PORT VILA, VANUATU, December 05, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- A National Geographic expedition led by Robert Ballard to the South Pacific, found the sunken remnants of John F Kennedy's PT-109, in May 2002. It has taken the US Navy experts six years to announce that the wreck that was found in 360 meters of water was actually the boat JFK skippered.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, in 1941, American troops were shipped to various tropical islands in the South Pacific. In Vanuatu 100,000 American troops were housed on the tropical island of Santo, while 25,000 more were based on Efate. The main objective of the Americans was to halt the Japanese advance across the chain of South Pacific islands.
It is now almost 60 years since a Japanese destroyer appeared out of the darkness, around 2 am in the morning. Slicing over the top of the PT-109, skippered by 26 year old JF Kennedy, son an ambassador, millionaire heir and the soon to be elected president of the United States of America. Two of Kennedy's crew members were killed instantly, the rest left clinging to the remains of the still-floating bow section of the boat.
With no sign of rescue, the sailors, under JFK's leadership, decided to make the several-hour swim to the nearest deserted island. Although Kennedy was suffering from a back injury he managed to go to the rescue of one of his crew, by gripping the sailor's vest with his teeth.
Starvation, exhaustion and thirst plagued the sailors, before they were finally rescued by local Solomon Islanders in dugout canoes. The islanders had been able to move around in the daytime, unnoticed by the Japanese. They passed onto a coastguard a coconut they had found with a rescue message carved on it by Kennedy.
Six days after their boat was run over, Kennedy and the remaining crew boarded a sister ship. The coconut that saved the men's life's had pride of place on the desk in the Oval Office at the White House, throughout Kennedy's presidency. It was a daily reminder that live can hold Blue Moon Opportunities, for those who have the courage to see them. Opportunities that change people's lives.
About YouMe Support Foundation
YouMe Support Foundation, Vanuatu, a non-profit making charity, was founded in 2007. YouMe Support Foundation provides non-repayable higher education grants to children from geographically and economically underprivileged areas. YouMe Support Foundation staff and advisers have all been involved in the education system and never underestimate the importance of giving a child the opportunity to gain an education. YouMe Support Foundation will follow the students through their chosen careers choices and where possible encourage the students to use their new found knowledge to improve the life of the community on their home island.
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