The Truth About the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri and the PT-109 Incident: Debunking Myths
Back in the 1960s, the memoir PT 109 by John F. Kennedy was widely read. It depicted the captain of the Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri, as not being aware that they had hit PT-109. However, new evidence has come to light that challenges this notion.
According to records, the Japanese navy reported the crash. This supposed 'heroic' narrative can be easily twisted to show either a skilled captain or a sailor who was not paying attention. Any PT-109 that was run down in one of the fastest boats ever produced for the U.S. navy should have faced legal consequences for the loss of the vessel. Going on to become President with his story on a coconut, it seems like the whole ordeal has been romanticized.
Was the Japanese destroyer Amagiri even aware it had hit something? A re-examination of historical records reveals that it did indeed know. Upon hearing the captain, Lieutenant Commander Kohei Hanami (the Amagiri's commander), the helmsman was ordered to ram PT-109 on the night of August 2, 1943. This information was confirmed through separate interviews with the helmsman himself.
In 1952, as Kennedy was campaigning for the U.S. Senate, Commander Hanami sent a letter to Kennedy. In it, he wrote: 'In one of the night battle in early August 1943, I sighted a bold enemy boat of small size, heading directly toward my destroyer of a larger type. Having no time to exchange gunfires as the ships came so close to each other, my destroyer had to directly hit the enemy boat, slicing it in two. To my great surprise, this boat happened to be the PT boat which was under your command.'
Was the Amagiri Destroyer Aware?
A destroyer is non-sentient and, by definition, cannot be aware of whether it hits anything. However, for the Amagiri, some key personnel were aware of the collision. According to survivor accounts, the helmsman was ordered by the captain to change course to deliberately ram PT-109. This resulted in a fire that quickly engulfed the boat. Two crew members of PT-109 were killed, and two others suffered severe burns from the flames.
The scene of the impact was widely witnessed. Other PT-109 crews observed the flames, and an Australian coastwatcher on a nearby island also spotted the incident. Therefore, members of the Amagiri crew, particularly those on the deck and bridge, would have seen the flames burning the boat.
It is possible that some crew members below deck may not have felt or heard the impact, but it is highly unlikely that none of them were aware of the collision. The destruction and ensuing fire were visible and unmistakable.
Movie Trivia: George Takei and Sulu
For film enthusiasts, it's worth noting that in the 1960 film PT-109, the helmsman of the Amagiri was played by George Takei, who later became famous as Mr. Sulu in Star Trek. This connection adds another layer to the story, highlighting the cultural impact of the PT-109 incident.
Conclusion
The evidence clearly shows that the Japanese destroyer Amagiri was aware that it had hit PT-109. While the exact circumstances still remain a topic of historical debate, the incident is a significant part of World War II history. The story of PT-109 and its role in Kennedy's presidency continues to be a subject of both praise and scrutiny.