How old was JFK during ww2?

Kennedy was a 26-year-old Naval Lieutenant at the helm of a Patrol Torpedo (PT) boat tasked with a nearly impossible mission, to torpedo Japanese destroyers on supply runs to soldiers fighting Allied forces nearby.

Was JFK in World War 2?

John F. Kennedy served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy during WW2. He was commander of PT109, an 80-foot Elco patrol torpedo boat in Motor Torpedo Squadron 2 serving in the South Pacific. PT109 was famously cut in half by a Japanese destroyer and Kennedy and his crew shipwrecked for seven days on Plum Pudding Island.

What happened to JFK in 1943?

Kennedy's encounter with a Japanese destroyer on the night of August 1, 1943, may be the most famous small-craft engagement in naval history, and it was an unmitigated disaster. At a later date, when asked to explain how he had come to be a hero, Kennedy replied laconically, "It was involuntary. They sank my boat."

Are any PT 109 survivors still alive?

Zinser, Motor Machinist's Mate 1/c (MM1) (Belleville, Illinois). Erroneously called "Gerald" in many publications, Zinser remained in the Navy for a career following the end of World War II, eventually retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. The last living survivor of PT-109, he died in Florida in 2001.

Which Kennedy died in World War II?

Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr.

He was a member of the Kennedy family and the eldest of the nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. During World War II, Kennedy was killed in action while serving as a land-based patrol bomber pilot, and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

JFK's Resilience and Bravery in WWII | Kennedy

Which Kennedy died in a helicopter crash?

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the death of Byron Kennedy, co-creator and producer of Mad Max. He died in a helicopter crash at the young age of 33 on the 17th of July, 1983.

Who is buried with JFK?

Kennedy is buried in a special grave at Arlington National Cemetery along with his wife Jackie and two of their children.

Was the wreckage of PT-109 ever found?

The wreck of PT-109 was found by Robert Ballard in 2002 in 1,300 feet of water in Blackett Strait between Gizo and Kolombongara Islands in the Solomons, not far from where it was rammed by the Japanese destroyer IJN Amagiri at about 02:27 on August 2, 1943.

How long was JFK stranded on island?

After an exhausting swim, Kennedy arrived at a small unoccupied island with his remaining crew–including the injured companion, according to Rob Brown for the BBC. The men stayed on the island for two days with only coconuts to provide nourishment, Brown writes.

How did the PT-109 crew survive?

Most of the crew were knocked or fell into the water. The one man below decks, engineer Patrick McMahon, miraculously escaped, although he was badly burned by exploding fuel. Fear that PT-109 would go up in flames drove Kennedy to order the men who still remained on the wreck to abandon ship.

Who tried to save JFK?

Secret Service agent Clint Hill rides on the back of the presidential limousine moments after President John F. Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963.

Where is JFK buried?

President Kennedy's Grave in Arlington National Cemetery.

What caused JFK crash?

Kennedy reportedly became disoriented while flying through thick fog over the coast of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The plane spiraled downward and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The plane plummeted into the ocean within about 30 seconds, The Washington Post reported.

Who was the youngest U.S. president?

The youngest person to become U.S. president was Theodore Roosevelt, who, at age 42, succeeded to the office after the assassination of William McKinley. The oldest person inaugurated president was Joe Biden, at age 78.

Did PT boats sink any Japanese ships?

The PT boats off Guadalcanal were given credit for several sinkings and successes against the vaunted Tokyo Express. In several engagements, the mere presence of PTs was sufficient to disrupt heavily escorted Japanese resupply activities at Guadalcanal.

Was JFK a Cold War?

Kennedy's political career played out through the Cold War. His presidency saw some of the tensest moments of the era. He encountered the Communist challenge on every front. He fought Communism in developing nations with the Peace Corps.

What was written on JFK's coconut?

On Aug. 6, 1943, Kennedy carved a message into a green coconut that read, “NAURO ISL… COMMANDER… NATIVE KNOWS POS'IT…

Was Kennedy a war hero?

During World War II, he commanded PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking of PT-109 and his rescue of his fellow sailors made him a war hero and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but left him with serious injuries.

How many kids did JFK have?

Jackie and JFK had four children, two of whom who died as infants: Arabella, born stillborn in 1956, Caroline, born 1957, John Jr., born 1960, and Patrick, who died two days after his premature birth in 1963.

How many died on PT-109?

John Kennedy's PT boat was cut in two by a Japanese warship. More than 1,000 people were part of the overflow crowd at the PT Boat Museum in Fall River's Battleship Cove to honor the two men who died during the PT-109 incident and all other crewmen of PT boats who didn't survive the war.

How did JFK's boat sink?

JAMIE RICHARDSON: Our topic today involves the 75th anniversary of the destruction of JFK's patrol torpedo boat, the PT-109, and the ensuing rescue of its crew. During the night of August 1 into the second in 1943, the 80-foot boat was struck in the South Pacific by a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri.

How long were the men on PT-109 stranded?

It took the 11 men four hours to reach the island. The crewmen, who later swam to a slightly larger island in search of food, were stranded for six days, living off coconuts, before they were rescued.

Why is there an eternal flame at JFK's grave?

Kennedy visited the site with McNamara on Saturday, November 23, and concluded that Jacqueline Kennedy's wishes should be honored. On Sunday, November 24, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy requested an eternal flame for Kennedy's grave. According to several published accounts, she drew inspiration from a number of sources.

Why did JFK have two caskets?

The casket, a 400-pound, double-walled, hermetically sealed coffin made of solid bronze, was damaged when it was removed from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on November 22, 1963. The second (burial) casket was selected at Joseph Gawler's Sons, Inc.

Did Queen Elizabeth attend JFK funeral?

Our late Queen very rarely attended funerals for other Heads of State. Her attendance would detract from the focus, but Prince Philip attended in her place. She was also pregnant with Prince Edward at the time.