| Updated August 12, 2020 at 11:16 p.m. On July 31, two days before he died, World War II veteran and D-Day survivor Russell LeeRoy Pickett gathered his family at his bedside. Kennedy did not execute the order. [33] In June 1938, Kennedy sailed overseas with his father and older brother to work at the American embassy in London, where his father was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's U.S. John F. Kennedy shakes hands with Captain Conklin after being presented with a medal for heroism in service in the Navy during WWII. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Frank Turgeon Jr./John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.history.com/news/jfk-wwii-purple-heart-torpedo-boat, The Navy Disaster That Earned JFK Two Medals for Heroism. Komer also made note of widespread rumors that a nationalist coup against Qasim could be imminent, and had the potential to "get Iraq back on [a] more neutral keel". While there have been persistent rumors that the CIA orchestrated the coup, declassified documents and the testimony of former CIA officers indicate that there was no direct American involvement, although the CIA was actively seeking a suitable replacement for Qasim within the Iraqi military and had been informed of an earlier Ba'athist coup plot. When he finally crawled ashore Plum Pudding island, Kennedy became violently ill from all of the seawater he had swallowed and collapsed in exhaustion. The Association is open to anyone devoted to that purpose including veterans, their descendants, currently serving 29ers, and all those inspired by the Blue and Gray Division. Aside from a 17-year hiatus between 1968 and 1985, the 29th Division has existed continuously since 1917 as a component of the National Guard. National Guard Association of Maryland. JFK's "Address on the First Anniversary of the Alliance for Progress", White House reception for diplomatic cors of the Latin American republics, March 13, 1962. His plan was to signal the ships with his lantern or fire the pistol to get their attention, but no boats materialized. [263], Israeli national interests to an extent were also at odds with Kennedy's endorsement of the United Nation's Johnson Plan, which devised a plan to return a small percentage of displaced Palestinians from the war of 1948 into what was by then, Israel. He then added, "But of course, I had to give that speech, and I'm glad that I did. [388] Bobby would later run for president in 1968 before his assassination, while another Kennedy brother, Ted, ran for president in 1980. Kennedy also posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.[444]. 20, p. 366, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFAssociated_Press1963 (, Specious allegations in 1997 by UK journalist Terry O'Hanlon, Online NewsHour with Senior Correspondent, conspiracy theories about the assassination, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 11th congressional district of Massachusetts, 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1958 United States Senate election in Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy 1960 presidential campaign, 1960 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Timeline of the John F. Kennedy presidency, Foreign policy of the John F. Kennedy administration, Foreign policy of the John F. Kennedy administration Latin America, Proclamation for Interdiction of the Delivery of Offensive Weapons to Cuba, Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, Reaction to the 1963 South Vietnamese coup, commencement address at American University, Foreign policy of the John F. Kennedy administration Iraq, overthrew and executed Qasim in a violent coup, President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, Report to the American People on Civil Rights, Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, List of federal judges appointed by John F. Kennedy, Timeline of the John F. Kennedy assassination, U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations, List of dignitaries at the state funeral of John F. Kennedy, Radio-Television News Directors Association, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Kennedy comments on the possible prevention of the Cold War, Presidential transition of John F. Kennedy, PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy, LincolnKennedy coincidences urban legend, Timeline of the presidency of John F. Kennedy, List of assassinated American politicians, List of presidents of the United States by previous experience, List of presidents of the United States who died in office, List of United States presidential assassination attempts and plots, Presidents of the United States on U.S. postage stamps, "John F. Kennedy Miscellaneous Information", "JFK John F Kennedy baptism St. Aidan's church Brookline", "Churches Attended by John F. Kennedy | JFK Library", "John F Kennedy's Birthplace--Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary", "Looking Back on JFK's Time in Bronxville", "John F. Kennedy's Princeton University undergraduate alumni file", "The "House That Jack Built": JFK And His Late Brother Built Adobe Shack For Arizona Rancher", "The Civilian Conservation Corps in Southern Arizona: Jack and Joe Kennedy in Arizona", "JFK's Very Revealing Harvard Application Essay", "Memorial Hall Auditorium Filled to Capacity at Annual Freshman Smoker", "Obama joins list of seven presidents with Harvard degrees", "President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (19171963)", "John Fitzgerald Kennedy 29 May 1917 22 November 1963", "Pell, Claiborne: Oral History Interview JFK #1, 2/6/1967 | JFK Library", "The Story of Leonard Jay Thom. Kennedy told historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., "Hell, half my voters [particularly Catholics] in Massachusetts look on McCarthy as a hero. Congressman and was elected to two terms as Mayor of Boston. In response, the United States conducted tests five days later. [194][195] When briefing Kennedy, Eisenhower emphasized that the communist threat in Southeast Asia required priority; Eisenhower considered Laos to be "the cork in the bottle" regarding the regional threat. "I was married [and had] both of my children before I knew any of the [war] story," said Janet Spence, Pickett's daughter, who noted that he opened up about his combat experiences in the 1980s while receiving counseling for post traumatic stress disorder traced to his wartime experiences. For other uses, see, Kennedy on the establishment of the Peace Corps, Kennedy addressing the nation on October 22, 1962, about the buildup of arms on Cuba, President Kennedy comments on the possible prevention of the Cold War, Announcement by John F. Kennedy to go to the moon (duration 00:11), After the war, Kennedy contacted the captain of the. The following October, U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba; the resulting period of tensions, termed the Cuban Missile Crisis, nearly resulted in the breakout of a global thermonuclear conflict. President of the United States from 1961 to 1963, "JFK", "Jack Kennedy", and "John Kennedy" redirect here. With dawns early light Kennedy was able to finally survey the extent of the chaos from the night before. Ruby was arrested and convicted for the murder of Oswald. A memorial service a few days after his death at the East Daisy Church of God included a live video stream that was watched by people across the United States and in several other countries. Dallek was able to consult a collection of Kennedy-associated papers from the years 19551963, including X-rays and prescription records from the files of Dr. Travell. According to Travell's records, during his presidential years Kennedy suffered from high fevers; stomach, colon, and prostate issues; abscesses; high cholesterol; and adrenal problems. In addition, JFK blamed the right-to-work provision for giving the South an unfair advantage over Massachusetts in labor costs. What do you want to do? [38] In addition to addressing Britain's unwillingness to strengthen its military in the lead-up to World War II, the book also called for an Anglo-American alliance against the rising totalitarian powers. Lo, fighting bitterly in the Normandy hedge rows. This year's convention will be held at the Delta Hotels - Marriott - Hunt Valley in Hunt Valley, MD from October 19-23, 2003. They were willing to help. So this is what its like to die, he thought. Copyright 2023, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Kennedy's maternal grandfather and namesake John F. Fitzgerald served as a U.S. While in the Senate, Kennedy published his book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Maj. Gen. James Ulio enlisted in the Army as a private in 1900 before . The March was considered a "triumph of managed protest", and not one arrest relating to the demonstration occurred. "[233] Sorensen added that, in his opinion, Vietnam "was the only foreign policy problem handed off by JFK to his successor in no better, and possibly worse, shape than it was when he inherited it. A lot of you men have families and some of you have children. [403] Kennedy at one time was regularly seen by three doctors, one of whom, Max Jacobson, was unknown to the other two, as his mode of treatment was controversial[404] and used for the most severe bouts of back pain. Fifteen hundred U.S.-trained Cubans, dubbed Brigade 2506, landed on the island. Soon he realized it was the massive Japanese destroyerAmagiritraveling at 40 knots. 87 th Annual Nat'l Convention (stories from) by Charles Bury March 2006, p. 23-25. [336], Nevertheless, the struggle was far from over. He was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election and the youngest president at the end of his tenure. [282] Nevertheless, the greater nuclear strength of the U.S. was of little value as long as the U.S.S.R. perceived itself to be at parity. He then handed the coconut to one of the natives and said, "Rendova, Rendova!,". [177], The U.S. Navy would stop and inspect all Soviet ships arriving off Cuba, beginning October 24. They swam against a strong current, and once again Kennedy towed the badly burned motor machinist "Pappy" MacMahon by his life vest. It is therefore incumbent upon the 29th Division Association and friends of the 29th Division to take action to preserve the current and historic patch through a well-planned, unemotional response in opposition to the Commission's ultimate recommendation. Yet, he is also the first and possibly only US President to be faced with one of the worlds most critical moments when the United States and the Soviet Union were on the verge of engaging in global nuclear thermal warfare in 1962. His parents, Joseph Patrick and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, had high expectations for all their children and instilled in young John the importance of public service. [234][235] After Kennedy's assassination, President Johnson signed NSAM 273 on November 26, 1963. Kennedy kept his speed to a crawl hoping to keep the wake and noise to a minimum in order to avoid detection. The 29th Infantry Division Band, which averages between 35-40 missions per year, has already performed 25 missions since Oct. 1, 2021, and many more are on the way. The US Navy used the lightning speed of the PT boat to attack with quick surprise launching torpedoes and strafing the enemy craft with 50 caliber heavy machine gun rounds. [2] [116] The following year, Kennedy authored A Nation of Immigrants (later published in 1964), which analyzed the importance of immigration in the country's history as well as proposals to re-evaluate immigration law. Sadly older brother Joe was killed in action piloting a British Mosquito night fighter in a top secret operation. [246], To reinforce the U.S. alliance with West Germany, Kennedy travelled to West Germany and West Berlin in June 1963. The 109 joined fifteen PT boats on patrol on a dark night in early August 1943 to intercept Japanese warships in the straits. Sadly two of his sailors were killed upon impact with the destroyer. [105] That same year, Kennedy joined the Senate Labor Rackets Committee with his brother Robert (who was chief counsel) to investigate crime infiltration of labor unions. According to historian Michael Beschloss, in July 1963, Hoover reportedly informed Bobby Kennedy about the affair. Kennedy, possibly doubtful of the Mark 8 and Mark 14 torpedoes abysmal performance decided to discard her torpedo tubes and convert her into purely a gunboat. The bigger of the two variants by about 10 feet complete with a formable array of torpedoes, heavy machine guns and depth charges. [421] J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, received reports about Kennedy's indiscretions. [81], JFK's elder brother Joe had been the family's political standard-bearer and had been tapped by their father to seek the presidency. In 1927, the Dexter School announced it would not reopen before October after an outbreak of polio in Massachusetts. [109], A matter demanding Kennedy's attention in the Senate was President Eisenhower's bill for the Civil Rights Act of 1957. [255][256] In a May 1963 letter to Ben-Gurion, Kennedy wrote that he was skeptical and stated that American support to Israel could be in jeopardy if reliable information on the Israeli nuclear program was not forthcoming, Ben-Gurion repeated previous reassurances that Dimona was being developed for peaceful purposes. [1][16] In September 1930, Kennedy, then 13 years old, was shipped off to the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut, for 8th grade. Finally he had his first combat command. [283] During that time, the president's physician, George Burkley, did set up some gym equipment in the White House basement, where Kennedy did stretching exercises for his back three times a week. With family members surrounding him in the days before his death, he announced, "I believe I am ready to go.". [46] He attended the Naval Reserve Officer Training School at Northwestern University in Chicago from July 27 to September 27[45] and then voluntarily entered the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center in Melville, Rhode Island. He then traveled throughout South America; his itinerary included Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Wallace moved aside only after being confronted by Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach and the Alabama U.S. National Guard, which had just been federalized by order of the president. [385][386] After the service, Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.[387]. [382], Kennedy's funeral service was held on November 25, at St. Matthew's Cathedral. [24], In September 1935, Kennedy made his first trip abroad when he traveled to London with his parents and his sister Kathleen. Ironically the Japanese destroyer didnt even realize that they had struck an enemy vessel and kept motoring forward soon out of earshot. France was quick to declare that it was free to continue developing and testing its nuclear defenses. These ailments compelled him to spend a considerable amount of time in bed (or at least indoors) convalescing. [350], In constructing his presidential administration, Kennedy elected to retain Eisenhower's last science advisor Jerome Wiesner as head of the President's Science Advisory Committee. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Kennedy and crew on the 109 stayed in reserve with a few other boats to protect against counterattack by lingering as the attacking boats withdrew. It reiterated the resolve to fight communism in Vietnam, with increasing military and economic aid and expansion of operations into Laos and Cambodia. [426] According to Reeves, this included "the logistics of Kennedy's liaisons [which] required secrecy and devotion rare in the annals of the energetic service demanded by successful politicians. [329] As Kennedy had predicted, the day after his TV speech, and in reaction to it, House Majority leader Carl Albert called to advise him that his two-year signature effort in Congress to combat poverty in Appalachia (Area Redevelopment Administration) had been defeated, primarily by the votes of Southern Democrats and Republicans. Afterwards, the March leaders accepted an invitation to the White House to meet with Kennedy and photos were taken. Pickett died on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 2, On D-Day, the then-19-year-old Pickett was huddled in the back of an assault boat. In an interview a week after JFK's death, Jacqueline Kennedy mentioned his affection for the Broadway musical Camelot and quoted its closing lines: "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot." He instead cut a message on a coconut that read "NAURO ISLCOMMANDERNATIVE KNOWS POS'ITHE CAN PILOT11 ALIVENEED SMALL BOATKENNEDY". "[49] Two decades later, Kennedy and Koehler's stepson, U.S. Kennedy graduated cum laude from Harvard University in . In addition, he campaigned for peace through the United Nations and strong opposition to the Soviet Union. To be a 'Harvard man' is an enviable distinction, and one that I sincerely hope I shall attain. They are going to throw our asses out of there at any point. [330] When Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. complimented Kennedy on his remarks, Kennedy bitterly replied, "Yes, and look at what happened to area development the very next day in the House." Front Row (L-R) Charles Harris, Maurice Kowal, Andrew Kirksey, and Lenny Thom. John F. Kennedy aboard the PT-109 in the South Pacific, 1943. However, he died after 2 days due to complications from birth. [247] He reiterated the American commitment to Germany and criticized communism, and was met with an ecstatic response from a massive audience. Or Nixon Republicans", "BEA: Quarterly GDP figures by sector, 19531964", "Consumer and Gross Domestic Price Indices: 1913 to 2002", "Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1964", "Federal Executions Have Been Rare but May Increase", "Bush: Former Army cook's crimes warrant execution", "Legislative Summary: District of Columbia", "Norton Letter to U.S. Attorney Says Death Penalty Trial That Begins Today Part of Troubling and Futile Pattern", "Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Global Freedom Struggle", "U.S. The 101 was a 78-foot Higgins boat which was one of two variants the Navy was fielding along with the slightly larger Elco PTs. He passed an interminable night in the oddly cold waters, convinced he was never going to see the island or his crew again. The tremendous impact had thrown Kennedy into the cockpit where he landed on his bad back. [430] Kennedy was the first of six presidents to have served in the U.S. Navy,[431] and one of the enduring legacies of his administration was the creation in 1961 of another special forces command, the Navy SEALs,[432] which Kennedy enthusiastically supported. Confident that his crew was safe and secure, Lieutenant JG John Kennedy and his friend Ensign George Ross knew they had one more exhausting swim to make. Kennedy won the West Virginia primary, impressing many in the party, but at the start of the 1960 Democratic National Convention, it was unclear as to whether he would win the nomination. As the number of D-Day survivors quickly dwindles, the few remaining have received almost reverential treatment. His humanity in pursuing civil rights in the United States elevated him to a visionary level of both Presidents Lincoln and Washington. Fifty US Marine of the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment were clinging to a beach head with an overwhelming Japanese force on the verge of over running them and pushing them into the sea. World War II Divisional Combat Chronicles "He was a soft-spoken but wise man," said Price. Turning west, the 29th took part in the assault on Brest, 25 August-18 September 1944. There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. John F. Kennedys strength of character and leadership was influenced by many aspects of his life. It would be a week before the men were rescued. Reflecting on his battle experiences Kennedy did ballistics tests on heavy armor plating he had mounted along with his gun positions to ensure his crews survivability. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. TO PERPETUATE THE FRIENDSHIPS WE CHERISH; TO KEEP ALIVE THE SPIRIT THAT NEVER KNEW DEFEAT; TO HONOR OUR DEAD, AND TO FURTHER KEEP BEFORE OUR COUNTRY, THE RECORD OF THE 29TH DIVISION IN ALL THE WARS; WE ASSOCIATE OURSELVES IN AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE 29TH DIVISION ASSOCIATION, THE STONEWALL BRIGADE MUSEUM (116th Infantry Regiment). Phosphorescent plankton in the tropical waters turned even the smallest wake into a glowing target. He reported that Israel's target date for achieving nuclear capability was 19681969. Kennedy later told aides that the trip was the best four days of his life. [107], At the 1956 Democratic National Convention, Kennedy gave the nominating speech for the party's presidential nominee, Adlai Stevenson II. [335], Over a hundred thousand people, predominantly African Americans, gathered in Washington for the civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. The problem was Jack had a bad back and it was doubtful the Navy would take him. While NASA went ahead with planning for Apollo, funding for the program was far from certain, given Eisenhower's ambivalent attitude to crewed spaceflight. The fateful mission began 75 years ago, at 2:30 a.m. on the night of August 1, 1943 in the Solomon Islands near Papua New Guinea. In his first major test, Kennedy won the Wisconsin primary, effectively ending Humphrey's hopes of winning the presidency. His earliest memories involved accompanying his grandfather Fitzgerald on walking tours of historic sites in Boston and discussions at the family dinner table about politics, sparking his interest in history and public service. John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. The term "Camelot" has come to be used as shorthand for the Kennedy administration and the charisma of the Kennedy family. A science attach at the embassy in Tel Aviv concluded that parts of the Dimona facility had been shut down temporarily to mislead American scientists when they visited. John Jr., a graduate of Brown University, died in 1999 when the small plane he was piloting crashed en route to Martha's Vineyard. On September 3, 1959, Kennedy cosponsored the Cape Cod National Seashore bill with his Republican colleague Senator Leverett Saltonstall. [236][237], On June 10, 1963, Kennedy, at the high point of his rhetorical powers,[238] delivered the commencement address at American University in Washington, D.C. Also known as "A Strategy of Peace", not only did Kennedy outline a plan to curb nuclear arms, but he also "laid out a hopeful, yet realistic route for world peace at a time when the U.S. and Soviet Union faced the potential for an escalating nuclear arms race. He also promised an end to racial discrimination,[287] although his agenda, which included the endorsement of the Voter Education Project (VEP) in 1962, produced little progress in areas such as Mississippi, where the "VEP concluded that discrimination was so entrenched". JFK's suggestions for stimulating the regions economy appealed to both parties alike by offering benefits to business and labor, and promising to serve the national defense. The photos were shown to Kennedy on October 16; a consensus was reached that the missiles were offensive in nature and thus posed an immediate nuclear threat. To keep alive the spirit that never knew defeat; to honor our dead, and to further keep before our country, the record of the 29th Division in all wars. John F. Kennedy and crewmen of the PT-109. RICHMOND, Va. -. "[427] Kennedy believed that his friendly relationship with members of the press would help protect him from public revelations about his sex life. Soon he realized it was the massive Japanese destroyer, traveling at 40 knots. . The speech is known for its famous phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner"), which Kennedy himself had begun to try out in preparation for the trip. [108] Stevenson let the convention select the vice presidential nominee. They invited a range of artists, writers and intellectuals to rounds of White House dinners, raising the profile of the arts in America. [128] The choice infuriated many in labor. It was there he boarded his PT boat. [389][390] Kennedy was a life member of the National Rifle Association.[391][392]. He then went to Berlin, where the U.S. diplomatic representative gave him a secret message about war breaking out soon to pass on to his father, and to Czechoslovakia before returning to London on September 1, 1939, the day that Germany invaded Poland to mark the beginning of World War II. Of the 24 torpedoes fired that night by eight of the American PTs, not one hit the Japanese convoy. [171] In March 1962, Kennedy rejected Operation Northwoods, proposals for false flag attacks against American military and civilian targets,[172] and blaming them on the Cuban government in order to gain approval for a war against Cuba. [175] There was also some concern from the international community (asked in confidence), that the assault plan was an overreaction in light of the fact that Eisenhower had placed PGM-19 Jupiter missiles in Italy and Turkey in 1958. [186] He worked closely with Puerto Rican Governor Luis Muoz Marn for the development of the Alliance of Progress and began working to further Puerto Rico's autonomy. Towards the end of the following day he made the command decision to abandon the sinking wreckage of what once was the PT-109 and lead his men by swimming three miles towards the faint outline of a tiny island on the horizon. He called out into the darkness and could hear 5 other members of his crew somewhere in the darkness of the now quiet sea. It also could not be assured that the assault would be 100% effective. [50] Kennedy completed his training on December 2 and was assigned to Motor Torpedo Squadron FOUR. D-Day vet hugged by Donald Trump Pickett was said to be the last surviving member of his company in the U.S. Army's famed 29th Infantry Division, which stormed the beaches in Normandy, France,. The Israeli government resisted American pressure to open its nuclear facilities to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections. In a harrowing ordeal, JFK helped ensure the survival of his men, taking actions that would earn him a Navy and Marine Corps Medal and a Purple Heart in World War II. . Naval Reserve the following year. At least there were some coconuts on the ground from which to salvage water and meat. [199][200], We have one-million Americans today serving outside the United-States. In 1962 the US and Israeli governments had agreed to an annual inspection regime. [268], In April 1962, the State Department issued new guidelines on Iraq that were intended to increase American influence there. [339] The legislation was enacted by Kennedy's successor President Lyndon B. Johnson, prompted by Kennedy's memory, after his assassination in November, enforcing voting rights, public accommodations, employment, education, and the administration of justice. The 29th Division Association is an organization dedicated to keeping the history of the 29th Infantry Division alive. He stated, "We're going for broke. In the spring of 1953, Kennedy introduced "The Economic Problems of New England", a program designed to help various Massachusetts industries such as fishing, textile manufacturing, watchmaking, and shipbuilding, as well as for the Boston seaport. Later, a wreath in the form of the Green Beret would be placed on the grave, continuing a tradition that began the day of his funeral when a sergeant in charge of a detail of Special Forces men guarding the grave placed his beret on the coffin. [201] After a mission to Vietnam in October, presidential adviser General Maxwell D. Taylor and Deputy National Security Adviser Walt Rostow recommended the deployment of 6,000 to 8,000 U.S. combat troops to Vietnam. Kennedy grabbed a smooth-shelled coconut and roughly carved into it with his pocket knife: NAURO ISL COMMANDER . More than 800 members of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division were killed, wounded or missing during the D-Day assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, but their courage and bravery helped create a foothold that allowed follow on forces to continue the assault and set the stage for Allied victory in Europe.
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