Eyewitness to the JFK Assassination; In Her Own Words

[Don Roberdeau]

Good Day.... FYI....NOTE: President KENNEDY's last wave started at Z-170-171, while he was obscurred by the "magic-limbed-ricochet-tree" from *anyone* targeting him from the warrenatti-apologists, supposed, "lone nut" "sniper lair."

I have contacted the author for his help to speak with Mrs. SMITH.

There are several women witnesses along the Elm Street north curbstone who are yet to be identified.

http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fa...assination.html

<QUOTE>

August 23, 2008

Conspiracy Sunday: Eyewitness to the Kennedy Assassination

"In Her Own Words" by Dodi Smith

The following is a never before told interview featuring a first hand

account of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November

22, 1963. The interview was conducted by Daniel Zanoza, Executive

Director, RFFM.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dodi Smith is a grandmother who resides somewhere in

Texas. For obvious reasons, which will be revealed in her answers,

we have taken every attempt to respect her wishes for privacy. Mrs.

Smith may consider answering some of the comments that may be posted

after her story on RFFM.org.

Q. In 1963, John F. Kennedy planned a political trip to Texas.

Political advisors told him he needed to shore up his support in

Texas because there were very powerful people who didn't care for his

presidency, to put it lightly. How long before November 22nd did you

know the President was coming to Dallas? And, if you can recall, how

did you learn he would be there? Was it common knowledge?

A. Before we begin answering questions, Dan, let me say this: this

was a day I will remember all of my life. It remains in my mind as

though it happened yesterday. It was a day that began with such joy

and suddenly the whole nation was saddened, not just Dallas and the

Texas civilization.

I first heard the President was coming to Dallas thru the radio, and

then reading the Dallas Morning Star approximately a week before

President Kennedy came. And, like most people, I talked with others

in the east Texas town I was living in at the time. I was overjoyed

to think that our President was coming to Texas, to actually meet the

people and be a part of this state for a day.

Q. What was the political atmosphere in Dallas regarding President

Kennedy? It was common knowledge there was an underlining mistrust

towards the Kennedy administration by some. Was this negative

feeling towards Kennedy palpable or has this been overplayed over the

years in your opinion?

A. You know as well as I do that there is always a mistrust between

the two parties that run this country, there are always rumors of

discourse one way or another in these groups. One trying to out do

and smear the work of the other, but among the people there was very

little discourse. Everyone you came in contact with from east Texas

to far west Texas were talking about how wonderful it was that the

President was coming to Texas and they would be able to see him in

person. I truly think this negative feeling toward the Kennedy

administration had been overplayed to the public and used to further

the discourse between parties.

Q. On the day Kennedy visited Dallas, one of the major Dallas

newspapers featured a full page ad with a "Wanted" poster which

presented John Kennedy as a criminal of the state. Did you see this

ad?

A. I personally did not see this ad, I believe it ran in publication

in the Dallas Morning Star. But it was common knowledge that this

paper was a Republican-orientated paper and, remember, President

Kennedy was a Democrat...so let your imagination run on this. I do

know that people, the common man and woman on the street who saw it

and talked with me, were quite upset that a prominent paper would run

such an ad as this. I believe they ran it under the heading

of "TREASON"...and, Mr., that is going a little too far, even in the

political world, if there is no proof.

Q. You obviously knew the route of the motorcade. This information

has played a significant role in the debate over whether there was a

conspiracy to murder the President. Do you recall how and when you

found out about the motorcade route?

A. I am not sure after 40+ years I remember how or when I learned of

the motorcade route. I do remember that before I left my east Texas

home near Tyler I had learned that the route was to be down Main

Street to the Stemmons Freeway, only when I got there it was common

knowledge that it had been changed and now would be going down Main

Street to Houston, past the Court House, making a right for a short

distance, then a left onto Elm Street and past the Texas Book

Depository Building, right near that turn. I heard some saying they

had decided to re-route the motorcade as you could not get onto

Stemmons Freeway off Main, which amazed us all. Why? Because it was

not true, it was an easy exit off Main to Stemmons. If this was not

common knowledge of the change, then why was there so many people on

Elm Street and the Grassy Knoll...have to use your imagination on

this I would presume.

Q. Where were you waiting in preparation for the arrival of the

Presidential motorcade?

A. I was on the Grassy Knoll to the right of the Book Building, in

front of the Stockyard Fence. Many people were gathered here, it was

like sardines packed in a can, children were playing, adults were

talking, awaiting the time to see the President and the First Lady,

explaining to their children how this would be a day in history, if

only they had known at that time how important a part of our history

it would become, I often wonder what they would have been explaining.

Q. What was the atmosphere in Dealey Plaza? Were people excited

about the President's coming? Was there a big crowd? Did you feel

anything in the air that wasn't positive?

A. You know I am always surprised at that question about the

atmosphere or reading about it in some paper that is recalling the

visit. I saw no negative reaction to this visit, people were

smiling, happy, talking about how wonderful it was to think that the

President was here in Texas. Many had come from far away West Texas,

Houston, The Big Bend country, some from Louisiana and Oklahoma, and

each showed excitement, not unrest. The streets were lined with

people, many shoulder to shoulder. There just was no negative

feelings I saw or felt at the time, just pure joy and happiness.

Q. Tell RFFM.org readers what you thought when you first saw the

presidential motorcade coming down Houston Street before the

motorcade turned down Elm Street, and headed past the Texas School

Book Depository.

A. Through my binoculars I saw the motorcade with the police escort

turn off Houston Street onto Elm Street, knowing it had first come

from Main Street to Houston where it made its first right hand turn,

then left onto Elm from Houston. It came past the Texas School Book

Depository Building, coming to the Grassy Knoll to the right of the

building.

Q. Did anything strike you as unusual, before there were any obvious

problems? If so, please elaborate.

A. I saw no obvious problems, the motorcade was moving along very

nicely, at a slow rate of speed, the President was waving, as was

Mrs. Kennedy and the Governor and Ms. Nell, all smiles on their

faces. The Secret Service car and men were right there with them and

a couple or three cars further down was Vice-President and Mrs.

Johnson, smiling and waving to the many crowds who were whistling and

waving.

Q. Some say when Kennedy's motorcade turned left onto Elm Street,

the Secret Service fell behind in their effort to protect the

occupants of the limousine. We know the "bubble top" was off the

car. Did the Secret Service seem to fall away from the Presidential

vehicle?

A. Let me answer it this way: If the Secret Service fell behind on

this turn, how was it that they were the first to get to Mrs. Kennedy

as she realized her husband was hurt and we saw her crawl over the

back of the car pulling one of the men into the car, immediately

after the President had been shot. Dan, they were right there where

they were supposed to be. Remember, President Kennedy was not shot

at as he passed the Book Depository Building, he was shot in front of

the Grassy Knoll past the building a good many feet. I have never

understood how "high up" people keep pushing the point he was shot as

he passed the Depository, he was not. He definitely was shot at the

grassy knoll.

Q. What was the first indication you had that something was wrong?

A. I heard screams behind me and sounds like gunshots, then a

whizzing sound as something passed close by me. I turned and look

behind me at the Stockyard Fence where it seemed to becoming from. I

quickly turned back to the motorcade and saw our President jerk his

head backwards and then to the left toward Mrs. Kennedy, and the next

thing I saw was Mrs. Kennedy trying to pull a Secret Service man into

the car from over the back of their car. Then the police escort

pulled away fast and moved the motorcade at a fast rate of speed

towards town. We, on the knoll, just stood there in shock, wandering

what was going on. Why were shots being fired from behind us.

Q. Did you actually see the President take any of the shots that

eventually led to his death?

A. At the time, Dan, I was not sure what I heard or saw. First, it

was the sound of guns being fired, remember, I am a country raised

girl, familiar with guns and rifles, and then the President seeming

to jerk backwards and then to the left, Mrs. Kennedy pulling him

down. Like everyone else I was not sure what was going on, I only

know the motorcade speeded up immediately and was gone, out of site,

and Secret Service men were covering the Vice-President and Mrs.

Johnson as they sped by.

Q. RFFM.org readers know this must be hard on you. But, in our

phone conversation, you told me you saw President Kennedy's wife,

Jackie, doing something as the motorcade was passing directly in

front of you. What was she doing?

A. As the motorcade passed in front of us on the knoll, Mrs. Kennedy

had pulled the president down in the back and was climbing over the

back of the car to help a Secret Service man into it. She was

desperately pulling him.

Q. In general, what was going on in Dealey Plaza directly after the

motorcade started to speed up and head towards Parkland Hospital?

Was there confusion? Were people in fear? Were you in fear? Did

those present know the President had been shot at?

A. As we saw the motorcade speed up and Mrs. Kennedy climbing over

the backseat to help pull the Secret Service man in, we were asking

each other what was going on. Were those shots we heard behind us,

the same we felt and heard whizzing past? Had the President been

shot from what we could see of his head in his wife's lap? I was

using my binoculars and could see that there was blood and something

coming from his head, and Mrs. Kennedy kept trying to push something

back in. There was fear everywhere, you could actually smell it

among the crowd. In my heart, I knew someone had tried to kill our

President, I did not know how true my feelings would become. All I

could think in my fear was why? And I am still asking that question

40 something years later. And I wonder why our government has turned

its head away from so many of the details, and twisted and turned the

event, until no one who wasn't there knows the truth of that day. It

will live with me forever, and the fear I have of the government

knocking on my door someday if they ever find out who I am. I will

not be a part of the sham they have made of this investigation and

their twisted details. Others who came forward have lived in

disbelief of how our government has worked on this and the decisions

they have made, so far from the truth of the happenings.

Q. Did you hear any shots? And, if you did, could you tell with any

certainty where they were coming from?

A. Oh, yes. I heard two distinctive shots, one whizzing close by

me. Those shots did not come from the depository building which was

to the left of me, they came from behind me, from the Stockyard

Fence. If I remember correctly, one of those shots hit the grassy

knoll just in front of us.

Q. Were people pointing or running to a certain area, after it was

clear something had happened?

A. All around me people had turned and were looking behind us,

pointing toward the fence and were running to the left and right of

the fence, as though they were trying to get out of the site of the

firings. I know one man was injured from flying debris or something

from one of the shots. I never knew who he was, though.

Q. What was the reaction of the police you saw? Did they seem to

have an idea of where the shots came from?

A. The police acted immediately upon notification from the Secret

Service and moved the motorcade out quickly. At the time, no one

knew where the shots came from, but shortly afterwards cameras and

film was being taken from people on that knoll.

Q. Did you hear any more shots besides the ones that came from

behind the fence bordering the grassy knoll?

A. I distinctly heard two shots from behind me and they were not

cars backfiring, there is a difference, if you know your guns, rifles

and cars, and a sound like a third shot, but coming from a different

direction, which I thought was coming directly across from the

knoll. I have never been sure on that one, just that feeling of

hearing it.

Q. Were you questioned by any authorities on November 22nd 1963 in

Dallas' Dealey Plaza? Did you see anyone else being questioned?

A. No, Dan, I have never been questioned by the authorities. I

have made myself as little known to them about this as possible, for

I do not trust them or their findings on this matter. I had at one

time thought of coming forward until I saw and read of their negative

reaction to those who did, and how the events were being twisted and

turned, as though they were making a movie and changing the scenario

to fit their screen. I did not see anyone being questioned that day

as I left, but I did see men taking cameras and film from the people.

Q. You said the authorities were confiscating cameras and film from

people around you. Besides your binoculars, did you bring a camera

with you? Many witnesses claim they never got their cameras back

and, if they did, their film was missing. Do you have any first hand

stories about this?

A. I did see the cameras and films being taken, as I stated

previously, but I never had first hand knowledge and what developed

after that. I had failed to take my camera that day, only my

binoculars. No one stopped me as I left the knoll.

Q. How long did you stay in Dealey Center after the shooting of the

President, Governor Connelly and a third man--who was standing

somewhere near the viaduct which led to the expressway?

A. I am not sure how long I did stay, Dan. I know that we milled

around, talking in crowds, trying to figure out what was going on,

then I left. I had to return to my east Texas town, get my children

from school and pick up my three year old who was at the plant that

day with his daddy, playing manager with him. My husband managed a

plant in our town and offered to keep our son with him so I could go

to Dallas for this event.

Q. It was obviously a traumatic day for you and the rest of the

country. Could you sum up your thoughts regarding what you saw on a

day when America's future was changed? And could you add any

information I may have failed to address here?

A. It was indeed a traumatizing day, not only for me, but the whole

world, Dan, and especially the United States. We had read of such

things in history, but it just could not happen again in our world.

Oh, how wrong we can look at things. It took me days to realize the

chaos and confusion of our government in the previous assassinations

that had been taught in history classes. To accept that this kind of

hate, fear or whatever it was that caused this to happen in our

country blew my mind. Where did it come from, what caused it, how

did it start, when did it start and how did it lead to killing the

President kept whirling in my mind. I still find myself asking these

questions even now. WHY? I know in my heart it will happen again

and again if this world continues as it is now. Will we ever know

the truth or will the future accept the government's version as truth

and let it go down in history as such? Why was Oswald murdered by

Ruby so soon? How did Ruby, a known mobster in the Dallas area, get

near enough to Oswald that day to murder him, while he was surrounded

by detectives? Was it to stop the truth from ever being known?

Dan, I wonder about these questions everyday of my life and, like

most, I would like to know the reason our government has put such a

spin on this assassination, so far from the truth of that day and its

happening. My prayer now is that God will never let this happen,

anywhere in the world. But in truth I know it will and nothing we do

will stop it, and nothing we do will keep the government from taking

over and make decisions that are so different than the actions. It

has made me distrust our structure of leadership in this country.

The questions never go away. And I wonder, at the age of 75, will I

live to see this happen again and I pray not.

I have to admit it has not been easy reliving that day like this,

even if I do live it everyday of my life these past 40+ years. I

just want the country to know the truth, but the government is not

going to let it and it makes you wonder why. Was there a

conspiracy? We will never know, but all true facts do point to that,

don't they?

<END QUOTE>

Best Regards in Research,

Don

Don Roberdeau

U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, CV-67, "Big John," Plank Walker

Sooner, or later, The Truth emerges Clearly

Discovery: ROSEMARY WILLIS Zapruder Film Documented 2nd Headsnap : Westward, Ultrafast, & Directly Towards the "Grassy Knoll"

Dealey Plaza Professionally-surveyed Map Detailing 11-22-63 Victims locations, Witnesses, Photographers, Suspected trajectories, Evidentiary artifacts, & Important information & considerations

President KENNEDY "Men of Courage: 4 Principles" speech, and a portion of fellow researchers articles and my research & discoveries, 1975 to present

T ogether

E veryone

A chieves

M ore

National Terror Alert for the United States:

"Drehm seemed to think the shots came from in FRONT OF or BESIDE

the President." (my EMPHASIS)

----CHARLES F. BREHM, a combat gunfire experienced, United States

Army Ranger, World War II, D-day veteran, & very close Dealey Plaza

attack witness, quoted only minutes after the attack, and while he

is still standing within Dealey Plaza (11-22-63 "Dallas Times Herald,"

fifth & final daily edition, which mis-spelled his name)

"Another eyewitness, Charles Brehm, said he was 15 feet away from the

President when he was shot.

'He was waving, then the FIRST shot hit him and that awful look

crossed his face.' " (my EMPHASIS)

CHARLES F. BREHM, a combat gunfire experienced, United States Army

Ranger, World War II, D-day veteran, & very close Dealey Plaza attack

witness (quoted to the "Associated Press," 11-22-63)

Edited August 25, 2008 by Don Roberdeau

[Mark Vernon]

Q. Some say when Kennedy's motorcade turned left onto Elm Street,

the Secret Service fell behind in their effort to protect the

occupants of the limousine. We know the "bubble top" was off the

car. Did the Secret Service seem to fall away from the Presidential

vehicle?

A. Let me answer it this way: If the Secret Service fell behind on

this turn, how was it that they were the first to get to Mrs. Kennedy

as she realized her husband was hurt and we saw her crawl over the

back of the car pulling one of the men into the car, immediately

after the President had been shot. Dan, they were right there where

they were supposed to be. Remember, President Kennedy was not shot

at as he passed the Book Depository Building, he was shot in front of

the Grassy Knoll past the building a good many feet. I have never

understood how "high up" people keep pushing the point he was shot as

he passed the Depository, he was not. He definitely was shot at the

grassy knoll.

This is not fact, its her recollection or opinion... there is video documentation that the secret service agent assigned to the right-rear of JFK was called away minutes before he was killed....that is a fact.

[Mark Vernon]

Q. RFFM.org readers know this must be hard on you. But, in our

phone conversation, you told me you saw President Kennedy's wife,

Jackie, doing something as the motorcade was passing directly in

front of you. What was she doing?

A. As the motorcade passed in front of us on the knoll, Mrs. Kennedy

had pulled the president down in the back and was climbing over the

back of the car to help a Secret Service man into it. She was

desperately pulling him.

How could she possibly know all this? My guess is she has seen the Zapruder film a million times, like all of us, as this is depicted in the film.

[Mike Williams]

Q. RFFM.org readers know this must be hard on you. But, in our

phone conversation, you told me you saw President Kennedy's wife,

Jackie, doing something as the motorcade was passing directly in

front of you. What was she doing?

A. As the motorcade passed in front of us on the knoll, Mrs. Kennedy

had pulled the president down in the back and was climbing over the

back of the car to help a Secret Service man into it. She was

desperately pulling him.

How could she possibly know all this? My guess is she has seen the Zapruder film a million times, like all of us, as this is depicted in the film.

I must have missed that part of the film. Where is Jackie "pulling desperately"

to get Clint Hill on the car?

The back up car does seem to be within mandated distance at the head shot.

I would say the lady is correct on the issue of the SS location, they were in position, however, I believe she is mistaken about the "pulling" business.

[Pat Speer]

I believe the lady is telling a big fib. She wouldn't be the first. Any "witness" claiming they were on the knoll by the "stockyard fence" and that people were packed like "sardines" in that area can be dismissed out of hand, IMO.

[Mike Williams]

I believe the lady is telling a big fib. She wouldn't be the first. Any "witness" claiming they were on the knoll by the "stockyard fence" and that people were packed like "sardines" in that area can be dismissed out of hand, IMO.

At the risk of sounding like a yup yup.

YUP!

Mike

[Duke Lane]

I believe the lady is telling a big fib. She wouldn't be the first. Any "witness" claiming they were on the knoll by the "stockyard fence" and that people were packed like "sardines" in that area can be dismissed out of hand, IMO.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. What photographic evidence is there that shows a woman - alone - in that area, with or without binoculars?

Edited September 21, 2008 by Duke Lane

[William Kelly]

I believe the lady is telling a big fib. She wouldn't be the first. Any "witness" claiming they were on the knoll by the "stockyard fence" and that people were packed like "sardines" in that area can be dismissed out of hand, IMO.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing. What photographic evidence is there that shows a woman - alone - in that area, with or without binoculars?

You know, it's easy to say somebody is telling a big fib, call them liers, or discount what they have to say, but sometimes people, especially witnesses to a horendus crime, get it wrong, remember it wrong, and sometimes don't want to remember what really happened.

That doesn't mean they weren't there, or lied about being there, just because their story doesn't match the photographic record. I would look for this women in a group of people, but she has no reason to lie because she doesn't tell us anything of forensic or investigative interest.

I think it was pretty decent to go out and find this person and interview her, and a good interview it is. Thanks for doing it and thanks for sharing it.

BK

[Jack White]

There is no such newspaper as THE DALLAS MORNING STAR.

Jack

[Duke Lane]

Y'know, Jack, Bill's right. I would think it's an almost natural thing for someone who lived as far away from Dallas as a small town near Tyler to "conglomerate" the names of the Dallas MORNING News and the Fort Worth STAR-Telegram, especially if it's been several years since they've lived anywhere near there, wouldn't you? It certainly proves that she's at least been to north Texas, and by extension, very possibly in Dealey Plaza standing elbow-to-elbow in the crowd on the grassy knoll on November 22. As he said:

... she has no reason to lie because she doesn't tell us anything of forensic or investigative interest.

... the only two good reasons I can think of to tell a story that's not quite true. Of course, maintaining her privacy by not identifying herself certainly takes her off of the "publicity seekers' list!"

[Pat Speer]

Y'know, Jack, Bill's right. I would think it's an almost natural thing for someone who lived as far away from Dallas as a small town near Tyler to "conglomerate" the names of the Dallas MORNING News and the Fort Worth STAR-Telegram, especially if it's been several years since they've lived anywhere near there, wouldn't you? It certainly proves that she's at least been to north Texas, and by extension, very possibly in Dealey Plaza standing elbow-to-elbow in the crowd on the grassy knoll on November 22. As he said:

... she has no reason to lie because she doesn't tell us anything of forensic or investigative interest.

... the only two good reasons I can think of to tell a story that's not quite true. Of course, maintaining her privacy by not identifying herself certainly takes her off of the "publicity seekers' list!"

To me, the odds are 99% that she wasn't even there. People are always stretching things to put themselves closer to historic events. I remember reading something on this very issue--that something like 90% of people claiming to have been at Woodstock have boasted about seeing Jimi Hendrix perform, when the reality is that 90% of the people left before he played. From my study of the JFK eyewitness evidence, I can see that this is true. There were a number of witnesses who said they heard two shots, only to, over time, start saying they heard three shots. There were also a number of witnesses who claimed Kennedy was only a few feet from them when the shots were fired, when he was clearly much further.

It's important to note, however, that these people are not lying--at least not in their own minds. Perhaps this woman was in Dallas. Perhaps she was even in the Plaza. But she was most definitely not on the knoll.

[Wim Dankbaar]

Can someone point out to me where Mrs. Smith claims she was standing exactly?

Wim

[Duke Lane]

My guess is wherever people were standing "shoulder-to-shoulder." Look, for example, in amongst the Newmans, or between Sitzman and Zapruder.

[Lee Forman]

There are several women witnesses along the Elm Street north curbstone who are yet to be identified.

If the author could simply have Ms Smith identify herself in a photo or her position - it would be helpful. Her account sounds similar to McKinnon, and as per your plat Don - the woman standing with McKinnon remains unidentified. The children could have been the Newmans.

- lee