page_title: Patrol torpedo boat PT-109
section_title: Crew on PT-109's last mission
hierarchical_section_title: Patrol torpedo boat PT-109 / Early operations / Crew on PT-109's last mission
caption_attribution_description: English: Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, USNR, (standing at right) with other crewmen on board PT-109, 1943.
context_page_description: PT-109 was a PT boat last commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, future United States President, in the Pacific theater during World War II. His actions to save his surviving crew after the sinking of PT-109 made him a war hero. PT-109's collision with a Japanese destroyer contributed to Kennedy's long-term back problems and required months of hospitalization at Chelsea Naval Hospital. Kennedy's postwar campaigns for elected office referred often to his service on PT-109.
context_section_description: The following men were aboard on PT-109's last mission:
  John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTJG), commanding officer (Boston, Massachusetts).
  Leonard J. Thom, ensign (ENS), Ohio State football athlete, and excellent swimmer, executive officer (Sandusky, Ohio).
  George H. R. "Barney" Ross, Ensign (ENS)  On board as an observer after losing his own boat. Attempted to operate the 37 mm gun but suffered from night blindness. (Highland Park, Illinois).
  Raymond Albert, Seaman 2/c, gunner. Killed in action 8 October 1943 (Akron, Ohio).
  Charles A. "Bucky" Harris, gunner's mate 3/c (GM3) (Watertown, Massachusetts).
  William Johnston, Motor Machinist's Mate 2/c (MM2) (Dorchester, Massachusetts).
  Andrew Jackson Kirksey, Torpedoman's Mate 2/c (TM2)  Killed in collision. (Reynolds, Georgia).
  John E. Maguire, Radioman 2/c (RM2) (Dobbs Ferry, New York).
  Harold William Marney, Motor Machinist's Mate 2/c (MM2). Killed in collision, manning turret closest to impact point. (Springfield, Massachusetts)
  Edman Edgar Mauer, Quartermaster, cook, 3/c (QM3) (St. Louis, Missouri).
  Patrick H. "Pappy" McMahon, Motor Machinist's Mate 1/c (MM1) (Wyanet, Illinois). Only man in engine room during collision, was badly burned, but recovered from his wounds. Only member of the crew besides Kennedy mentioned by name in the song.
  Ray L. Starkey, Torpedoman's Mate 2/c (TM2) (Garden Grove, California).
  Gerard E. Zinser, Motor Machinist's Mate 1/c (MM1)  Erroneously called "Gerald" in many publications, Zinser remained in the Navy for a career following the end of World War II, eventually retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.  The last living survivor of PT-109, he died in Florida in 2001. (Belleville, Illinois).
caption: Top L to R, Ensign Al Webb, Leon Drawdy, Edger Mauer, Edmund Drewitch, John Maguire, Kennedy. Bottom L to R, Charles Harris, Maurice Kowal, Andrew Kirksey, Ensign Lenny Thom.  (Webb, Drewitch, Drawdy, and Kowal not aboard during collision, Barney Ross not in photo)
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