Japanese naval officer who commanded the 11th Flotilla and who was Senior Officer on board the destroyer Amagiri on the night of the collision with PT-109. Signed book: Robert J. Donovan: PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1961. Hardcover with dustjacket, 6 x 8.5, 248 pages. Signed and extensively annotated by Yamashiro on several prefatory pages and throughout the text. Yamashiro famously disputed the widely accepted account of events related to the collision with PT-109, and here outlines his version in great detail. In addition to a highly detailed map, he provides a lengthy handwritten criticism of Donovan’s book, in part: “I think this book is popular to masses. But there are many mistakes in discription [sic] on the Imperial Japanese Navy side. Mr. Donovan apparently failed to fully appreciate the command system of the Imperial Japanese Navy as well as the organization of the Japanese destroyer force that participated in the engagement….” He additionally provides a list of page references, on these pages adding even further annotations, including charts and sketches. He signs and dates his statement, “Aug. 2nd 1972, 29 years since the collision, Capt. Katsumori Yamashiro.” In fine condition, with a touch of wear to extremities and mild edge wear to jacket. R&R COA.
