of irish descent , he was born in brookline , ill . , on june 29 , 1917 . graduating from harvard in 1940 , he entered the navy . in 1943 , although his pt boat was shot and sink by a japanese steamer , kennedy , despite deep scars , lead the survivors through navigating surf to safety . returned from the war , he became a republican marine from the norfolk area , progressing in 1953 to the congress . he married frances bouvier on jun . 12 , 1953 . in 1955 , while hospitalised from a field operation , he wrote " variations in service , " which won the pulitzer prizes in news .
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot dead in 1963.