“William Doyle’s PT 109 is a masterfully written book on John F. Kennedy’s World War II service. Every page sparkles with keen insight and fresh research. Highly recommended!” - Douglas Brinkley, author of Cronkite
“This one is exceptional--an intimate, blow-by-blow account of the saga of PT 109 and its young skipper who was destined to later take the helm of the nation. A fascinating read.” - Dick Couch, author of When Honor Bound and Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story (with William Doyle)
“Fast-paced, gripping, and superbly researched, William Doyle’s PT 109 conveys the dramatic story of JFK’s wartime service and its surprising aftereffects with a refreshing, brisk authority. Doyle’s gift for details and vivid descriptions put the reader squarely in the middle of this epic tale.” - Dan Hampton (USAF, Ret.), New York Times bestselling author of The Hunter Killers
“A terrific history. ... William Doyle’s PT 109 infuses an iconic tale with new information and insights, and in the telling deepens our understanding of the young John F. Kennedy’s courageous ‘origin’ story.” - David Rensin, co-author with Louis Zamperini of the New York Times bestsellers Devil at My Heels and Don't Give Up, Don't Give In
“William Doyle’s PT 109 not only provides a highly accurate and researched account ... but it also brilliantly charts how those six days of survival, being alone, isolated and at times thought to be abandoned, transformed Kennedy’s very fiber--and his destiny.” - Bridgeman Carney, PT boat historian and author of First Up: Chronicles of the PT 157
“Cinematic. ... Doyle expertly... brings this remarkable saga back to life.” - Christian Science Monitor
“A gripping, well-told story of courage in the face of disaster.” - Booklist
“I have to say, William Doyle’s PT 109 is the finest book I’ve ever read on the subject: the best written; the most well-researched and accurate. It covers every aspect and brings many new things to light. Doyle has done a wonderful job.” - William Liebenow, Lt. Commander, USNR (ret.), skipper of PT 157, John F. Kennedy's tentmate, battle colleague and boat commander of the mission that rescued Kennedy behind enemy lines in August 1943
“A cinematic story of survival.” - Boston Globe
“Drawing on a firsthand account by Kennedy, documents from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Japanese wartime archives, and fresh interviews with the remaining living links to the events, Doyle, formerly director of original programming at HBO, tells a cinematic story of survival that involves an SOS note carved into a coconut and a spy network of Solomon Island natives.” - Boston Globe
“A revealing and breathtaking account about what happened to John F. Kennedy’s Patrol Torpedo boat 109, and the famous war story’s engrossing aftermath.” - James Patterson
“[A] fast-paced narrative. … Dramatic and revealing.” - Kirkus Reviews
“A gripping account of John F. Kennedy’s monumental test of leadership and survival during World War II, and how his actions set him on the path to political greatness.” - Library Journal
“Compelling. ... Explosive.” - Daily Mail (London)
“Impressive. ... Enlightening. ... Doyle makes a compelling case for why PT 109 should be remembered. ... [An] engrossing combination of adventure and analysis. ... Doyle’s work has all the makings of a definitive account -- the last word on the story. And as such it’s a tale few are likely to forget.” - USA Today
“Impressive. ... [An] engrossing combination of adventure and analysis. ... Doyle’s work has all the makings of a definitive account -- the last word on the story. And as such, it’s a tale few are likely to forget.” - USA Today
“Powerful. ... Today’s candidates should read this account to learn from Kennedy’s leadership skills.” - American Thinker