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Unknown John F. Kennedy is hero on PT-109...
Unknown John F. Kennedy is hero on PT-109...
Item # 626794
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August 20, 1943
THE NEW YORK TIMES, August 20, 1943
* Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109
* Lieutenant John F. Kennedy
* World War II - Pacific Theater
The front page has a two column, two line head: "Kennedy's Son Is Hero in Pacific As Destroyer Splits His PT Boat" with the report carrying over to page 5 where is found a photo of "Lieutenant John F. Kennedy", who was 26 years old at the time. This incident reports the now-famous sinking of his PT boat #109 which he commanded and his heroic actions in saving most of the men in his crew, previously presumed dead. At the time it was his father who was famous, Joseph P. Kennedy, former ambassador to England. Once John F. Kennedy became President this incident became the stuff of legend resulting in a movie and several books, interest being revived in 2002 by the discovery of the PT 109 by famed explorer Robert Ballard who also discovered the wrecks of the Bismark and Titanic. The article provides considerable detail of the incident (see) and is followed by a brief report headed: "Kennedy's Parents Overjoyed" with a dateline of Hyannis, Massachusetts. I suspect this is one of the few publications to report this particular event as other titles in our inventory do not.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete in 30 pages, this is the rare rag edition that was produced on very high quality newsprint, with a high percentage of cotton & linen content, allowing the issues to remain very white & sturdy into the present. Given the subscription cost, libraries & institutions rather than individuals were the primary subscribers of these high-quality editions. Minor spine wear, very nice condition.
Category: The 20th Century
No Longer Available
