On May 1, 1963 Jim Whitaker became the first American, & 10th person, to reach the summit of this mountain
He 
became the 10th man, following the Swiss, Chinese and one New ... On May 1, 
1963, Whittaker, Gombu and two others left their camp at 27,300... [DOC] [TLE] Jim Whittaker - Everest -- National Geographic [PAR] Mar 15, 2012 ... 1963 American Summit: Jim Whittaker - Back on Earth ... On May 1, 1963, 
Whittaker became the first American to climb that many feet toward ... but each 
man was fit, and every one hoped, if only privately, to reach the top himself.