On November 22, 1963, just a few days before the United States celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday, the country, and seemingly much of the world reacted with shock as news spread about the assassination of the 35th President of the US, John F Kennedy.
Many Americans still remember where they were upon first hearing about Kennedy's assassination.
However, one man, former US Secret Service agent Clint Hill, definitely remembers more than most.
Hill was the man who jumped on to the car President Kennedy and his wife Jackie were riding in during a parade in Dallas as shots rang out.
The US Secret Service took to Twitter to make note of Hill’s act of bravery on that day in 1963.
This week Special Agent Clint Hill, the Agent that shielded Jackie Kennedy with his body in 1963, was honored by his home state of North Dakota with the Rough Rider award. Read his story: https://t.co/DdSow9xXvx pic.twitter.com/nVkFaJ5E20
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) November 21, 2018
“This week Special Agent Clint Hill shielded Jackie Kennedy with his body in 1963,” reads the Secret Service’s tweet in part.
In response to the tweet, Clint Hill, now 86 years old, reflected on the bravery of all secret service agents.
.@SecretService I am humbled and proud to be among the ranks of my fellow agents—past and present. https://t.co/rQEibiBkut
— Clint Hill (@ClintHill_SS) November 21, 2018
“I am humbled and proud to be among the ranks of my fellow agents,” he wrote.
Hill also reacted to historian tweets highlighting photos of the Kennedy’s arrivals in Dallas just before the assassination.
"That's me behind Mrs Kennedy," he tweeted. He said, the crowd greeting the president and his wife was much larger than anticipated.
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss tweeted photos of Kennedy’s arrival in Texas.
In hindsight, many of the pictures seem poignant and somewhat eerie as both Kennedy and his wife smile for the crowds and enjoy the company of other elected officials in Texas.
Grinning Kennedys arrive on Air Force One in Fort Worth, Texas, tonight 1963: #Bradford pic.twitter.com/QvnZgAKB31
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) November 22, 2018
On last night of his life, JFK appears with Governor John Connally & Lady Bird Johnson at banquet for Texas Congressman Albert Thomas, Houston. tonight 1963: #JFKLibrary pic.twitter.com/el4y5HIEYy
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) November 22, 2018
Just one day later, Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, who in turn, was shot and killed just two days later in the Dallas County Jail.
The assassination reverberated for years in the US.
In 1968, the images and memories were tragically rehashed, as JFK's brother, Robert F Kennedy, was assassinated in California while running for president.
The man who shot him, Sirhan Sirhan, remains incarcerated.
As for Hill, the agent who shielded JFK's wife, he remained in the secret service until 1975, and was most recently awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award for his years of service.
Congrats to @ClintHill_SS on being named the 44th recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. Hill served in the U.S. Secret Service from 1958-1975, protecting the presidency through five administrations. Learn more about his story: https://t.co/LJlBJjoXb4 pic.twitter.com/XGcimaQGL1
— SHSND (@ndhistory) November 19, 2018
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