The Sinking of PT-109

On the night of August 1-2, 1943, the crew of PT-109, a United States patrol torpedo boat in the Pacific, was engaged in a routine patrol when it was struck and cut in two by a Japanese destroyer, leading to a harrowing struggle for survival. Despite an immediate and devastating collision, the crew's resilience and bravery became a memorable story, closely associated with future President John F. Kennedy. The incident highlights a remarkable chapter of wartime valor amid the chaos of the Pacific Theater during World War II.