They Were Expendable (DVD, 2007)

Based on the true story of the development of the PT (Patrol Torpedo) boats,
This movie was one of directors John Fords pet projects. The plot that ensued
follow the PT boats during the early bleak days following Pearl Harbor. Navy
Lieutenants Robert Montgomery and John Wayne persuade the Navy brass to let
them send the untried plywood built boats against the Japanese fleet in the
Philippine Islands. One of the subplots is built around the true story of
John F Kennedys PT 109 sinking, when Wayne boat is cut in two by a Japanese
destroyer and Wayne (acting as Kennedy did in the Movie PT-109) leads his
men to a deserted island near the sinking area and keeps them together until
their rescue by US forces. Several other sub-plots are included, such as the
rescue of General McArthur as well as many engagements with the Japanese
navy and air forces. A good movie that war movie collectors will enjoy and
certainly should have in their collection.

I found this movie to be very good and true to life regarding the accuracy of this film when it was made as my Grandfather was in the PT Boats in the Pacific during WWII, his rank was Lieutenant and he was the Captain (Skipper) of his boat. He told me many things and stories about the people that made the PT boats what they became and I feel it was not just him and the men he served with that he was talking about, it was these people that he was talking about.

Many of the Officers and men my Grandfather served with died in the PT Boats during WWII as they were not big ships, they were not even made of metal, they were flimsy boats made of wood. This movie shows the down side to these boats and the bravery of the men that served in them. I bought this movie due to the fact that my Grandfather was one of the men that served in the PT Boats and lived to tell about how his fellow Navy officers thought of those boats. His happiest stories were about things his boat or others in his squadron did that would change the minds of other Navy officers about these boats.