• PT-109

  • JFK's Night of Destiny
  • By: William Doyle
  • Narrated by: David Drummond
  • Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (99 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
PT-109  By  cover art

PT-109

By: William Doyle
Narrated by: David Drummond
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.49

Buy for $22.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A thrilling, moment-by-moment account of one of the most famous events of World War II - the sinking of PT-109 and John F. Kennedy's heroic actions that saved his crew - and a fascinating examination of how that extraordinary episode shaped the future president's life.

At 2:00 a.m. on the moonless night of August 2, 1943, US Patrol Torpedo boat PT-109, captained by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, was struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri near the Solomon Islands. The American ship was cleaved in two and rocked by an explosion; two crew members died instantly; the remaining 11 survivors clung to the sinking wreckage, adrift in enemy waters. Despite injuring his back, Lt. Kennedy - towing a severely burned sailor by the strap of a life jacket - led his battered and exhausted men on a harrowing three-and-a-half mile swim to a tiny, uninhabited island. Desperate for food and water, Kennedy set off on a solo reconnaissance mission, scouting two larger islands two and a half miles away. Discovering water and coconuts, he returned for his men. For six days they lived off coconuts and kept out of sight of passing Japanese patrols until they were rescued.

Drawing on new information from the American rescuers and recently released archives in both Japan and the US, PT-109 recounts this event in breathtaking detail and explores the incident's remarkable aftermath on JFK's life and legend. William Doyle reveals that while the incident transformed JFK into a war hero and helped propel him to the US Senate and the White House, the wounds he suffered during that harrowing week continued to haunt him, physically and psychologically.

©2015 William Doyle (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about PT-109

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    60
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    45
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    54
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hagiography, but a good one

JFK is painted as almost otherworldly here. The book is accurate, but it gets drippy at the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great book on the loss of the PT 109 and the story of bravery and determination of the crew that led to their survival. Book also gives you a brief history of the Kennedy family and his brief time in the Oval Office where his experiences of the tragic event shaped his presidency.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

So enlightening, great overviews

The detail of PT boats, the difficulties endured by lack of training, the long term relationships between foes were beneficial in understanding the war in the Solomon Islands.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

highly recommend

loved it, from the moment I started the book I couldn't put it down!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

this is a fascinating story about a great man.

This book is a true profile in courage of a very brave future president.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Story

Great story and experiences of the time period. John F. Kennedy was kind of one of the original Navy Seals.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great.

Loved it. Great book about Kennedy. and the PT 109 Must read for those who like war History.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brings the story full circle

Takes the story of the PT 109 and shows from beginning to end the impact it had on her commanding officer. A must own for any JFW or WW2 history reader.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

JFK’s GREAT ADVENTURE

If you haven’t gotten PT-109 do so soon. It’s a great chapter in his very intriguing life. Thanks, Mr Wm Doyle. Bye for now Glen ;-) : -)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very detailed history of JFK's loss and recovery

One of the most detailed accounts of the loss of the PT 109 and JFK's heroic recovery. Seems to be well researched using modern and first hand sources. The book also provides background on Kennedy's upbringing and much subsequent history. Although hagiographic, it does not gloss over JFK's flaws. You may not agree with the author's conclusion that the loss of the 109 was the major incident informing the rest of his life, but JFK's courage, calm, resolve, leadership and regard for his crew cannot be gainsaid,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!