Dealey Plaza

I first want to start this post by letting Dad know that actually visiting the site only strengthen my belief in what happened. I bet you’re rolling your eyes right now…

I will explain the above sentences for everyone else. Dad, who remembers the event, believes the findings of the Warren Commission and doesn’t give much credit to the “conspiracy theories.” In addition, he REALLY enjoyed Oliver Stone’s embellished version of the event in the movie “JFK” released in 1991. I, however, am one of “those people” who believe in a conspiracy theory. Therefore, since I live in Dallas I thought I would visit the site and museum.

It is a unique place and rich with history. The basics of this event are as follows. JFK arrived at Love Field for a political visit. He left Love Field and proceeded on a “Tour” of Dallas in a lengthy motorcade on a pre-determined route (which the Secret Service refrains from now). The motorcade path brought his limo down Main Street to Dealey Plaza and the triple over pass. It is named because three routes pass under the overpass built for the rail lines. As the motorcade came to the end of Main Street, it turned right onto Houston Street and then Left onto Elm Street. It was after his limo made the left onto Elm Street that the assassination took place. Most witnesses remembered hearing three shots. The first was very faint and sounded more like a “firecracker.” The second and third were clearer, louder and produced an echo. The second shot produced the “magic” bullet and the third was believed to be the fatal shot.

This is a picture of the view from the street looking at Oswald’s alleged (that word added for Dad :) ) perch. Kennedy’s limo was at this position when the first shot was heard. In all the photos, you will see many large trees. They were mere shrubs or did not exist at the time of the assassination. Therefore, in this case the view would have been unobstructed and probably a distance of 150 yards.

According to the Warren Commission and supported by private photography, this first shot did not strike anyone. Witnesses stated it was a faint sound and were not sure what it was.

This is a picture of the view from the street looking at Oswald’s alleged perch :). Kennedy’s limo was at this location when the second shot was heard.

This is the infamous second shot that is more commonly referred to as the “magic” bullet. It got this name because, according to the Warren commission, it broke every physic rules known to man. The explanation goes like this. The bullet first passes through JFK (and through a bone), makes an abrupt u-turn and pierces JFK again. Wait, that is not all. It then travels through portions of the car, then strikes the governor not once, not twice, but THREE more times. It is explained that to do this the bullet made multiple turns like on a Le Mans racecourse. Further, it is explained that this is possible in freak nature events. Right… Now if what I just told you seems unlikely, you will love this next piece information. They found the bullet! That isn’t shocking, but what is shocking is its condition. It is in pristine condition like it had never been fired. This from a bullet that pierced four bones, a seat and a car door. Hummmmm!!

This is a picture of the view from the street looking at Oswald’s alleged perch :) . Kennedy’s limo was at this location when the third and fatal shot was heard.

If the Warren Commission Report seems unusual at this point, then it really is going to get complicated here. This is what most experts believe to be the fatal shot. This is the shot most seen on videos where Kennedy’s head suddenly moves rearwards and “debris” is seen exiting the rear of his head. Now, just reading this you might assume the assassin is in front of the vehicle, but not the case according to the Warren Commission. They determined it was medically and physically possible for the body to “jump” towards the location of the shot instead of the usual movement in the same direction of the bullet. You see, if it weren’t possible, then the bullet would have had to come from the front, which would have place a second gunman on this infamous Grassy Knoll. Thus defining a conspiracy and messing up a “clean” investigation. There were three witnesses standing in front of the location that some believe the second and third shots came from. All three witnesses say the shot came from behind them. One stated that he felt like he was “in the line of fire.” A police officer riding a motorcycle in the motorcade chose to park his bike and run to the fence on the Grassy Knoll instead of the Book Depository Building. Another witness reported seeing a “puff” of smoke from the fence area. No gunman or gun was ever found in that location and was the basis for removing the possibility of a second gunman.

Now if I might digress! I stood at the window to the right of where Oswald sat on the Sixth floor of the Book Depository Building. When I was in the Army, I qualified as a Expert rifleman. I struck 35 out of 40 targets. Had I hit just one more (36) I would have made Sharpshooter. Oswald qualified as a Marksman shooter when he was a Marine with a lower score. You are trained in the military to shoot “center mass” to reduce the possibility of missing. I thought two things about looking out of that window and trying to make those shots.

First, the easiest shot he allegely took was the first shot. Because JFK was sitting back into his seat, Oswald would have had the clearest “look” at his target. In addition, this was probably 150 yards which is a good engagement distance (moving target or not). Finally, with the limo having just made the turn onto Elm Street, it would have been moving very slow. However, this is the shot he missed? The other two shots would have been significantly more difficult. Both because of the distance and speed of the target. The second shot was probably 200 to 250 yards and the third at least 300. I don’t know if you have ever hit a target at 300 yards with a rifle that doesn’t have a scope, but it is really hard when the target ISN'T moving. Of course, these were the shots he hit?

This is a picture of the route.

My second thought is this, why take the shot on Elm Street? If he was truly the only assassin, waiting for the motorcade to turn onto Elm Street doesn’t make sense when the better vantage point is right in front of him. Even an inexperienced and unintelligent sniper would have recognized the advantages of taking the shots on Houston Street before the turn onto Elm Street. There would have been a clearer “look” at the target because of the distance his seat was from the Governors. Oswald would have had a clear view of his entire torso sitting in the seat. It would be easier to hit a moving target that is directly in front of you, moving towards you, and slowing (for the turn).

This is the position that "those people" believe the second and third shots came from. The car in the picture was where (got lucky with this picture - I lined up with the X on the ground and the car came into the picture) the limo was when the third shot struck Kennedy. Notice this is in a concrete structure build as a "walk" for Dealey Plaza. This would have produced a much louder sound and the echos witnesses heard. I'm just saying...

Dad is probably pulling his hair out now and everyone who doesn’t care quit reading half way through. Oh well, I had fun writing it…

Later.