World War II-dated ALS signed “Jack Kennedy,” four pages, 8 x 10.5, Navy Department, Submarine Chaser Training Center (Miami, Florida) letterhead, April 26, 1944. Handwritten letter to “Mac,” fellow PT-109 survivor John E. Maguire, in full: “Thanks for your letter. I’ll get busy on the pictures and see what I can round up—and also I have a drawing of the boat which I will forward to you. The situation here is normal—but once you get your feet up on the table in the morning the real tough work of the day is done. What do they plan to do with all of you fellows—have they given you any date or when you’ll be moving out again. Glad [Edgar] Mauer got back—I hope [Maurice] Kawal & [Charles] Harris do soon. I was sorry to hear about your mother—though I am glad that you got back in time to see her. Heard from Mrs. [Andrew] Kirksey, everything seems to be going well for her. In regard to your coming down here—they are closing up here in a few weeks—and in addition are really putting out the work down here and I am not sure you could stand the pace. Regards to the boys & you’ll hear from me on the pictures.” In very good to fine condition, with overall light creasing and general handling wear.
In the early morning of August 2, 1943, Lieutenant Kennedy’s PT-109 was struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri in the Blackett Strait of the Solomon Islands. Following a miraculous 3.5-mile swim to shore, Kennedy and his ten surviving crew members—which included Radioman, Second Class John E. Maguire—were rescued from Olasana Island a full six days later. Kennedy returned to the United States in January 1944 and soon transferred to Miami’s Submarine Chaser Training Center for a period of three months, where he was assigned to shakedown detail—a period of training and equipment testing on new or reactivated Patrol Torpedo boats. Maguire later worked in Kennedy's congressional and presidential campaigns, and when Kennedy was elected president, Maguire was commissioned US marshal for the Middle District of Florida, a position he held for nine years until Nixon became president. Maguire once said of Kennedy: 'He was my commanding officer, my president and my friend. I'll never forget him.'
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