He did not have to take a physical for PTs.” Also in Kennedy’s favor were the stellar marks he had earned at naval officer-training school. Even if he hadn’t been the son of powerful man, Kennedy appeared to be an excellent candidate to command a PT boat, given his intellect and experience piloting small craft. What almost no one else knew was that by now Kennedy’s back troubles were so severe he had spent almost two months earlier that year in hospitals. His doctors recommended corrective surgery. He was sleeping on top of a hard plywood board to try to relieve the pain. Bulkeley later said
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