JFK by Ollie Owl

It was in the Spring of 196l and I was a 21 year old sailor stationed at the Naval Air Station,
Jacksonville, Florida. The Commanding Officer of our unit aboard the station assigned me
to escort a Secret Service Agent to the top of our hanger. There was an important VIP landing
that day and boarding a helicopter for a flight to an Aircraft Carrier in the Atlantic Ocean.

When I had turned seventeen years old and still in high school, I joined the Naval Air Reserve. I had
a three year active duty commitment and went on active duty in May 1958. In the Fall of 1959 I wrote
a letter to a Senator urging him to run for president. In that letter I explain to him that I recently went on
active duty, was recently married and stated to him that I had joined the Navy not for the benefits, but
rather as the best way of serving my country. Although I know it was nothing more than pure
coincidence when he was inaugurated, when he made the now famous statement, "ask not what
your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you're country". But all through years I've thought
perhaps he or one of his speech writers may have read my letter and used it to write this statement. I will
always believe this.

After escorting the Secret Service Agent to the top of the hanger roof, where he searched the entire
roof. I ask him if it would be all right to stay on the hanger to see the President arrive. He was due
to arrive in a few minutes. He searched me and said it would be okay. Just below us was the tarmac
where we kept most of our aircraft tied down. They had all been moved to other sections of the Airfield.
There was a crowd of several hundred people behind a rope barrier waiting to greet the President.
He landed in Air Force One and taxied up to our tarmac. Departed from Air Force One, went over
to the crowd and shook several hands. Then he walked up to the Presidential Helicopter and as
he was boarding, JFK looked up at me and waved. At that time, no matter how small, I felt a
connection between us.