President John F. Kennedy

[Jersey mike]

On this day in history November 22, 1963 a tragedy for our nation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz6fTCi1NBQ

Rest In Peace Mr. President

[vanavyman]

Yes, a sad time in our history.  Left one of the most talked about conspiracies in our history.  I'd always thought there was some type of other shooter involved but none of the theories made any since until I read the book and watched the movie - JFK: The Smoking Gun by Colin McLaren.  He discussed how a Secret Service agent in the car following Kennedy accidently shoots Kennedy with a AK47 which takes part of his head off.  Only theory I ever believed on the killing.

[f6john]

I saw a news report that there are something like 14,000 files, documents that are still sealed after all these years. Very strange to me.

[Skinhead]

I have a real problem with sealing documents for over 50 years.  All it does is ensure that the guilty are dead and cannot be prosecuted.  Unless they directly and significantly impact national security, they should be released as soon as they can be proven to be authentic.  Neither our elected officials or the media appear to share my opinion.

[old2soon]

    I was working as a machinist in Deerfield Il that day. I'd NEVER heard that factory THAT Quiet. I STILL have many ?S! Little less than 3 months later-Feb 1964-I brought my draft notice to the U S Navy recruiter. I recall sitting at home the day of J F Ks funeral and watching it on an old black and white T V with a fuzzy picture. I still recall the Nations pain of that horrible day. And I've stood in front of J F Ks eternal flame at Arlington. Some things I guess are meant to be seared into ones memory. Forever Rest in Peace John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

[Oss]

or maybe he was not killed?

Not going down the rabbit hole on that one but just saying...

My dad had the book   the actual Warren report which I read as a kid

Must still be in mom's house somewhere

I was walking home from school and heard the wailing of a woman thru an apt window on E 231st street in the Bronx yelling "They killed him"   I was 7

This memory is one I will never forget   I do wish Jr was still alive, they never found his body



why this pic was taken down on my thread??
not controversial at all   IMHO bad form to take it down

[carolinarider09]

My best friend in High School, Bill Nesmith, and I were headed back to class at Myrtle Beach High in his Wills Jeep.  We were out for lunch.  Being seniors we could leave the school for lunch.  As we pulled back into the parking lot, we heard the announcement on the local radio station, while sitting in his jeep.  

Remember that day well.  

Bill went on to the U.S. Air Force piloting B-52's in Viet Nam.  I went to the Submarine service.  

Rest in peace John F. Kennedy.  



You don't have to read the rest, just brings back memories....

If I can add, not specially related to JFK but to life and things we miss.  Bill and I played football together in our senior year at HS.  We even shared dates during our summers (we lived in Myrtle Beach).  We watched the late show at his house (just a few blocks from my house) on the weekend evenings, bow hunted deer.  His brother went to West Point.  

Anyway, we were separated when we joined the service (he was at the Citadel) and I never heard from him again. I don't know why but I guess I was reminiscing so about 10 - 15 years ago and I looked for him.  Found out he lived in Warner Robbins, GA.  What I was not expecting was his obituary.  I was 220 miles away  should have looked earlier.  He passed in 2012.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/macon/name/william-nesmith-obituary?id=18175289

[Serk]

My mom and her twin sister met JFK at the airport, my aunt shook his hand...

Family lore is that my aunt is visible in one of the more famous news photos of his arrival at Dallas Love Field Airport, but the image isn't clear enough to know for certain.

They were both in Daley Plaza later that day, around the corner and heard the shooting.

My mom worked at the Texas School Book Depository at the time, and was briefly aware of Oswald's presence (He worked there as well before the shooting.)

...I was born just shy of 8 years after the shooting occurred.

[f6gal]

I was 5 at the time, a couple weeks shy of 6.  I remember school being dismissed and the adults being up in arms, but the gravity was lost on this 5 year old.  It's a shame that his Party has veered so far from his beliefs.   

I agree, unseal the records.  Put an end to the speculation.   

[f6gal]

...I was born just shy of 8 years after the shooting occurred.

Don't you mean a little more than 8 years?

[Serk]

I agree, unseal the records.  Put an end to the speculation.   

You REALLY think that would stop the speculation and conspiracy theories???     

...I was born just shy of 8 years after the shooting occurred.

Don't you mean a little more than 8 years?

Yeah..... I thought one but typed the other..... 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I was 5 at the time, a couple weeks shy of 6.  I remember school being dismissed and the adults being up in arms, but the gravity was lost on this 5 year old.  It's a shame that his Party has veered so far from his beliefs.   

I agree, unseal the records.  Put an end to the speculation.   

I don’t think it would even matter. The government could unseal everything and come to find out it was X,Y, or Z that killed him. Conspiracy theorists would say no, it was A,B, and C.

I was 5. My Mom was driving a black Mercury Comet and it came over the radio. I didn’t understand, but I knew something was terribly wrong because she started crying.

[vanavyman]

I agree, unseal the records.  Put an end to the speculation.    

You REALLY think that would stop the speculation and conspiracy theories???      

...I was born just shy of 8 years after the shooting occurred.

Don't you mean a little more than 8 years?

Yeah..... I thought one but typed the other.....  

If the theory in this book / movie is correct it should put the conspiracies to rest.  His bottom line is there is no question in his mind who fired the 3rd shot.  He names the Secret Service guy that fired the shot.  Says he went to his house to try and interview him which was after he had retired and he refused.  Also points out in the Johnson administration the Secret Service was not allowed near him while he was hunting.  Always saying they aren't going to shoot him too.  He states he has no idea if there was anyone on the grassy knoll that might have shot him too but the kill shot was from a AK47 fired from Secret Service agent in the rear car.  Says RFK started the cover up not wanting that story to get out saying it would have destroyed the Secret Service and hurt JFK's memory.  Who knows.  Interest story.

[Patrick]

I tend to believe James Files. His story adds up.

This is one date everyone remembers and where they were. We were in the school auditorium at the time.

[scooperhsd]

I was 3 years old - probably had no idea what was going on.

[Serk]

destroyed the Secret Service and hurt JFK's memory.  Who knows.  Interest story.

Well, if it were true it definitely, er..... destroyed his memory..... <Gallows Humor>

I tend to stick with Occam's razor in such situations....

Although the AK47 theory could be the simplest, but one detail screams out at me (Which I'm sure is addressed in the theory); why the heck would a US Secret Service agent be carrying an already obsolete in 1963 Soviet rifle in Dallas, Texas while protecting the US president?????

[vanavyman]

destroyed the Secret Service and hurt JFK's memory.  Who knows.  Interest story.

Well, if it were true it definitely, er..... destroyed his memory..... <Gallows Humor>

I tend to stick with Occam's razor in such situations....

Although the AK47 theory could be the simplest, but one detail screams out at me (Which I'm sure is addressed in the theory); why the heck would a US Secret Service agent be carrying an already obsolete in 1963 Soviet rifle in Dallas, Texas while protecting the US president?????

Not sure but in the book and movie it shows pictures from the published book of the Secret Service agent standing on the rear seat with what looks to me to be a AK47 pointed towards the front car.  He believes he is trying to turn to shot towards the shooter but both cars take off fast after the 2nd shot.

[Serk]

Ah, did some googling on it, still seems pretty far fetched to me, but answers my question - the rifle allegedly used was an AR15, not an AK47.....

Which would explain the "exploding bullet" portion, but still it's pretty far out there, and I'm sticking with the official story, as boring as that may be....

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/Shooting_holes_in_theory_that_a_Secret_Service_agent_killed_President_Kennedy.html

[Patrick]

As far as I know, or remember, they would not use AK's.

[Patrick]

To me the grassy knoll 'theory' stands up.
There are pics of a man [ maybe shooter] [ maybe James Files ] in the correct location.
A  spent Remington .222 cartridge was found .
James Files says he shot JFK with a Remington XP100.
This gun was first manufactured in .222 [ 200-300 sold] before Remington tried to cut down the muzzle flash with the new .221 cartridge specially made for that gun.
Everything to me points to JFK being shot from the front with a small high velocity round.

[vanavyman]

Ah, did some googling on it, still seems pretty far fetched to me, but answers my question - the rifle allegedly used was an AR15, not an AK47.....

Which would explain the "exploding bullet" portion, but still it's pretty far out there, and I'm sticking with the official story, as boring as that may be....

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/Shooting_holes_in_theory_that_a_Secret_Service_agent_killed_President_Kennedy.html

Thanks for pointing out my mistake on the type of gun.  I'm not a gun guy.

[RP#62]

I've worked with some interesting individuals over the years.  One guy, who has since passed was a Cuban national that was CIA trained for Bay of Pigs. I was talking to him about the assassination one day and all he would say was that JFK f'd with the wrong Cubans.  Another guy was my examiner when I got my A&P ticket.  He was also the airport manager at Key West for years.  I googled him one day to see if he was still around and I got all kinds of hits on the assassination case.  Evidently he had reported to the authorities that he had seen Oswald at the airport in Key West prior to the assassination maintaining that he had been making trips to Cuba in the weeks prior.  There was so much intersecting sh!t going on at the time, I don't know if we'll ever know the whole picture.

-RP

[hubcapsc]

and the adults being up in arms, but the gravity was lost on this 5 year old.

Yeah, I was of a similar age. Me and my mother and one or two other adults were
in the den/teevee-room watching some boring thing in the middle of the day
where some guy was being led across a crowded room and someone there shot him.
You couldn't even see the gun, it was nothing like Gunsmoke. The adults in the room got
really excited. Adults... sheesh...

-Mike

[Wizzard]

I will  never forget sitting in class in 1st grade and the loudspeakers came on in the hallways asking everyone to come into the hallway. They then announced what happened and all the teachers were sobbing.

[Hook#3287]

My forth grade teacher, Mrs. Fitzgerald, was called out into the hall by another teacher.  When she came back in, she was crying.  First and only time I saw a teacher crying.

She told us "President Kennedy was killed today and school is to be closed early" 

My oldest sister was married on 11-24-63, it's the only wedding anniversary I remember, including my own.

On 11-25-63, myself and my younger siblings were corralled into helping clean the hall the reception was held. 

I remember watching the funeral on the small B&W tv.

[Oss]

[vanavyman]

He sure would have made a better Senator from NY and candidate for President than Hillary. 

[pais]

everyone to came into the hallway. They then announced what happened and all the teachers were sobbing.

Probably the last president this country had, that the people would sob over the loss of.

FWIW, I was the 13 months old. I can't help but wonder. What would our country be like if the assassination of this president doesn't happen?

I agree with F6Gal, the Dem party has strayed from their path.

[carolinarider09]

I was trying to remember the rifle reportedly used in the assistantion because my friend and I manage to get ahold of one around that time frame

The  6.5mm Mannlicher-Carcano is the one used in the assassination, from what I found, and the weapon we apparently had. I don't remember at all how we got it..  We did fire a few rounds at the range if memory serves. 

P.S. I did not really remember the caliber I thought it was 5.5  but 6.5 and Carcano was what I found.

In trying to identify the weapon, I found the like below which has a bunch of stuff I did not know, most I never ever heard of before and I leave it here just in case you wanted to see what I found. 


https://gunpowdermagazine.com/history-lesson-guns-of-the-jfk-assassination/

[f6gal]

everyone to came into the hallway. They then announced what happened and all the teachers were sobbing.

Probably the last president this country had, that the people would sob over the loss of.

FWIW, I was the 13 months old. I can't help but wonder. What would our country be like if the assassination of this president doesn't happen?

I agree with F6Gal, the Dem party has strayed from their path.

I think people would have sobbed if Reagan had been assassinated; he was extremely popular. 
Remember the electoral vote:
Ronald Reagan  525
Walter Mondale  13
He carried every state except Minnesota (Mondale's home state) and D.C.

I miss Reagan.

[f6gal]

I do wish Jr was still alive, they never found his body

"On July 21, Navy divers recovered the bodies of JFK Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law from the wreckage of the plane, which was lying under 116 feet of water about eight miles off the Vineyard’s shores."

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-jr-killed-in-plane-crash

[Oss]

I posted this yesterday as a new thread but it disappeared

Shame as I was certain I saw it after I posted

Oh well

Here it is again

Is there anyone who was alive then who does Not remember this?

[pais]

everyone to came into the hallway. They then announced what happened and all the teachers were sobbing.

Probably the last president this country had, that the people would sob over the loss of.

FWIW, I was the 13 months old. I can't help but wonder. What would our country be like if the assassination of this president doesn't happen?

I agree with F6Gal, the Dem party has strayed from their path.

I think people would have sobbed if Reagan had been assassinated; he was extremely popular. 
Remember the electoral vote:
Ronald Reagan  525
Walter Mondale  13
He carried every state except Minnesota (Mondale's home state) and D.C.

I miss Reagan.

I stand corrected. I agree about Reagan.
Now I sob over who we have in office.

[Challenger]

Like it was yesterday! 

[h13man]

I was 10 years old the day of his assassination. The world stood still that day. 

[Patrick]

I do wish Jr was still alive, they never found his body

"On July 21, Navy divers recovered the bodies of JFK Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law from the wreckage of the plane, which was lying under 116 feet of water about eight miles off the Vineyard’s shores."

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-jr-killed-in-plane-crash

That was an accident that should not have happened. The weather was actually VFR, JFK jr was 1/2-3/4 way thru instrument training. And, all he had to was slide 20-30 miles to the north and he could have kept sight with land which would have kept him from becoming disoriented.  Instead he failed to keep an eye on the instrument panel, became disoriented and ended up in a spin. He recovered from the spin for 15-20 seconds or so and went right back into it again and hit the water at over 300 mph.
If anyone of us had done that, that would have been the end of it. But, because of who this happened to millions was spent on recovering the bodies. I forget now now just how many millions it was, but, its staggering.

[f6gal]

I do wish Jr was still alive, they never found his body

"On July 21, Navy divers recovered the bodies of JFK Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law from the wreckage of the plane, which was lying under 116 feet of water about eight miles off the Vineyard’s shores."

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-jr-killed-in-plane-crash

That was an accident that should not have happened. The weather was actually VFR, JFK jr was 1/2-3/4 way thru instrument training. And, all he had to was slide 20-30 miles to the north and he could have kept sight with land which would have kept him from becoming disoriented.  Instead he failed to keep an eye on the instrument panel, became disoriented and ended up in a spin. He recovered from the spin for 15-20 seconds or so and went right back into it again and hit the water at over 300 mph.
If anyone of us had done that, that would have been the end of it. But, because of who this happened to millions was spent on recovering the bodies. I forget now now just how many millions it was, but, its staggering.

A lesson in not letting life's circumstances lead to bad decisions.  They were supposed to leave when it was still daylight, but due to SIL getting off work late and traffic delays, they left a couple hours later than intended.  Which was bad enough, but then Kennedy decided to take the shorter route over the water, rather than staying along the coast line, as he had originally intended.  
Another sad note, is that Kennedy's flight instructor actually offered to fly with him, but Kennedy declined.

Too many bad choices.  

[f6gal]

Your post wasn't removed.  It appears that it was combined the other JFK thread, since it was the same topic.  If you look in that thread, you'll see it there. 

[Patrick]

I do wish Jr was still alive, they never found his body

"On July 21, Navy divers recovered the bodies of JFK Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law from the wreckage of the plane, which was lying under 116 feet of water about eight miles off the Vineyard’s shores."

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-jr-killed-in-plane-crash

That was an accident that should not have happened. The weather was actually VFR, JFK jr was 1/2-3/4 way thru instrument training. And, all he had to was slide 20-30 miles to the north and he could have kept sight with land which would have kept him from becoming disoriented.  Instead he failed to keep an eye on the instrument panel, became disoriented and ended up in a spin. He recovered from the spin for 15-20 seconds or so and went right back into it again and hit the water at over 300 mph.
If anyone of us had done that, that would have been the end of it. But, because of who this happened to millions was spent on recovering the bodies. I forget now now just how many millions it was, but, its staggering.

A lesson in not letting life's circumstances lead to bad decisions.  They were supposed to leave when it was still daylight, but due to SIL getting off work late and traffic delays, they left a couple hours later than intended.  Which was bad enough, but then Kennedy decided to take the shorter route over the water, rather than staying along the coast line, as he had originally intended.  
Another sad note, is that Kennedy's flight instructor actually offered to fly with him, but Kennedy declined.

Too many bad choices.  

Yep, exactly right.