Every Man A King

Oooh! Question:

What becomes of Alf Lennon in all this? He was technically on with Julia during this time Joe Jr. is dating her, but was away at sea for the war.
 
This is back!


Well, Doug MacArthur's in command now, and I have to say that I'm impressed. He's kicked everyone and everything into gear. He's inspected many of our camps and improved a lot of the faults around here. He came to our camp yesterday. Christ, he's a hardass. The air rung with him shouting, "Why isn't your rifle clean?" and "You can't be afraid to kick some Kraut ass!" He really chewed up and swallowed one of my buddies for not standing up straight. Doug's a perfectionist, but he's our perfectionist.

At least he's gotten us moving. Just in the last week, we've advanced about a mile. I've heard that Doug's ordered in an entire tank division. We're all welcoming that news - anything we can hide behind during the advance is good, and tanks are the best for the job.

Even so, war is still hell like usual. My buds Bob and Jerry are dead now - both were killed by a Kraut machine gun nest a few miles outside Lisieux on Wednesday. Once we get into Lisieux tomorrow, I'll be sure to give the Krauts what for, to make up for what they did to Bob and Jerry.

God help me; I could use all the help I can get. And I just pray like hell that Julia's doing alright - she's become my shining light in this darkness. And of course, I pray for my family. I hope Jack's doing well in the Navy.

- The Diary of Joe Kennedy Jr., January 29 1943



It was the average Sunday morning for those of us still in Hyannis Port - Joe and I got back from Church and sat down for breakfast at home. Joe was reading the newspaper, and about five minutes into breakfast I looked up, and I saw that Joe was looking awfully pale.

"Dear, what's wrong?" I asked.

It took him a moment to muster up his voice. "It's Jack," he mumbled, his eyes still on the paper. From my position, I could see that he was starting to tear up, and that's when I got worried; one of his biggest rules in the family was not to cry.

"What's wrong?" I asked again.

"Jack's... Jack's gone MIA," he told me. "Jack's submarine went down off the coast of Holland yesterday afternoon. Jack's been declared MIA, likely KIA."

- Rose Kennedy on the disappearance of her son Jack
 
Holy crap, you're butterflying away JFK?!?!?! :eek:

The early 60s will be interesting indeed...what will become of Tricky Dick? :confused:
 
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