Where Were You When President Kennedy Was Assassinated?

My dad was in the military and we were in Oslo, Norway. I was headed to see a movie when someone told a group of us that our President had been assassinated. We were in shock and went immediately home. A bunch of adults were at my home sitting around a radio listening to the news and crying.

The next day my dad received orders to immediately return to the U.S.A.

Such a sad time.

Sherry

 

i wasnt born.....

 

I figured some of you would state this. Any stories from your family you can share?

Sherry

 

I was in class when someone came in and told my teacher the news. She collapsed in tears and everything just stopped for the rest of the day.

 

I was only three months old, but I remember my parents talking about it over the years.

Looking at the videos and seeing the streets lines with cheering crowds, that was a different time for sure. I can't imagine that happening today, even if we had a good president.

 

My strongest memory was that it messed up Saturday Morning cartoons---keep in mind in those days Saturday morning was your only shot at cartoons.

 

I was 5 years old. I am pretty sure I was at home and not in kindergarden yet.


And I still believe there was at least a second shooter and that Jack Ruby killed Oswald to keep him quiet.

 

Drunk in a saloon in Laredo.

 

That was my complaint at the time. No cartoons on any station (only 3) and a riderless horse with empty boots in the stirrups being led down the street.

 

I was in school and several of us went across the street to a little cafe for lunch. Someone came in and told us Pres. Kennedy had been shot. There was a lot of speculation and talk. When we went back for afternoon classes, the radio played over the PA system for the rest of the day. We were teenagers and there were a lot of people crying, etc.

 

My father was with the embassy in Saigon; our whole family was stationed there; we were evacuated from the school and sent home that day. I was escorted by a French guard into the house from the bus and a group of women were sitting with my mom around the dining room table crying and listening to the radio. They were terrified being in a foreign country, with the possibility of the war escalating....a fear so real, I will never forget it.

 

Did your family stay in Saigon after? I understand the feeling of being in a foreign country when stuff like this happens but you were right in the spot where the possibility of war was getting ready to happen. Wow.

Sherry

 

What day and year are we talking here??

 

November 22, 1963

Sherry

 

Sherry, It took several months before things escalated. Prior to that, it wasn't exactly safe, we heard alot of bombing in town, my dad would be called away to give blood (he was B-), or disappear for a week for some duty, a call in the night telling my mom he was okay...We were evacuated out in February of 64. It was swift. Families were herded on planes headed for Japan, then to San Francisco. My poor mother with 3 kids in tow. My dad stayed behind. You know though, we had Marines all around us in the airports and on those flights. At the time, I didn't think anything of it, but they were there as a safeguard. It was pretty impressive.

I can say that I was very lucky to be at an age there that I remember it. I still remember smells there...

 

OK no wonder I don't remember it, I was only 2!!!

 

Wow, thanks so much for sharing. Yes, the Marines were there to safeguard all of you. Same thing happened to my family in Taiwan when the Chinese threatened to invade but we did not evacuate. We were guarded by those wonderful Marines.

Your mom was a brave woman.......so was everyone on the plane who delt with all of the kids. lol I was told, later in life, that military children are pretty well behaved when travelling and I am proof of that as we moved constantly.

Proud Military Brat on my end too..........would love to hear more of your story someday.

Sherry

 

At 5 years of age I don't remember much other than my Mom crying when his son saluted his procession.

 

I was sitting in a car with a coworker eating a sandwich on lunch break. That was an era that respected our president and country. We both worked at A&P and immediately went back to the store. The store closed the day of the funeral. Glad I grew up in a time that respected our country and the presidency. No stores close for anything now. I was a young newlywed at the time. Pat

 

I looked it up for what day of the week it was and it was a Friday.