Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 1
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 2
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 3
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 4
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 5
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 6
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 7
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 8
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 9
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 10
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 11
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 12
Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates - photo 13

Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates

Lot 173
25.04.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 65 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 743833
Lot 173 | Consoling the family of one of his PT-109 crewmates
Estimate value
$ 80 000 – 120 000
KENNEDY, John F. (1917-1963). Three autograph letters signed (“John F. Kennedy Lt. USNR” and “Jack Kennedy”), and a typed letter signed (“John F. Kennedy”) as President, to Jennie Marney, various places including San Francisco, Hyannis Port, and Washington, c.August 1943 - 24 April 1961. [With:] an archive of letters and documents relative to the service of Harold Marney (1924-1943).Eight pages, ranging in size from 140 x 92mm to 205 x 275mm. (Occasional light toning, minor contemporary ink brushing and a few minor tears). Archive: approximately 35 pieces (occasional light wear).“I realize that there is nothing that I can say can make your sorrow less…”Kennedy’s 18-year correspondence with the grieving mother of Harold W. Marney, killed aboard PT-109. In the early morning hours of 2 August 1943 the Japanese destroyer Amagiri rammed and sank PT-109 commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy in the Solomon Islands. Kennedy’s efforts to save his crew over the next several days as they awaited rescue became headline news, propelling the young Navy lieutenant to national prominence. Although Kennedy and most of his crew miraculously survived the harrowing ordeal, two crew members died including Harold William Marney, who was killed instantly in the collision.Shortly after Kennedy and his crew were rescued and had been sent stateside for recuperation, he wrote Marney’s believed mother (c. August-October 1943): “This letter is to offer my deepest sympathy to you for the loss of your son. I realize that there is nothing that I can say can make your sorrow less; particularly as I knew him; and know what a great loss he must be to you and your family. Your son rode the PT 109 with me on the night of August 1-2 (1943) when a Japanese destroyer, travelling at high speed cut us in two, as we turned into him for a shot. Harold had come aboard my boat a week before to serve as engineer. He fitted in quickly, and was very well-liked by both the officers and the men. He knew his job and he did it efficiently, and with great cheerfulness—an invaluable quality out here. I am truly sorry that I cannot offer you hope that he survived that night...” Soon afterward, Jennie Marney responded, requesting additional details about her son’s death. Kennedy replied that he deeply regretted he could offer no other information: “From the time that the destroyer hit us—nothing more was seen or heard from Harold. When the crew was finally united around the floating bow — we could find no trace of him although every effort was made to find him. I am terribly sorry that cannot be of more help or encourage to you. I know how unsatisfactory is the word ‘missing’ but that is all that we can tell - that is all of the information we have….” Jeanne Marney remained in touch with Kennedy, offering her condolences on hearing of Jack’s older brother Joe’s tragic death over the English Channel in 1944. Responding to the card of sympathy she had sent, he wrote “I want you to know how much I appreciated your card. I know you know how we all feel—boys like Harold and my brother Joe can never be replaced— but there is some consolation in knowing that they were doing what they wanted to do-and were doing it well…”The PT-109 story helped propell Kennedy into Congress in 1946. (He deftly wove the experience of one of the surviving crewmates, Patrick McMahon, who suffered severe burns over most of his body, into his early campaign speeches.) Over the course of his years in the House and Senate, his office remained in touch with Mrs. Marney offering support and advice when possible. The final letter from Kennedy in the series comes from his early months in the White House—this time a typed letter on White House letterhead, 24 April 1961 writing, “I recently requested from the American Battle Monuments commission a picture of the Manila American Cemetery, whose memorial wall bears the inscription of your son and my former shipmate. I thought you might be interested in having the picture…”In addition to the four signed letters from John Kennedy, the archive includes Marney’s posthumous Purple Heart, named on the reverse (and the paper citation); the original Navy Department telegraph sent to Mr. and Mrs. Marney, reporting on his disappearance; the official Naval Department letter sent from the Head of Casualties of the USNR, also reporting on his disappearance ; a handwritten letter signed from the head of Marney’s squadron Robert B. Kelly, reporting that “I deeply regret that I must inform you that he is missing in action under circumstances presuming death...Your son was a crew member of the motor torpedo boat, commanded by Lieut. (j.g.) Jack Kennedy USNR which was rammed by an enemy destroyer on the night of August 1st -2nd.”; three typed letters signed by Senator Henry Cabot LODGE (1850-1924),to the Marney family including one refuting Harold' mother’s “belief that your son is not dead but is probably alive somewhere on a Japanese Island or prison”; several routine letters sent from Kennedy’s Senatorial office to the Marneys bearing secretarial and autopen examples of Kennedy’s signature; a copy of the 17 June 1944 issue of The New Yorker, featuring John Hersey’s account of the PT-109 incident, entitled “Survival” (as well as the condensed version in the August 1944 issue of Reader’s Digest). together with numerous additional letters and pieces of ephemera related to Marney’s naval career.
Place of origin:USA
Auction house category:Letters, documents and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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