I was in 8th grade at Nathan Hale Jr. High school, in New Britain Ct.
Sitting in practical math class, the classroom intercom came on and the Principal announced that the president had been shot, we were being dismissed. A friend and I walked home from school which was about 1 mile away, I remember there was a tavern on the way, where there was a TV there was quite a few people staring at the TV when we peaked through the window.
When I arrived home my mother was in tears as she watched the TV. This was a very sad time for everyone. I remember so vividly the day the president addressed the nation concerning Cuba and the Naval blockade my dad was a strong supporter of JFK, can't help but wonder what may have transpired if the tragedy didn't occur.
I was in 2nd grade (guess I'm the youngster here!) and we were watching a film using one of those old noisy projectors. The speaker at the front of the room made an anouncement, and our teacher shut off the movie and turned on the light. They announced that the president had been shot, and I remember seeing my teacher burst in to tears, and just start sobbing. That made about half the class do the same thing.
Just going to lunch my freshman year of high school when I heard the news. One of my heroes was gone and I could not understand why someone would shoot him.
I was on Midway Island attached to an AUW compound and was on watch that morning. Three guards showed up in full battle dress and wanted immediate access to the compound which was a nono until permission was received from the security officer. Next morning, there were all kinds of air craft on the ground as no one really knew what was going to happen.
The other thing that stands out is we had a small AFRTS site on the island and all programing was at least six months old or more. Within 5/6 days we had film of what had happened in Dallas.
I was at RTC Great Lakes Ill., bootcamp company 464-63, 4wks into training. The CC came running in shouting the President has been assassinated. We have gone to DEFCON 3, everyone looked at each other, So? It was a surreal day. We got to smoke and watch TV in the middle of the day. A lot of stunned young men. Strange what one remembers of times like that.
The day prior to the assasination my sister had been involved in a nearly fatal car wreck. I was 14 and was taken out of school to be with the family at the hospital as we hoped for good news of her fight for life. The news came on and I remember watching Walter Cronkite announce the president's death, barely able to choke back the tears of sadness. We were still standing vigil in the hospital as we watched Jack Ruby shoot Oswald on live TV. I doubt that anyone living during that time will forget where they were when JFK, RFK, and MLK were gunned down.
My sister recovered and went on to have three beautiful daughters, and 6 grandchildren as of today. When we speak of those times they just can't believe what we went through! They don't even relate to The Cold War, nuclear bomb drlls (duck and cover), the Missles of October, Woodstock, hippies, and what Camelot in America even meant. It appears they will have their own crises to remember.
I was in class (course 560G) at Fleet ASW School, San Diego. The instructor made the announcement, and he immediately called a break. At the southern end of the hallway, there was a southern view overlooking San Diego Harbor. We were still trying to come to grips with what happened, and watched a steady stream of ships leaving port. All Navy vessels that could get underway left the harbor and scattered, awaiting further instructions.
The following Sunday I was duty driver and watched Jack Ruby shoot Oswald on a flickering B&W TV.
I was an OWO at NAVFAC San Salvador. I really feel old after reading many of these posts.
My tour ended in 1957, and I was a civilian working as an Engineering Tech manufacturing semiconductors. I was standing on the shop floor just outside the Eng. office when over the PA system came the news of Kennedy being shot. I was stunned!!! suddenly the shop floor was silent....I mean SILENT like never before, followed by weeping from hundreds of people...
I will never forget that moment
I was in second grade, attending a one room school house in Eaton Rapids, MI.
I was in GYM class in the 10th grade.
I was at t.he library of Humboldt State College at Arcata CA and all of a sudden there was no silence
50 years...that seems to have gone by way to fast. I was in a 6th grade gym class at Balboa Elementary in the Panama Canal Zone. The day was dark with heavy rains. The class was cut short without explanation and we were sent back to our class room where our teacher, Mrs. Benson (probably the only teacher that I absolutely remember from all of the schools I attended) was crying and announced that the President had been shot and had died. Stunned silence was the norm that day and the rains made us all feel that the world was crying over the loss of a great man.
I was at the same school that day. Ms Turbyville's 6th grade.
6th grade English class.
I was sitting in a tenth grade study hall in Kutztown Area High School, Kutztown, PA when the school office fed the radio reports throughout the school via its intercom speakers. Many of the teachers and girls started crying. I merely sat there in a stunned silence. All classes were suspended for the day following the announcement that President Kennedy was dead.
I was at my aunts house in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It was as if a movie was appearing and not real. I watched the events, as a 15yr old, with sadness and astonishment. I saw Oswald get shot on live tv.
I was in 10th grade at Louisville Male High School, Louisville, KY. Music Theory class.