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Image: JFK PT-109 Coconut

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Description: Coconut Shell Paperweight - Original coconut on which the rescue message was inscribed by Kennedy to rescue the crew of the PT-109 and delivered by natives, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, of the Solomon Islands. From the source: While Kennedy was serving in WWII as commander of the PT109, his boat was hit by a Japanese destroyer and his crew was stranded in the Solomon Islands. Lieutenant John F. Kennedy carved this Coconut shell with a message and gave it to two natives to deliver to the PT base at Rendova so he and his crew would be rescued. He later had the coconut shell encased in wood and plastic and used it as a paperweight on his desk in the Oval Office. Message carved on coconut shell reads "NAURO ISL…COMMANDER…NATIVE KNOWS POS'IT…HE CAN PILOT…11 ALIVE…NEED SMALL BOAT…KENNEDY".
Title: JFK PT-109 Coconut
Credit: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid={B834EA62-0711-47A4-9EC1-E00C12CF9390}&type=Image
Author: jfklibrary.org
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No

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