JFK WINS THE PURPLE HEART
Solomon Islands (JFK+50) On June 12, 1944, Lieutenant j.g. John F. Kennedy was awarded the Purple Heart* as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Medal** in honor of his courage and leadership after the PT109 was rammed and set on fire by a Japanese destroyer near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
Two of Lt. Kennedy's thirteen man crew were killed instantly and many of the survivors injured.
Despite suffering an injury to his back, JFK directed his sailors back aboard the crippled boat and then engineered a swim to a nearby island. One of the crew, Pappy McMahon, was so badly burned, JFK had to personally tow him using the strap of a life preserver in his teeth. For six days and nights the crew waited to be rescued.
Finally, the young Lieutenant was able to carve a message on a coconut, give it to some natives who, by way of coastwatchers, got it back to Navy headquarters.
The Navy and Marine Corps medal reads...
"for courage, endurance and excellent leadership...in keeping with the highest traditions of the US Naval Service."
*The Purple Heart is given in the name of the POTUS to those wounded or killed serving in the military of the U.S. after June 5, 1917. As of June 5, 2010, 1,910,162 PHs had been awarded.
**The Navy & Marine Corps Medal, established by Congress Aug 7 1942, is the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the US Dept of the Navy.
The Purple Heart Medal
www.afpc.af.mil/
USAF Photo (1999)
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
