About the Book
The extraordinary World War II story of shipwreck and survival that paved John F. Kennedy's path to power - hailed as a "breathtaking account" by James Patterson, "masterfully written" by historian Douglas Brinkley, and "the finest book" ever written on the subject by Lt. Commander William Liebenow, the man who rescued JFK and the PT 109 crew in August 1943.
In the early morning darkness of August 2, 1943, during a chaotic nighttime skirmish amid the Solomon Islands, the Japanese destroyer Amagiri barreled through thick fog and struck the U.S. Navy's motor torpedo boat PT 109, splitting the craft nearly in half and killing two American sailors instantly. The sea erupted in flames as the 109's skipper, John F. Kennedy, and the ten surviving crewmen under his command desperately clung to the sinking wreckage; 1,200 feet of ink-black, shark-infested water loomed beneath. All hands lost, came the reports back to the Americans' base: no rescue was coming for the men of PT 109. Their desperate ordeal was just beginning--so too was one of the most remarkable tales of World War II, one whose astonishing afterlife would culminate two decades later in the White House.
Drawing on original interviews with the last living links to the events, previously untapped Japanese wartime archives, and a wealth of archival documents from the Kennedy Library, including a lost first-hand account by JFK himself, bestselling author William Doyle has crafted a thrilling and definitive account of the sinking of PT 109 and its shipwrecked crew's heroics. Equally fascinating is the story's second act, in which Doyle explores in new detail how this extraordinary episode shaped Kennedy's character and fate, proving instrumental to achieving his presidential ambitions: Without PT 109, there never would have been a President John F. Kennedy, declared JFK aide David Powers.
Featuring castaways on a deserted island, a spy network of Solomon Island natives, an Australian coast watcher hidden on the side of a volcano, an S.O.S. note carved into a coconut, and a daring rescue attempt led by Kennedy's fellow American PT boats, PT 109 is an unforgettable American epic of war and destiny.
About the Author :
William Doyle is a New York Times bestselling author and the winner of the 1998 Writers Guild Award for Best Documentary for the A&E special, The Secret White House Tapes. He was also coproducer of the PBS special Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story. He lives in New York City.
David Drummond has made his living as an actor for over twenty-five years, appearing on stages large and small throughout the country and in Seattle, Washington, his hometown. He has narrated over thirty audiobooks, in genres ranging from current political commentary to historical nonfiction, fantasy, military, thrillers, and humor. He received an AudioFile Earphones Award for his first audiobook, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay. When not narrating, he keeps busy writing plays and stories for children.
Review :
Fast-paced, gripping, and superbly researched, William Doyle's PT-109 conveys the dramatic story of JFK's wartime service and its surprising aftereffects with a refreshing, brisk authority. Doyle's gift for details and vivid descriptions put the reader squarely in the middle of this epic tale.
-- "Dan Hampton, USAF (Ret.), New York Times bestselling author"
I have to say, William Doyle's PT-109 is the finest book I've ever read on the subject: the best written; the most well-researched and accurate. It covers every aspect and brings many new things to light. Doyle has done a wonderful job.
-- "Lt. Commander William Liebenow, USNR (Ret.), John F. Kennedy's tentmate and battle colleague"
Perhaps the only thing more enjoyable than working on a book with William Doyle is reading one of his books. This one is exceptional: an intimate, blow-by-blow account of the saga of PT-109 and its young skipper who was destined to later take the helm of the nation. A fascinating read.
-- "Dick Couch, USN (Ret.), New York Times bestselling author"
The hallmark of a terrific history is when you think you know the story and discover that there's so much more. William Doyle's PT-109 infuses an iconic tale with new information and insights, and in the telling deepens our understanding of the young John F. Kennedy's courageous 'origin' story.
-- "David Rensin, New York Times bestselling author"
William Doyle's PT-109 is a masterfully written book on John F. Kennedy's World War II service. Every page sparkles with keen insight and fresh research. Highly recommended!
-- "Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author"
William Doyle's PT-109 not only provides a highly accurate and researched account of Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy's time as a PT skipper, including the sinking and eventual rescue of the 109's crew, but it also brilliantly charts how those six days of survival, being alone, isolated, and, at times thought to be abandoned, transformed Kennedy's very fiber-and his destiny to become president of the United States.
-- "Bridgeman Carney, PT boat historian and author of First Up: Chronicles of the PT-157"
