10. Kennedy swam to another island in search of help on August 5
About a half-mile distant from Olasana Island was Naru Island, which was both unoccupied by the Japanese and closer to Ferguson Passage. On August 5, Kennedy and Ensign George Ross, known as Barney, swam to Naru, with Kennedy intending to again spend the night treading water in Ferguson Passage. He hoped to encounter an American PT boat on patrol. They found a wreck of a Japanese vessel on a reef. The Americans also discovered crackers and candy in several packages, as well as canned drinking water, left behind by the Japanese. They also discovered a native dugout canoe. Two natives exploring the Japanese wreck fled in their canoe when Kennedy approached.
When Kennedy returned to Olasana Ross remained on Naru Island to rest. Kennedy found the two natives had encountered his crew. The natives were talking with Lenny Thom, Kennedy’s executive officer. Kennedy and the natives returned to Naru, found Ross swimming back and picked him up on the way. On Naru, Kennedy carved a message into the husk of a cocoanut, at Gasa’s suggestion, and using a nut which Kumana climbed a tree to acquire. The natives then departed for Wana Wana Island, which was patrolled by the Japanese. Kennedy continued to attempt to find an American boat on patrol in Ferguson Passage, using the native canoe they had discovered on Naru Island, and carrying the battle lantern to signal any boat which might appear.
