John Lowery was the lieutenant on PT162 who was on patrol with the PT109 the night it was sunk. Part of a four boat formation patrolling the Blackett strait, both boats were left behind after the other two boats left discharged their torpedoes and left the area to return to base.
At 2:27 a.m on August 2 both Lowery and Jack saw the Japanese destroyer churning into view straight for PT109. Lowrey in the seconds he had to react before Jack’s boat was rammed turned his boat away from the crash point and tried to fire torpedoes, which did not engage. After the crash he left the area and returned to base. He later stated that he did not move in to the burning hulk to check for survivors as he thought the crash and explosion had surely killed all of the crew.
[156, p. 340-2]