After graduating from Harvard in 1940, John F. Kennedy joined the U.S. Navy, where he was assigned to command PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat in the South Pacific. On August 2, 1943, PT-109 was rammed by a Japanese warship, resulting in the tragic deaths of two crew members. Despite sustaining severe injuries to his back, Kennedy's courage shone through as he heroically rescued fellow sailors, leading them to safety on a nearby island. His valor during this ordeal earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, as well as a Purple Heart, solidifying his reputation as a war hero and laying the foundation for his political career.
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