Dean Ellis (1920 - 2009) "Life of JFK / PT109" Signed lower right. Tempera on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the First Day Cover for the Republic of the Marshall Islands 55c PT-109 stamp issued May 29, 1995. On August 2, 1943, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy was commanding a U.S. Navy patrol boat in the Solomon Islands when it was split in half by a Japanese destroyer. The collision killed two of his 12 crewmen instantly. One of the more severely wounded, Patrick McMahon, was unable to swim to the relative security of the floating wreckage. Kennedy dragged McMahon to safety and then swam out again to retrieve a second crewman. Fortunately, the survivors of PT-109 spotted an island in the distance. Towing McMahon on his back, Kennedy swam toward land, finally reaching shore after five hours. Six days passed before the message "Native knows posit he can pilot 11 alive need small boat Kennedy" -carve into a coconut shell -- reached fellow Americans. The heroic lieutenant was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Image Size: 11.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14 x 16 in. Unframed. (B14920)