From the family estate of Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough—a framed display featuring three original vintage photographs commemorating Yarborough’s historic meeting with President John F. Kennedy at Fort Bragg on October 12, 1961, signed and inscribed on the original photo mount in fountain pen, “For General Yarborough, with very best wishes, John F. Kennedy.” Framed to an overall size of 21.75 x 17.75. Included with the display is the very 'bill signer' Esterbrook dipping pen that JFK personally used to sign the offered presentation; the pen, 6.25″ in length, features a black plastic grip with a Lucite handle imprinted with "The President—The White House," and is accompanied by its original tan box, the top of which bears an affixed Yarborough business card and the bottom is annotated in black ink, “The pen used by JFK to sign Yarborough photo, Oct 1961.” The consignor notes that Yarborough was later presented with the pen by Chester V. Clifton, Jr., who served as a military aide to President Kennedy. In overall very good to fine condition, with some slight damage, and a stain, to the upper right corner of the JFK-signed mount.
In January 1961, Yarborough was appointed commander/commandant of the US Army Special Warfare Center/School for Special Warfare at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his tenure, he arranged for President Kennedy to visit Fort Bragg, with the results proving twofold: he acquired funding to further develop the Special Forces into a strategic unit within the US Army, and he was granted authorization of the Green Beret for wear as the official headgear of Special Forces.
