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8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
1/11
Navy Lt. John F. Kennedys PT-59 in an unspecifed location near the
islands o Vella Lavella and Choiseul. The vessel played a key role in the
marines diversionary mission at Choiseul Island in early November 1943.
OPERATION
BLISSFULHow the Marines Lured the Japanese Away from a Key Targetand How the Brute Got Some Help from JFK
By GREG BRADSHER
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
2/11
O mb 2, 1943, y l. J . Ky, mm P-59, m-
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M P m, M ampb p (iMa) b -
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Lt. Col. Victor Krulak led Operation Blissul on Choiseul Island on October 27, 1943, designed to
divert Japanese troops rom the impending U.S. attack on the larger island o Bougainville.
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
3/11
8 Prologue
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
4/11
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Making the Preparations
For Operation Blissful
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BismarckArchipelago
New Guinea
Papua
Australia
Coral Sea
SolomonIslands
NewHebrides
NewCaledonia
Bougainville Is.
Choiseul Is.
Choiseul Island is located in the Solomon Islands jus
southeast o Bougainville, which U.S. orces sough
or its airfelds.
Opposite: Krulaks Confdential order o October
23, 1943, detailed a mission o raids along NW
coast or the purpose o destroying enemy orces
and installations [in] that area and conducting
reconnaissance or PT base location. His orces
were to conront the 4,0005,000 Japanese on the
island but not to engage in major battles.
Prologue 9Operation Blissul
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
5/11
A Midnight Landing
And a Mountain Outpost
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Below: Maj. Warner T. Bigger led Company Gs Second
and Third Platoons northward on raids at Choiseul
Bay. Right: A Marine Corps map shows his patrols
movements at the Warrior River on November 12,the site o the bombardment o the uel dump at
Guppy Island, and their evacuation to Voza.
10 Prologue
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
6/11
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An Attack at Sangigai
And the Invasion Is On
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Prologue 1Operation Blissul
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
7/11
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PT Boat Cover Is Requested;
The Enemy Is No Longer Fooled
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A view o PT-59, commanded by Navy Lt. John
Kennedy. The torpedo boat, dangerously low on uel,
was involved in the evacuation o Major Bigger and
his orces rom the Warrior River to Voza.
12 Prologue Fall 2010
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
8/11
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PT-59s Skipper Gets
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Avenging the Torture and
Death of a Fellow Marine
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Prologue 1Operation Blissul
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
9/11
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The Japanese Close In
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Lt. Col. Victor Krulak fled a preliminary report on
the Choiseul Island campaign on November 5, 1943.
To learn more about
J . Ky P-
109, www.archives.gov/
publications/prologue/index/,
k mm 2003.
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www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/index/,
k 2005.
W W ii,
www.archives.gov/research/ww2/.
14 Prologue Fall 2010
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
10/11
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An exhausted Navy Lt. John Kennedy gave up hi
command o PT-59 on November 18 and let the
Solomons on December 21 or the United States
He let the Navy on physical disability in March 1945
Prologue 1Operation Blissul
8/8/2019 Operation Blissful - Prologue - Fall 2010
11/11
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Blissful Is a Success;
Kennedy Is Hospitalized
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m 1995 1999, , g.
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19421946, t M P, r
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127).
Ky P bt umt
rbt J. d, P 109: John F. Kennedy in
World War II(nw Yk: Mgw-h, 1961)
r k,John F. Kennedy: War Hero (nw
Yk, d Pub c., 1962). imt
but t twt u Wt l,
Lonely Vigil: Coastwatchers of the Solomons (nw
Yk: vk P, 1977) mm
a. t, o.B.e., ry aut ny, Te Coast
Watchers(hwt, aut: ly on,
1975).
Uu t cu pt Mj. J
M. rtz, UsMcr, Bougainville and the Northern
Solomons (Wt, dc: ht st,
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Author
16 Prologue Fall 2010