John F. Kennedy’s actions in saving his surviving crew after PT-109 was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer made him a war hero. Back problems stemming from the incident required months of hospitalization at Chelsea Naval Hospital and plagued him the rest of his life. Kennedy’s postwar campaigns for elected office referred often to his service on PT-109.
In 1945 Kennedy retired from the Navy Reserves on physical disability and was honorably discharged. He went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives 1947 to 1953. After serving in the House of Representatives he served in the U.S. Senate in 1953 to 1960. In January of 1960 he initiated his plan to run for the U.S. President. He won and was sworn in as the 35th president.