World War II Honoree

Jack Gardo

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Greenville, South Carolina

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE U.S. NAVY ABOARD PT–157 DURING WWII. HIS PT BOAT WAS SENT TO RESCUE THE CREW OF PT–109 WHICH WAS RAMMED BY THE JAPANESE DESTROYER AMAGIRI OFF OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ON AUGUST 2, 1943. HE LEARNED OF PT–109’S LOCATION WHEN AN ISLANDER ARRIVED WITH A COCONUT ON WHICH, FUTURE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, WHO HAD TAKEN COMMAND, HAD SCRAWLED THEIR LOCATION.