January 2021 Auction Ends Thursday, January 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/28/2021
Powerful statement by Gerard E. Zinser, the last surviving man aboard PT-109, regarding the night that the patrol boat sunk with Lt. John F. Kennedy as its skipper. Limited edition statement is signed ''Gerard E. Zinser'' at the conclusion in ballpoint pen, and reads in part, ''...Gerard Zinser's most vivid memory of that night is of his skipper, Lt. John F. Kennedy, saving a sailor by gripping the man's life jacket laces in his teeth. Zinser is the last man alive who was aboard PT 109 the night it was rammed and cut in two. Two crew members were killed. Kennedy towed Patrick McMahon, who had been badly burned, by gripping the laces of McMahon's life jacket in his teeth...'' Zinser continues, '''He also towed [McMahon] 4 hours to the first island and also 4 hours to the second island. He also swam out approximately three nights trying to hail down a P.T. Boat. He left at the first sign of darkness in the evening, and stayed out in Ferguson Passage treading water, returning in the morning to the island where we men were. Each time he was exhausted and several of us would hurry him from the beach up on the island behind trees and bushes to keep the Japs from spotting him...In all my 20 years of Naval service I met many good officers, but none could equal John F. Kennedy.''' Single page statement measures 8.5'' x 11'', with limited edition #61 of 300 written in pencil at lower left. Near fine condition.
Gerard Zinser, the Last Surviving Sailor Aboard PT-109, Signed Statement -- ''...Lt. John F. Kennedy, saving a sailor by gripping the man's life jacket laces in his teeth...''
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