This story is categorized as both fondest and worst memories of basic training. The eventful day was Nov. 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I was starting my 4th week of basis training, and we were out on a bivouac, 20-mile walk exercise. Our regiment had completed rifle (M14) qualifications the past week. We were some 45 minutes outside of the main headquarters. The march was in cold, drizzling weather and as we were near our bivouac site, we took a break. The drizzle now turned into rain, typical Fort Wood, Mo., weather for November. As we stood around chatting by squads, two vehicles filled with officers came upon our site. Our unit officers approached the vehicles, and after a short huddle the entire group approached us and ask us to gather around them for an update.
At that moment, I looked at my watch and it showed 12:18 pm. The ranking officer of the group then informed us that the president was assassinated and dead. Some soldiers started to cry; others, like myself, were in disbelief, not accepting that anyone would commit a dastardly act like that. My first thought: was this was part of the exercise and we were being tested for reaction? After the stunning news, we were given standing orders. We were informed that being rifle qualified we were now battle ready. “Announced was all leaves were cancelled, we are to return to barracks immediately and pack our battlefield gear and be ready to board air transport late that afternoon.” We were being assigned a city to defend? As we would enter the aircraft we would be issued live ammo. I raised the question, which city are we defending? Answer, Dallas: then my next question, defending against who? Answer was the Cuban army. I was stunned in disbelief.
Calculating a timeline: at 11:30 am, command headquarters were informed of the president’s death; and as it turns out, his official time of death was around 12:37 pm. They then drove to us, a 45 minute drive. Upon return to the barracks to start packing gear, the orders were rescinded and we were restricted to the barracks. A new set of orders were issued stating that no enlisted personnel under E-5 were not allowed to watch any new proceedings of the funeral. This was a general court martial offense if caught. The NCOs then took charge and snuck us privates to join them in watching the events during select times when officers were not checking break rooms.
Since that fateful day, many times you hear, was that event a conspiracy? From the story I told, you know what my answer would be? YES!