O.T. Where were you 50 years ago today? 11/22/63.

[Roger Byrne]

I was in high school . . . rumors were going around about it during the afternoon . . . the last hour of the day, they tuned the school intercom system to a radio station and just let it play. He was the first president that I really connected with, so to speak. Of course Truman and Eisenhower were there, but I wasn't "politically" aware of things when they were the presidents. I put leaflets on doors for Kennedy during his campaign. Looking how things went during his presidency, well that's a mixed bag . . . some things he did OK but he made some big mistakes too. Now there is a great "mystique" about him because he died so young and his presidency was so short and unfinished. He may have turned out to be one of our great president . . or maybe not, we will never know. This week, there have been several great PBS programs about his death, Oswald, and the whole Kennedy history.

[Buckelew]

I was a glint in the eye of my parents; one in Birmingham, AL and the other either in 29 Palms, CA or Washington, DC.

[Gary/IA]

A company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Scheduled to see a movie that evening (PT-109) movie cancelled, training went on as usual but a very somber mood for many.

[Keith True]

I was in my second grade schoolroom.Somebody came in and told the teacher,(no such things as PA systems there).The teacher tried to get the TV to work,but it would only work if the weather was clear.Somebody had a radio,so all the teachers huddled in the hall listening to it and crying.We probably couldn't quite understand what was going on,but when all the teachers in the school were crying(there were four of them) it had to be serious.I do remember the kids all behaving perfectly that day.I can also remember one of my uncles punching a guys lights out when he cheered the event.

[Ross/Kzoo]

Sitting in my government class in high school. The day of the funeral I started to tear into my 55 Chevy that had cracked skirts. It was in the low 20's in my parents unheated garage and the wind was blowing hard.

[Pinstripe]

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Sixth grade, end of noon hour, Hillsboro, Wis Seems like yesterday

[CarlG]

College Accounting class, GCC Phoenix AZ

[Rowdy]

My parents had not even met at that time. Dad was in the army stationed in Germany and Mom was still in highschool.

[Ron/IA]

High school freshman in study hall.

[Terry,NJ]

I was 19 and on our way through No. Carolina to Virginia. We didn't ride with the radio on, so we didn't find out, until we stopped in Richmond. We saw headlines saying that Kennedy as shot and disregarded them as a joke taken too far. All through the south in those years, Kennedy was hated and we saw much evidence of it. I recall one bumper sticker saying "Nixon For President! Kennedy for King" Finally, after our second or third newspaper, we realized it was no joke. I wish we had him today!
Terry

[34pickup]

Just finished lunch at high school. Sitting around shooting the bull waiting for the next class when it came over the intercom. I won't say what happened after that.

[jrelliott]

In Grindavick, Iceland at the Naval Communications transmitter site. We just could not believe the news. Being in the Navy (ETN3) at the time and the previous year having the Cuban Missile Crisis under our belt, we were very worried as to what would happen next. Have the complete newswire teletype printout of the incident as was sent out on that day by UPI.

[t42]

12th grade study hall, Richfield High School. Announcement over the PA system and everyone was stunned and different emotions emerged. Crying, hatred, the world sucks, I want to go home, tough guys don't cry but they did, you name it I remember it. A very sad day that changed the world forever.

[Bruce]

I was 13 and at Junior high. Was playing pingpong in the Allpurpose Room ... winning, as I recall. I didn't understand why the girls were crying.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Studying for class At Victorville J.C., made a note of the event in the cover of my dictionary.

[Greg out west]

Hi Guy's


I was in Junior high in 63,seventh grade...I remember standing in line at attenicon in Gym class. We had to wait for the teacher to dismiss us...


I remember this student running up the the teacher & handing him a "Pink paper"....The Gym teacher was speechless for a few second's...then He said the president had been shot...Everyone was Stone silent,,then this One kid yelled out "Good"...Nobody said anything,,,Too Stunned I guess..I remember that kid was a Jerk before his comment.Probably still is,,,,


Funny thing I don't remember now if School was dismissed or not ?...I do remember it was a Sad Thanksgiving...I remember my mother saying the how bad she felt for the First Lady,,,Wow Fifty year's ago,,,I was just a 13 year's old kid,,,Now a old geezer..Where did the time go ?



God Bless JFK

Greg out West

[old car guy]

Was in 5 th grade just finished our show and tell of what was going on in our life and had just told the class how my dad had walked outside of his business the day before and that president Kennedy's motorcade had stopped in front of his store and how my dad had gotten to shake his hand. My dad was so proud the day before and so sad like all of us were at the horror of the next days event.
He had come to Tampa the day before he went to Dallas.
Years later we all were thank for the fact that the shooting did not occur here. It would have been so much of a trauma for Tampa or any place then . We were such a smaller city at the time and had even less resources than Dallas had at the time to deal with the events of that sad day.

[whirnot]

One of the few that does not remember. I do remember when Oswald got shot as I was home from school sick and was watching TV when it happened. I do still have the paper that come out on 11/23

[Michael M]

In 5th grade when word of the shooting came out. All classes were moved to the church where we prayed for the President. We were then dismissed to walk home - no busses and moms were always home in those days. Learned of his death when I got home.

I remember the TV was on constantly for three days as we watched all the events unfold.

[ken ct]

I was driving up the entrance ramp in Bpt. Ct. going home for the weekend in fall river when the announcement came over the car radio. Like it was yesterday. ken ct.