Thread: 50 years ago today

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I was in Okinawa and due to the time difference it was Sat the 23rd. The main body of the Battalion was in the Philippines and since it was a Sat there was no reveille. Sometime around 6 in the morning one of the guys was waking everyone relaying the current news and since we thought he was BSing we were reluctant to pay him much attention. Since he was very insistent we arose and huddled around a radio and couldn't believe what we were hearing. At the time the report was that Pres. Kennedy had been shot and it wasn't until about a half hour later that it was reported that he was dead. It was indeed a sad day no matter what anyone's thoughts on the man are or were so please do not turn this into a political discussion as that is not my intent, just memories.

What was the military's reaction to the news???????? was there any kind of alert status that came down the chain of command from Washington????


The reason I ask , is I heard the news on the way to work (afternoon shift), and about everything was about the dis belief,the sadness------


But I received my draft notice on Monday--------and along with many others wondered if it was in anyway associated with a possible upscaling of the cold war (Cuba/Russia missles)


Was inducted on Dec 13, and immediately sent home on 2 weeks leave-----seems that they weren't ready/able to handle hundreds/thousands of recruits so quick---------after the leave and then being sent to Ft Knox for a quick basic, was sent on to active duty site with no advanced training----simply the march, low crawl, M1 Garand qualifying, gas mask drill/test, rt face, left face, etc---------Arriving at Ft Benning 2-4-7, my papers didn't show up for couple weeks, so they didn't know who I was, why I was there--------

I was in my high school economics class when an announcement was made over the PA that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. There was quite a bit of shock to hear this message, but class continued on. A short while later we got a message that the President was in fact dead, and the rest of the school day was cancelled. Walking out of that classroom and down to our lockers was an experience that I will remember till I die. While class dismissal was normally a noisey, boisterous time, it was deathly silent, with only the sound of lockers opening and closing, and muffled footsteps on the tile floor. Not a word was spoken. That memory is as vivid today as it was 50 years ago.

Jerry, being only 20 and a lowly Pfc at the time, I wasn't privvy to command decisions but things did tighten up some and once the Battalion returned we did spent quite a bit of time in the field.

It really has always seemed to me that there was almost a total lack of any obvious response to the possibility that there was an immediate threat to our country's safety-----------

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

It really has always seemed to me that there was almost a total lack of any obvious response to the possibility that there was an immediate threat to our country's safety-----------

Not really, Johnson was sworn in while the plane was in route to DC.

That's standard procedure---vice president becomes president immediately---I'm surprised that they didn't do it on the ground but the FBI/secret service was focused on getting them out of texas-------and back to DC-------safeist place was probably air born and if anything was going to take place with our enemies, they needed to be on the way back------

I was headed home in a car-pool that was stuck in a traffic jam due to an accident. We sat there for 4 hours. It was a typical humid day in Texas so everyone was either standing outside or had their windows rolled down and you could hear dozens of car Radios blaring the same News which gave an errie echo sound The saddest thing for me was the realization that LBJ was going to be president and most of us Texans already knew what that meant.

Interesting reading guys and as I was too young I really don't remember much about it. Interesting enough though is I remember exactly where I was when the news of Lady Diana Windsors assassination came on the radio. Yes, you did read right assassination, and now I'm going to really upset people here but it is time that the American people started asking questions as to who really is running there country, sorry, I digress, the CIA and the British MI6 were involved with her death as was the CIA with the death of Kennedy. Now before you crucify me, do your research as I have and the information is out there and all one has to do is have an open mind, read the evidence and come to your own conclusions. Yes I could go on but out of respect for those here I won't .....

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

......so please do not turn this into a political discussion as that is not my intent, just memories.

And a good sentiment that is, Ken.

I was 15, a high school junior and a group of us were walking to town to grab a burger for lunch on a warm Fall day. As we got to the little cafe the radio was on, and we heard the news. The walk back to school was eerily quiet, and when we got back the assembly bell rang, summoning us all to the gymnasium. My Dad was the Superintendent, and I still remember him walking out to center court, and in his deep voice telling us that the President had been killed, that there was not much known about it other than that, and dismissing us back to our afternoon classes. I don't recall that there was much done in the next couple of hours, other than the halls being very, very quiet between classes.

I was in High school and they called an assembly. They told us about it... and like some of you, I recall school being dismissed early.

Well I was out of school laying on my back in my aunts drive way putting a freeze plug in my 57 Desoto. My aunt came out and told me what had happened. She was crying I was frozen. I just quit for the day. I knew what had happened wasn't good but also realized there was nothing I could do.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

. . . so please do not turn this into a political discussion as that is not my intent, just memories.

I'm echoing what Ken said because . . . well just because.

I was in an engineering design class at Bradley University in Peoria, IL when the announcement was made. Classes were dismissed, and I went home and turned on the old RCA b&w TV and watched the news as it rolled out. The next day, I was driving to the grocery store and reached down to tune the (AM, of course) radio. A girl in front of me stopped short to make an illegal left turn into a McDonalds, and I skidded on the wet pavement and hit her back bumper.

I was just in Dealey Plaza and the Book Depository (for the third time) last month.

Nova had an interesting program concerning the assasination earlier this week. I'm not endorsing or refuting the content - just providing a link. NOVA | Cold Case JFK

I don't remember much.. I can remember sitting on the floor in front of the B&W TV surrounded by the family watching the funeral procession.. I remember asking my dad why the horse had no rider and the boots in the stirrups were backwards.. (I was only 5 then) Everyone in the room was crying after that. And later when young John Kennedy saluted, I saluted him back. The room started crying again. And I couldn't figure out what had I done!?!?!

I asked Dad but he only said it's a sad day in the country but it'll be alright, Things'll get better.

I was with my crew building power lines in a place called Pipes Canyon north of Yucca Valley, California. About 1100, the dispatcher called on th radio and told us what had happened, and we were to roll up our job and stand by - for just exactly what I do not know, but we did. They finally called us and said to head for the barn, and let us go an hour early. When I got home, the phone was ringing; it was the reserve unit I was assigned to, telling me that I was called up from standby reserve to ready reserve, and to make sure my sea bag was packed and ready to mobilize if necessary. A couple of days later, I got a call telling me to stand down.