedy ran for President of The United States, but I was aware of some of the campaign rhetoric for and against his election. In the years that followed, I was neither pro- or con- on the issue of his presidency, until November 22, 1963 when Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated him. All I was aware of was he had a fitness program that annoyed me greatly because it impinged on my teenage laziness. That is until November 22 when I, like the rest of America and the world cried at the thought that someone could do this evil thing. Since then I had considered him heroic as a martyr is considered heroic. Reading Robert J. Donovan's "PT 109..." has opened my eyes to the true measure of JFK's heroism in the 46 years he had in this life.

"PT109" is not so much about a boat, or a crew, or WW II, but about what happens when you put them together, and call forth the best they can produce. NOW I am impressed with the man. He was not the kind of hero that produced awesome stories of great events in great numbers. He was an ordinary man who was capable of heroic acts who called forth the best he had in him, who did what he had to do, and who did it impressively well. NOW I understand why he was so loved, respected and appreciated by those who knew him personally.

Donovan has produced what I consider an excellent description of courage, leadership, determination, and loyalty. Kennedy embodied all these traits in abundance, and, as a result, earned his way to the White House. "PT 109..." is also about survival, war time naval life, and the trials of military life in general. Along with these elements, the author skillfully weaves in humorous vignettes and descriptions of the flora and fauna of some of the islands and word pictures of the islands themselves. His descriptions of Kennedy shortly after his rescue is a good example of his linguistic talent:

"Here he was, bearded, gaunt, unwashed, half-starved, half-naked, blotched with festering coral wounds, castaway on a miserable patch of jungle surrounded by sharks, being greeted as if he were in his father's embassy in London." (pg. 187)

His description of one of the islands was also helpful in "seeing" the place:

"If Lumberi was a wilderness, Lambu Lambu was little more than a mangrove swamp, where green lizards a foot long glided over damp roots and scorpions dropped out of trees into PT boats moored below. Lambu Lambu Cove leads back into a small river, which is known to the natives as the Katapaqu but which could as suitably be called Styx. It is a dark, fetid stream that flows through blackened mangrove roots into heavy jungle and looks as though it may disappear eventually into a dismal cavern. The screech of strange birds pierces the foliage..."

Contrary to what was written by one Amazon dot Com reviewer, this book is not boring. It is anything but boring. While it would not rise to the level of a fast paced action thriller, it is a page turner. There is great suspense and good story telling to be found in the descriptions of PT 109's collision with the Amagiri, the Japanese destroyer that rammed her (109) and the hours just before and just after. There is likewise good storytelling and great suspense in the crew's efforts to survive and find their way to an island not covered by Japanese, avoid shark attacks, and then to get from island to island where they could be found and rescued. Admittedly this is only a part of the story, yet it is still the central part of the adventure, and this reader was well pleased with Donovan's work. Further, the author rounds out and finishes the story bringing us briefly to the White House in 1961. I am really sorry that the other reviewer found this boring. He obviously missed the point of the book, which was not to thrill and excite, but to tell an authentic story of strength and the ordinary heroism, possibly waiting to be brought out in all of us.

Therefore, I give Robert J. Donovan five very satisfied and enthusiastic stars for PT 109.

Note: This review is from the 1961 first edition, hard cover, 220 pages.

THis book did a pretty good job retracing the steps of what lead up to the sinking of PT-109 and what followed for the battered crew considering the person who wrote this bok was not a member of the crew or even there at the time of the incident. It gave you a liitle bit of glimpse of everything leading up to the event and some of what happened after...but on the after part it really left you learning to learn more about what injuries everyone incured and where did everyone go right after words, that for me would have given a good real ending to what happend to each person who lived and honor the ones who died. Would recommend this bok to anyone who wants to see what real heroism, honor, courage and just an overall good young man is and should be.

I am up to 7 books about Kennedy. I will simply say the best so far and the biggest surprise out of them all. It's a small book and would not take long to get through it, trust me it's worth the time. If you like military books, presidental books or Kennedy books. Simple the best I have read on him yet, truly shows what a great leader is.

The book was a real story of heroism. The pictures brought it to life. JFK was a terrific writer as well as a great person. This book is a must read for any student of history.

I read PT 109 40 years ago and knew it was a great book. After reading the Ambassador's Son by Homer Hickam Jr. 5 stars...see my review) I got interested in PT109 and JFK again. The Ambassador's Son was fictional but based on facts and real people like JFK. So, I bought a used copy of PT109 to read again and add to our family library.

PT 109 was great. The 240 page book is a page burner with no boring parts. I read it in 1 day. Mr Donavan the author did a lot of research with the help of President JFK, crew members and other people. This is a classic WW2 book about PT boat action in the the Pacific during WW2.

Mr Donavan was very descriptive of the people in this book. We learn a lot about JFK's crews and Japaneses officers. We get empathy for JFK after his PT 109 is cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in the "slot" channel. Groups of PT boats are ordered to stop a supply convoy. They don't and the 4 destroyers come back after supplying an island strong hold. One of the destroyers in the deep dark at night cuts PT 109 in half. We see his heroism in rescuing 3 crews member and getting the 3 people and the rest of the crew to a deserted island. There are casualties.

There are good B/W pictures in the book and we see the award letter Kennedy got (The Navy and Marine medal) for his heroism, plus pictures of his crew and boat and Japanese officers and men of the destroyer that cut PT 109 in half. We see JFK saving a crew member by pulling him through the water with his teeth attached to a leather strap. After getting his men to a deserted island, JFK swims out for hours and hours to try to attract a rescue vessel. Then JFK and his men have to swim to another island. They are hungry and very thirsty plus scared of being killed or captured by the Japanese.

I won't ruin this great book for you...about how they are rescued.

After being rescued JFK is assigned PT 59, where his PT boat and another save a lot of Marines from being slaughtered by the surrounding Japanese.

What Mr. Donavan did not write about was the NAVY originally wanted to Court Marshal JFK for negligence for allowing his PT109 boat lost and some crew killed. I wish Mr Donavan would of included that too. Later the Navy learns it wasn't JFK's fault and there is no Court Marshal.

Anyone interest in PT boat action in the Pacific WW2, Marines, and the heroic sailors that manned the PT boars will love this book. No matter your political opinion of President JFK, all will agree to the heroism of the young LT JG and later LT JFK in WW2. A fascinating book...5 stars.

I thought I already knew the story of PT109 but this definitive account corrected many of my misconceptions. I found the "true story" to be even more heoric than my idealized truth had been.

While PT-109 is written in a factual, after-action battle report style, it can serve a purpose greater than just the telling of a heoric story. For PT109 does not, as one might suspect, glorify war. Rather it celebrates a time when a man from a very privliged family risked his life not just for his country, but for his shipmates who were "common men". For this reason and for the straight-forward history it delivers, it deserves to be on every High School history teacher's list of "recommended books."

Even if your not a teacher, when your are done with PT109, be sure to past it on to somone of the upcoming generation. Who knows? You might insipre a future President.

I was about 10 when the Saturday Evening Post ran a serialized version of Donovan's book. I'll never forget coming home from school the day the next edition was due, and dropping everything to read the next installment. With the passage of 40 years, and a rather older perspective, I can see that the book isn't perfect. Other reviews pick on the flaws. But it's great regardless. If you've never read the story, or like me want to relive a bit of the past, I recommend it highly.