He served in the Navy during World War Two

Ironically, Kennedy's first application for military service was denied. In 1940, a severe back injury prevented him from enrolling in the Army's Officer Candidate School. Kennedy was able to enter politics despite having back issues because of his father's political connections as the American Ambassador to Great Britain and the assistance of his friend Captain Alan Kirk, the Director of Naval Intelligence. This story is considered one of the most interesting facts about John F. Kennedy. On October 26, 1941, he received his commission as an ensign and was given his job in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C.

JFK enlisted in the Navy during World War Two and was honored for his military service with the Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Only he has received either of those distinctions as president of the United States. He received the latter for assisting in the crew's rescue when their ship, the PT-109, was sunk close to the Solomon Islands. On October 1st, 1944, JFK received an honorable release from the military. When asked how he got to be a war hero, JFK famously said, "It was involuntary." Kennedy's political supporters made a huge issue out of his military accolades. “They sunk my boat.”