Jack Gardo, Last Surviving Member Of Crew That Rescued John F. Kennedy, Dies At 87
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — The last surviving member of the crew that rescued John F. Kennedy from an island in the Pacific Ocean during World War II has died.
Guy Gardo said Jack Gardo died in his sleep at his Greenville home Wednesday. He was 87. The younger Gardo said his father had suffered from dementia for the past six years.
Jack Gardo's PT-157 was sent to rescue the survivors of PT-109 after the patrol torpedo boat was rammed in the middle of the night by a Japanese destroyer.
Gardo said he and his crew learned where the survivors were after a native islander arrived with a coconut on which Kennedy had scrawled their location.
Among the survivors are Jack Gardo's wife, Guynell; a daughter; and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral is scheduled for Monday.
