November 22, 1963

[ronto]

Where were you when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated?
I was just out of high school operating a milling machine in a local machine shop when we got the news. Everyone was in a state of shock.

 

[kentucky yeti]

I was celebrating my 2nd birthday.

 

[gramps]

I was 13 and in the 9 th grade. My buds and I cheered, and got our A$$ reamed a new one by the principal , a former Navy man. I was confused, to say the least. All of the adults I knew were displeased that Kennedy won the election. I know better now.
gramps

 

[Snake45]

I was in 4th Grade. Still remember Cronkite nearly crying.

 

[Bob Wright]

I was at work, and was relieving one of the men who worked in the retail store. One man came down the stairs and said, "Did y'all hear the news?"

Another responded with, "What? The Mississippi River burned in two at the bridge?"

Our 'phones were quiet the remainder of the day, the next day, too.

And there was just a somber, shocked atmosphere for the next three days, including the shooting of Oswald.

Bob Wright

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

High School Freshman in study hall.

 

[Midas11]

Was problay somehwhere riding my bike or playing with Spiders.

 

[trebor44]

Working as on OR Tech at the Presidio in SF as a PFC.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I had just gotten home from working a Midnight shift, was eating a breakfast and watching cartoons on TV before going to bed.

note: Lived in Calif. at the time.

 

[Dave P.]

1st grade, Miss. Levins class...even as a six year old I thought she was hot.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Driving toward the college campus on my way to a class, picked up a friend off a street corner who was similarly bound, and he told me.

The instructor just said she was going home for the rest of the day and left. So did we . . . quietly.

 

[turd]

I was 11 YO, 5th grade if I remember correctly. Was a small country school - no radios or TV. We didn't have a TV at home, either, so mostly got all the stories a day late from the newspaper. Different era, for sure. My dad bought a copy of the Warren Report. I tried to read it years later but couldn't get thru all the political BS. Not much has changed there......

 

[hittman]

I was four. Everything I remember about it was from the media in later years.
I do vaguely remember Bobby getting killed though.
We lived in a very rural area and were busy running our lives, farms and a business my mom owned.

 

[375supermag]

I was in elementary school and 9 years old.
Teacher told us Kennedy had been assassinated and we would be sent home early. Don't remember the teacher's name but she seemed very upset.

I was a bit young to be politically involved but I knew who Kennedy was and I had been to enough funerals of family members to understand what death meant. Learned a lot more about politics by reading the newspapers the next few weeks.
I think that was what triggered my interest in following the news and politics. I began to read everything I could get a hold of and started to spend a lot of time reading the news magazines like Time and News and World Report in the school library. All of that triggered a lifetime interest in science and world history that continues to the present.

So, in some ways, Kennedy's assassination was a catalyst for me to transition from a unaware child to an involved member of society.

 

[dannyd]

I was 13 and in the 9 th grade. My buds and I cheered, and got our A$$ reamed a new one by the principal , a former Navy man. I was confused, to say the least. All of the adults I knew were displeased that Kennedy won the election. I know better now.
gramps

Sad thing is JFK should have never been in the Navy because he couldn't pass the physical, but Big Joe purchased him one and he was in. I don't think it ever occurs to people like that because he could not pass the physical someone my die or get hurt.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Wifie and I were getting ready to go to work on the 4-12 shift at Houston Hobby Airport where we had seen JFK the day before.

 

[Paul B]

I was sleeping in the barracks at Osan AFB Korea when I got the word. About a half hour later I was on the fence doing guard duty on the perimeter facing north. Guess they though the Norks just might be planning something in the wake of the assassination. Thankfully nothing happened but we were a bit nervous for a few days after.
Paul B.

 

[Heliman]

A sophomore in mechanical drawing class. Felt bad for the young kids and Jackie.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

8th grade English class. The radio was played over the PA for a while. Very sad day.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I was sleeping in the barracks at Osan AFB Korea when I got the word. About a half hour later I was on the fence doing guard duty on the perimeter facing north. Guess they though the Norks just might be planning something in the wake of the assassination. Thankfully nothing happened but we were a bit nervous for a few days after.
Paul B.

I spent 67-68 on Osan AFB in the ARMY; 38th Arty Bde (AD); Hq Btry. Was there when that moron gave up the USN Pueblo to the North Koreans. He SHOULD have been Court Martialed !!

 

[nvbirdman]

I was standing at inspection. The captain had just gotten past me when the radioman walked up to him and delivered the news.

 

[Ride1949]

Freshman math class. They announced over the school's PA system. Everything went quiet. We were sent home for the day.

 

[jimbo1096]

I was 15 and remember wondering why someone would want to do something that bad.
It's gotten much worse now.

 

[Ray Newman]

High school senior (I was 17) and in a history class. The bleeding heart liberal teacher was beside himself; school closed early.

When classes resumed the next week, Mr. Bleeding Heart asked the class what they did over the weekend. I told him I went deer hunting while helping out my grandparent's dairy farm-- he just about had apoplexy! Several others also said that carried on their normal weekend plans and work schedules.

After that, those of us who said they were not glued to the TV set and/or did not show emotion about the JFK death were persona non grata in the class and ignored.

 

[Fox Mike]

On duty at W-44 Nike Hercules missile site in Waldorf Maryland. Immediately put on alert. Weapons/ammunition issued.

 

[Shamus2022]

In the Army in Mannheim, Germany. It was late at night and we were all rousted out for an alert. For a while there was a presumption/fear that this was just the first move by the Russians...... and we were only an hour by (Russian) tank from the border.

 

[antique41]

Was stationed with the 10th CE in Kitzingen Germany just a short ride to the East German border. Went on alert. Had my M-60 in my locker and ammo stacked in the hallway.

 

[steveodtw]

I was just out of High School working as Christmas help at a large Department Store stockroom. That Saturday I went to U of M to see my girlfriend and go to the football game. I thing that was the only UM game that was ever canceled. It was a very somber day, and I never saw her again.

 

[Domino300]

Same as T.A.Workman, freshman in study hall. Announcments over PA system.

 

[freakindawgen]

Was 4 and in front of TV. Can't remember if watching it live or after the fact. Was watching a kids program that cut off for it. Couldn't grasp the impact but knew it was something bad.