We all remember where we were when truly infamous news events
occur. And, one of the most infamous occurred on November 22, 1963.
Even though I was only five years old, I still remember the kindergarten
classroom as I sat there hearing the news - our President, John F. Kennedy had
been assassinated.
Many stories have unfolded since that day concerning the events, and now names and phrases such as Zapruder, Ruby, grassy knoll, and conspiracy still hold a place in our memory bank. Oh, and I left out H. L. Brennan.
Who?!
H. L. Brennan was actually considered a key eyewitness to the
events on that fateful day. Brennan was a Dallas steam fitter who had
waited to see Kennedy's motorcade pass, and claims to have actually seen Lee
Harvey Oswald fire his rifle at the President. Brennan was sitting across
the street from the Texas School Book Depository when Oswald opened fire.
After Brennan heard the first shot, he quickly looked up and "clearly" saw
Oswald in the window shooting again.
Brennan's description of Oswald was broadcast by police. Later, Brennan recognized Oswald at a police lineup.
In addition, a Dallas patrolman had sealed off the railroad overpass that day beginning at 10am, to all but railway employees. A railroad towerman could see the whole area, but saw no strangers in the yard. When the motorcade appeared, the handful of spectators on the overpass clustered to the railing. The patrolman stationed himself slightly behind them and all were within his range of vision. When the shots were fired, he thought immediately that they had come from the area of the Depository, with the grassy knoll also within earshot, but silent. The towerman wasn't as confident, and mentioned that noises originating from either the Depository or the overpass tended to sound the same because of echoes in the area.
Dare we say case closed?!
