ADMIRAL ARTHUR W. RADFORD - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/31/1971 - HFSID 321163

ARTHUR W. RADFORD
Famed Navy admiral sends letter to boy scout leader, commending the organization
Typed letter signed: "Arthur W. Radford/ Admiral, U.S. Navy/ (Ret.)" in blue ink. 1 page, 7¼x10½. Written on personal letterhead. August 31, 1971. Washington, D.C. In part: "Dear Mr. Kover: In reply to your letter of August 12th which arrived while I was in California for a short vacation - when I was a lad growing up in Grinnell, Iowa we were not fortunate enough to have the Boy Scouts of America. As you probably know, the organization was founded in England in 1908 and the Boy Scouts of America were organized in the United States in 1910. At that time I was just a year or so away from entering the Naval Academy as a Midshipman./ I congratulate you and wish you well in your activities as a Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Counselor in the Flushing, Long Island area, and I only wish that every boy in the United States could participate in scouting - from Cub Scouts through Webelos right into the Boy Scouts of America. With kindest personal regards to you and your Troop, Sincerely". Arthur W. Radford (1896-1973) served as Commander of Carrier Division Eleven (July to December 1943) and Carrier Division Six, U.S. Pacific Fleet (November 1944 to August 1945). He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star and Companion of the Order of the Bath by Great Britain. Radford was promoted to Rear Admiral (temporary) on July 21, 1943 (made permanent on August 7, 1947), Vice Admiral (temporary) on May 25, 1946 and Four-Star Admiral on April 7, 1949. From 1953-1957, he served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Normal mailing folds. Lightly stained on verso. Fine condition.