What "saves" the correspondent, cook, and captain in the end? (Why do they survive but not the oiler?

in the end he survives by clinging to the overturned boat as it is washed into shallow water by the surf. Even then, he waves away a rescuer and points to the correspondent, indicating that he should be helped ashore first. The cook is described as fat and untidily dressed.

it was the battle of midway (june 4-7 1942), in which was an american decisive victory against the japanese navy. americans lost one aircraft carrier, one destroyer and 150 planes. japan lost 4 aircraft carriers, 1 heavy cruiser and 248 planes. american casualties were 307 and japanese casualties were 3057. japan never recovered from its loses and after midway the americans started getting the upper hand in the pacific war.