35th President of the United States of America John F. Kennedy. What legacy has remained near and dear to you? All stories are welcomed!

2014-11-22T15:33:47-05:00

Well, I am speechless, President Kennedy is my favorite President of all time. He was at a critical time in history for the advancement of so many important events, such as civil rights, military (creation of the Special Forces), space exploration and many, many more. Its been 51 years since he was assassinated November 22, 1963. Just wanted to post our past Commander-In-Chief and remember his legacy.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), commonly known as Jack Kennedy, or by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. Notable events during his presidency included the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race—by initiating Project Apollo (which later culminated in the moon landings), the building of the Berlin Wall, the African-American Civil Rights Movement, and increased US involvement in the Vietnam War.

After military service as commander of Motor Torpedo Boats PT-109 and PT-59 during World War II in the South Pacific, Kennedy represented Massachusetts's 11th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953 as a Democrat. Thereafter, he served in the U.S. Senate from 1953 until 1960. Kennedy defeated Vice President and Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the 1960 U.S. Presidential Election. At age 43, he was the youngest to have been elected to the office,[2][a] the second-youngest president (after Theodore Roosevelt), and the first person born in the 20th century to serve as president.[3] To date, Kennedy has been the only Roman Catholic president and the only president to have won a Pulitzer Prize.[4]

Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested that afternoon and charged with the crime that night. Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald two days later, before a trial could take place. The FBI and the Warren Commission officially concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin. The United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) agreed with the conclusion that Oswald fired the shots which killed the president, but also concluded that Kennedy was probably assassinated as the result of a conspiracy.[5]

Since the 1960s, information concerning Kennedy's private life has come to light. Details of Kennedy's health problems with which he struggled have become better known, especially since the 1990s. Although initially kept secret from the general public, reports of Kennedy being unfaithful in marriage have garnered much press. Kennedy ranks highly in public opinion ratings of U.S. presidents but there is a gap between his public reputation and his reputation among academics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy

http://www.cbsnews.com/feature/jfk-assassination/

John F. Kennedy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Navy & Marine Corps Medal Purple Heart American Defense Service American Campaign Asiatic-Pacific Campaign• (3 bronze service stars)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 3:45 PM

2014-11-22T15:45:24-05:00

When I was younger I watched Gettysburg the movie and loved it. I feel in love with history and Chamberlain stuck out to me. I did a report on him for a merit badge in scouts after reading a book about him. I read other books including ones that he has written. Going from an educated scholar and professor to a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient to being president of the college he taught at then governor he was a very distinguished man. He fought to keep ROTC going and stood up to those who opposed him even under physical harm. The man is a true hero.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain

Joshua Chamberlain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (September 8, 1828– February 24, 1914),[2] born as Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain, was an American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. Although having no earlier education in military strategies, he became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). For his gallantry at...

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 22 at 2014 3:46 PM

2014-11-22T15:46:13-05:00

Great post SFC! JFK was a great President. My other favorite was Ronald Reagan!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 3:47 PM

2014-11-22T15:47:01-05:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, JFK has always been a favorite president of mine, even though he died when I was just six years old. I remember the day. We were released early from school and everyone was upset. I was maybe too young to know exactly what was going on, but I knew something important (and very bad) had happened.

Then I spent some time in the Old Guard and a lot of time at Arlington National Cemetery, where those great quotes from JFK are displayed (in stone) near the eternal flame.

The most famous of his quotes is a favorite of mine: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." If every American took those words to heart, we would be a better country for it.

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Nov 23 at 2014 12:49 PM

2014-11-23T12:49:08-05:00

John Kennedy was elected the day my family left the USA with my Dad for a tour in Athens, Greece. A few years later we arrived in Kaiserslaughter, Germany. I was in the 9th grade and had just gotten home. I turned on the TV and found the AFRTS station was only showing a table with a black table cloth, a large picture of Kennedy, and two candles on either side of his picture and organ music playing in the background. I wondered what was going on . . . then they came on talked about the assassination and what they knew about it at the time. Out of respect for JFK, the only programming was the news for days. I was out of the country for the entire time he was President. I remember our teacher talking about his "Ask not" speech and we were to write an essay on it.

From that time to now, I truly believe he was the last of the true Democrats. Starting with LBJ I saw a big shift in the platform of the Democratic party. Oddly, they began "The War on Povery" which appeared to me to be the opposite of Kennedy's speech and started the "What can the country do for me" phase of social welfare. IMO

Response by MAJ Bill Maynard made Jun 11 at 2015 6:39 PM

2015-06-11T18:39:51-04:00

Well, call me un-American but I have little respect for JFK. While I admired his leadership and heroism as a Naval officer, I can not tolerate his womanizing and habitual adultery that are well documented. If a man can not be loyal to his wife, how can be loyal to anyone else, especially if you are the leader of the greatest nation in the world. I do respect the fact that he was the duly elected President, just as every President is. Loyalty is one of our values. That includes loyalty to your spouse.

The Kennedy family also had great fame and fortune via Joseph P. Kennedy's illicit activities. When you are rich, it is easy to run for office since you don't have to work at a real job like the rest of us.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 26 at 2015 4:09 PM

2015-07-26T16:09:50-04:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, I've always liked JFK's homage to Thomas Jefferson in his opening remarks at a dinner he hosted honoring Nobel Prize winners of the western hemisphere on April 29, 1962. President Kennedy said, "I want to tell you how welcome you are to the White House. I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 26 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-07-26T16:12:55-04:00

I was only 3 when he was assassinated, so I had no direct knowledge of his Presidency. I do remember his funeral on TV though...

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:48 AM

2015-07-27T05:48:49-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:48 AM

2015-07-27T05:48:59-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:49 AM

2015-07-27T05:49:12-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:49 AM

2015-07-27T05:49:28-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:49 AM

2015-07-27T05:49:37-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 27 at 2015 5:49 AM

2015-07-27T05:49:46-04:00

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 7:35 AM

2015-07-27T07:35:29-04:00

His response(s) during the Cuban Missile Crisis will always be in my mind.

Also his speech "Ask not what your country can do for you, but, what you can do for your country." Once had a guy tell me that was why he was assassinated.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 27 at 2015 11:57 AM

2015-07-27T11:57:35-04:00

Well said and elequently conveyed

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jul 30 at 2015 5:20 PM

2015-07-30T17:20:56-04:00

I had the honor and privilege of playing at the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy as the 35th President of the United States which was held on Friday, January 20, 1961. It was very cold, snowing and I was only 12 years old. I will never forget it as long as I live. After the Inauguration, we were his guest at the White House!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 1 at 2015 7:41 PM

2015-08-01T19:41:44-04:00

He was responsible for the mess that was Viet Nam. He did do some good things like work on civil rights but he was the force behind the U.S. Involvement in Southeast Asia.

Response by SGT Neil Chandler made Aug 1 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-08-01T22:25:09-04:00

This is kind of a touchy subject for me. I have been enamored with his assassination, studying it etc, and I served on the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 while in the active Navy (94-97).

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 3 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-08-03T12:59:50-04:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, while President Kennedy is not my favorite President of the United States of America, I recognize that his life and particularly his death were covered by television news.
Prior to President Kennedy, TVs existed but they were not generally affordable or produced for the masses. In the 1960's television came of age. Other Presidents had been assassinated; but, the Camelot story intrigued many in this nation. He was the youngest President when he was elected and had served at a much lower military position than previous Presidents with military service. Young men tended to be thrilled by the epic story of PT-109.
I was in 3rd grade in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA when President Kennedy was killed and didn't fully understand why teachers were weeping as we were released from school on that cool late fall day. I remember watching the coverage on our television that day. I particularly remember the solemn funeral procession as the caisson carrying the coffin was led with full pomp and circumstance with full military honors. I had already been interested in becoming a soldier by this point and the dignity and reverence that the Military Service members displayed that resonated with me.

Response by SSG James Arlington made Aug 3 at 2015 9:55 PM

2015-08-03T21:55:44-04:00

He was very much hated by a particular political pursuation.

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Oct 16 at 2015 11:26 PM

2015-10-16T23:26:52-04:00

Direct quote from JFK," I get a headache any day I don't get a new price of ass"
He held back the Russians and was a war hero. He was also a p.o.s to his wife and morally decrepit.
She knew about his affairs and it bothered her greatly ...she even talked with the Pope about it. But Hillary is married to the same sort of animal....shows their marriage is just about politics.