John F. Kennedy (JFK) was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the 35th president of the United States, particularly during the Cold War. JFK was the second out of nine children, 4 boys and 5 girls. Since JFK was young, he had many sicknesses, including scarlet fever, where his dad was worried he would not make it. The Kennedys were known to be a recognized political family, and JFK’s dad, Joseph, was a thriving businessman who graduated from Harvard University. JFK was not known to be the best student, but his headmaster believed that he had a “clever individualist mind”. JFK graduated from the prestigious prep school, Choate, and entered Harvard in 1936, where his brother, Joe, was already studying. Both the brothers played college football, though JFK wasn’t as good as Joe, he had the necessary determination. While playing football, he injured his back for the first time, rupturing a disk in his spine. In 1937, Joseph was elected United States Ambassador to England and moved there with the family, except John and Joe. Inspired by his father’s job and a trip to Europe, JFK came back to Harvard with a newfound interest in politics.

After graduating from Harvard, both Joe and John joined the Navy. John was given the position of lieutenant and was assigned to the South Pacific as commander of twelve on a torpedo boat. Joe, on the other hand, was a flyer who was sent to Europe. On August 32, 1943, JFK’s boat was patrolling the waters looking for signs of the enemy when a Japanese destroyer suddenly came into view, heading full speed straight at them. Kennedy tried to transport the ship to safety, but it was far too late. The destroyer split the boat clean in half. Two of Kennedy’s men died on impact, and eight managed to jump at the last minute. Kennedy was flung across the cockpit, injuring his back yet again. On the other hand, one of Kennedy’s men, Patrick McMahon, was suffering severe burns. Kennedy managed to find McMahon and took him to where the rest of the crew was clinging to a floating piece of wreckage from the ship. The following morning, Kennedy led his crew to a nearby island where he carved a message on a coconut for the Solomon Island natives, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, to take to the government. His crew got saved soon after. Joe, however, died a year later on a mission in Europe where his plane exploded. After John got back home, he got awarded a Purple Heart and a medal for “extremely heroic conduct.”

JFK’s assassination is one of the most grievous moments to have ever hit the U.S. to this day. JFK was so loved that it wasn’t just the U.S. that grieved him, it was the whole world. His assassination ended the presidency of one of the most popular leaders during the Cold War. The assassination of JFK also led to a change in security standards and order of succession for future presidents. Lee Harvey Oswald was the one who assassinated JFK. Though his full reason for the assassination was never found out, we know parts of what happened. Oswald deeply admired Cuba’s dictator, Fidel Castro. The Bay of Pigs invasion angered him so much that he ended up assassinating JFK because of it.