Richard Kimball said:
McHale’s Navy and the movie “They Were Expendable” were created because of the PT 109 experience of Kennedy.
Being a kid during the 1960s, I don’t remember ‘They Were Expendable’ being played any more often than other war films on local prime-time TV. Though with the passage of time, I’ve come to appreciate the film as an under rated gem.
Explain to me how a John Ford film from 1945 was ‘created’ to fit Kennedy’s PT 109 experience?
I may buy off Jimmy Dean’s song ‘PT 109’ while Kennedy was campaigning, but a comedic television series from 1964, whose express purpose was naval recruitment seems a bit of a stretch.
Also, would someone explain to me how a Lieutenant jg manages to put his boat bow athwart of a Japanese destroyer?
Just my two cents.
Iv'e read a lot on the PT 109 and like everything else about Kennedy, it's hard to tell truth from created myth by those both seeking to deify and destroy him.
Here http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq60-11.htm is the official naval record of the events. They were declassified in 1959.
McHale's Navy was first broadcast on October 11, 1962, and it was no secret that the impetus for the show was the interest in PT Boats because Kennedy was in the White House. The original pilot was much more of a drama, taking the tone of "Mr. Roberts." The producer, Edward J. Montagne, though, had been the producer of Sgt. Bilko, and decided to make the series Bilko in the navy.
Little historical note: The opening of "Gilligan's Island" was filmed the weekend Kennedy was assassinated. Supposedly, you can see the flag at half mast as they sail out of the harbor, although I've never been able to see it.
On the movie, I was thinking about PT 109, with Cliff Robertson playing Kennedy. Stupid goof on my part.