“I wish I did, sir. Once we learned who the target was several of us asked. The answer we got was, “to make the world a better place”. That didn’t make sense to me then or now.”
“Son, I agree with you and so do my sons and daughter. During his presidency he established the Peace Corps which is still going strong today. The only real downside was the April 17, 1961 Bay of Pigs fiasco. Then, the next year when spy planes spotted Russian ships bring missiles to Cuba, the president instituted a blockade and demanded the weapons be removed. This was probably the closest this country came to a nuclear war. Khrushchev finally agreed and withdrew the missiles. Kennedy was also in the forefront regarding civil rights.”
“Father, don’t forget his involvement with Vietnam. Sending advisors while Johnson ended up having troops dispatched there. I could go on and on about what the other presidents did or didn’t do and they were never assassinated successfully. In March of 1981 a deranged gunman did try to kill President Reagan, but he survived. Many were worse than Kennedy, but I won’t bore you, my family. I have more fun doing that to my students.”
“Junior, I don’t think there’s a person, including me, here that doesn’t agree with you,” Walter said.
“Thank you. I have read until I was almost cross-eyed but nowhere in the Warren Commission Report or the notes when the Dallas Police interrogated Oswald was there any mention of him being asked ‘why did you shoot the president’. Of course, Jack Ruby made sure that question never got answered but the captain who interviewed him should have asked. When a reporter wanted to know all Oswald could tell the man…”
“I haven’t been charged with that yet, only the murder of Officer Tibbetts.”
My head snapped around to where Walter was sitting and grinning, aghast that he knew the response to the question.
“I was that reporter. But, as you have said on several occasions, let us not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Yes, you’re correct. But, getting back to the job at hand. With what this person told you as to why Kennedy had to die and what we’ve been saying now makes me seriously question these peoples rationale,” I said.
“Junior, now in the clear light of day and obviously, at the time, not having all the facts if I was given a choice today, I would rather be murdered and buried in the desert than do what I did that fateful day. Do you really think I will be able to identify the men if they are even caught on camera?”
“We should know something between tomorrow and Monday,” Nancy answered.
“I’m a little lost. Can someone please explain to this old man what you’re talking about?” Richard Sr. asked.
“My brother is going to be getting all the news footage starting with after the shooting until the president is interred. We’re hoping Walter will be able to recognize at least one of the men even though they were wearing masks. If he does, then we can fill in the rest of the names.”
“What if we all watch the films? Walter, you look for the face and build while the rest of us concentrate on body language. We all know the sure sign of a guilty person is how they react, especially when they see a camera aimed in their direction,” Alice suggested.
“Hold on, why are you limiting your time frame from the twenty-second to the twenty-fifth? What about all his public appearances, the trip to Berlin for example? His family time at the Kennedy Compound at Hyannis? Even his inauguration as well? I know that is going to be hundreds of miles of film but why not err on the side of caution. If I was going to start planning the removal of an individual, I would start at the first appearance of the person,” our mother recommended.
“What about his time in the House and Senate? Would those be relevant?” June asked.
“I don’t think so. I’d wager Kennedy didn’t come onto these people’s radar until much later in his political career. That’s why we should start with his presidential campaign.”
“We can get that footage from the CBS affiliate here. Let’s hope they won’t ask why we want the stuff.”
“We don’t have to go to them. The university has all the video tapes. They are very infrequently used so I’m sure we won’t have any trouble getting our hands on them. I’ll call the library tomorrow and see about arranging to have them brought out. The only thing I’m not sure of is the format. Let’s hope something easy.” Nancy said.
Finally, we have a viable plan to figure out who these people are that hired Walter and the others to kill the president. With luck, we might also solve other assassinations around the world and in the process bring this organization down.
Even with the wives in the room we returned to the football game which gave me the opportunity to put what we had discussed in the back of my mind for a while. The match between Dallas and St. Louis ended with the Cowboys beating the Cardinals 35 to 17.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
November 25, 1983
Neither Nancy nor I objected when our kids asked to stay another night at the main house which does have better security than ours. No matter how much Nancy and I pleaded with my parents they still spoiled our children rotten. Not that either of us minded but getting them back to a routine after visiting tended to be difficult.
Nancy was in the office arranging for all the film of Kennedy to be delivered while Walter and I were at the kitchen table with all the documents spread out that he’d brought with him.
“Okay, let’s move a head a little bit to when you learned who your target is. We know you decided to continue so what happened next?”
“I spent a lot of time at the rifle range zeroing in the Mannlicher-Carcano to a hundred and twenty-five yards. That wasn’t all that easy either because I had to use the same scope that Oswald had on his rifle. Once my trainer and I were satisfied I started firing at a moving target. A dummy in a car pulled by another.”
“Was the vehicle moving side to side, away from you or toward you?”
I, as did most of the American public, not to mention the world, knew Kennedy was shot from behind so this was another test question.
“Away from me which made the task harder but considering the fact I had been a sniper I was able to make the necessary calculations on the fly.”
“Did you ever work from an elevated position?”
“A few days later, I think about the tenth, let me check the timetable to be sure.”
Walter sorted through the papers he’d brought until he found what he was looking for.
“No, the ninth. They had a six-story tower built and I practiced from the top. These people were so organized they even had large photographs taken from the window at the book depository showing me what I would see. The only piece they were not able to replicate was the tree which obscured part of my view.”
“Interesting since there aren’t any pictures released showing where the shots were fired from.”
“I know. What they had me do was take into consideration the branches and leaves. From the beginning I knew there would be time for only two, maybe three, shots.”
“That must have put a lot of pressure on you.”
“No kidding, but I had been in tougher situations before. When the time finally came to take the shots, I will admit to you I was a little nervous. The first one went into the tree trunk. I later learned that one was never found.”
From the Warren Report I recall reading that there had been speculation about that round. Now Walter was able to confirm for me, and posterity, the truth. Nancy walked in, so I turned the recorder off.
“Making headway?”
“We are and quite a bit too. What did the library say?”
“At first they were a little reluctant to release the tapes to me but when I told them I wanted them so I could work up a course syllabus they acquiesced. All of the film has been converted to VHS which is good because we won’t have to get equipment to view them.”
“Good. Are they bringing them out or do we collect them?”
“They will deliver them this afternoon about one. I’ve a
lready told Edward and your father. For added safety to protect the driver I called Bill Hall and he’ll follow the truck to make sure they arrive without incident.”
I turned the tape recorder back on after telling Walter to mention the video tapes.
“Junior, how are we going to view them? Here or at the main house?”
“Walter, which would you prefer?”
“What if the three of us watch them here, then as we finish a couple send them over so the rest can study them. For me at least, I will be a great deal more comfortable if only we know who I point out.”
I have a feeling that the real reason Walter wants to stay here is the stress of what he’s going through now, reliving the past could be getting to him emotionally. Yesterday at the dinner table I had noticed he appeared tense the entire time we were eating. Only later, watching the ball game had he started to relax a little.
“I know the others won’t mind one bit. Considering what they are doing to help, I doubt any of them will be ready to watch the tapes for a few days. That is except Edward since he has the easiest job.”
“Thanks for reminding me. He said to pass along to you that he should have an answer later this morning or afternoon.” Nancy
“Good. Walter, if your supposition is right, that being the other five were taken and executed would those people bury them on the grounds?”
“They might but I never saw any equipment that could be used to dig holes deep enough so animals could not dig them up.”
“Maybe that’s what needs to happen, I’m sorry to say. If the property is so large that might be the only way to find the bodies and the proof needed to bring the people to justice. Your trainers, they didn’t cover their faces, did they?”
“No. When we left for Dallas, we never saw them again. I might even have a photo of a couple of them.”
Again, Walter searched through the box bringing out three pictures of him and several other men.
“Here you go. These two are the Russians while this one is the Israeli. Does this help?”
“Yes, a great deal. With these my brother should be able to track them down. They had to have come into the country on visas. He can check with the State Department.”
“Considering the relationship, at the time, between Russia and the US I wouldn’t be surprised if they came in on diplomatic passports. Have him focus on those?” I suggested.
“Definitely. I’m hoping to hear back from him soon about the three other men. At that time, I’ll tell him about the photos and figure out how he wants to get them.”
I looked over the kitchen table and peered into the box. What had me curious, why was Walter allowed to keep this stuff? Not only that but did the container travel with him?
“When we were packing our suitcases for the trip to Dallas one of the trainers came into my room with this. He told me to put all the papers I wanted to keep inside the box and hide it under my clothes. I did as he asked. We were never searched which I also thought strange.”
“No kidding. Let’s get back to the flight to Dallas. Who was there to see you off?”
“Only the trainers. This time we were in a private airplane, but I have no idea what kind or even the tail number. What I do know, the windows were again blacked out so we could not see where we were.”
“Okay, then how did you know you were flying to Dallas?”
“We were told by one of the men near the beginning of the training.”
“Let’s take a short break,” I recommended.
After turning the recorder off, I stood and wrapped an arm around my wife’s waist and drew her to me. In the distance I heard the office phone ring and I let her go. We went to find out who was calling since we weren’t expecting anyone. I pushed the button so we could talk and hear who was on the other end of the line.
“Hello?”
“Richard, is my sister with you?” John Wentworth said.
“Yes, what’s up?”
“The pilot who tried to shoot you down is from Russia. At least that’s where he originally lived. From what the coroner was able to figure out, primarily from analyzing his stomach contents the man’s last meal was here in the states. Most likely Louisiana because he had partially digested crawfish in him.”
“Okay, that’s sort of a start. What could the technicians learn about the plane?” she said.
“Same place. I have agents searching the bayous for a base. If they find anything that will be a miracle.”
“Why do you say that, John? Or is this a gut feeling on your part?”
“Something doesn’t seem right. Finding out where he was from was too easy? I think everything the scientists and technicians found was there for a purpose. To throw us off the hunt for who sent him. I’m not taking any chances though.”
“You’re right. Everything they’ve done going back to September of 1963 has been carefully planned out to hide who they really are. What makes you think Russian?”
“His dental work. What I’m thinking, wherever the plane was they brought in the crawfish along with flora and fauna from the bayou.”
“Not to mention that’s a really long flight from there to where we were intercepted. The plane was most likely based somewhere in the Midwest. There’s enough room there to not only hide the Su-15 but a runway long enough for takeoff and landing,” Nancy suggested.
“Good idea. I’ll contact the local FBI offices and ask them to look around but not take any action. While I have you on the phone, the three names and locations you gave me I’m sorry to say they all died under mysterious circumstances, all within a month of arriving. Do you know if they had family?”
“No, they didn’t and that’s why they were selected to help with the mission. Something happens to them and no one will be looking,” I told John.
“That makes sense. If you don’t mind me asking, how is the interviewing going?”
“Very well. We are going to start looking at film of Kennedy from the time he was nominated to after his internment. With luck we might be able to find the masterminds behind the mission.”
Walter walked in and handed me a piece of paper. Tell the agent we learned about the presidential motorcade route even before the Secret Service or those in Dallas knew.
I did as he asked, getting silence from the other end of the line.
“Junior, Nancy do you know what this means? One of the leaders was either in the presidential inner circle of close friends or there was a leak with the Secret Service, FBI or in Dallas.”
“Are you saying this is bigger than the agency can handle?” I couldn’t hide the anger in my voice that he might steal the case.
“Trust me, Junior and Nancy, we would never do that. Why ruin a perfect relationship? Do you think Walter would mind if I came out and listened in to the meetings? I promise not to say anything.”
I glanced over my shoulder to Walter, who was smiling.
“Yes. Special Agent Wentworth is more than welcome.”
“Thank you. I’ll be out in about thirty minutes.”
“Sir, before you come can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, if you can stop calling me sir. Call me John.”
“Okay, John. Can you stop at Nate ‘n Al and get me a New York sandwich and a meat knish? The last time I was here, twenty years ago, that was the last meal I had before fleeing to Alaska.”
“Sure. Nancy, Junior, can I get you anything while I’m there?”
“I’ll take a Brentwood and Nancy a Hollywood. Don’t forget the pickles and two orders of onion rings.”
“Not a problem. Make my arrival time forty-five minutes. See you later.”
The call was disconnected.
“Do you mind me asking why you are willing to talk in front of John?”
“Not at all. Time wise we are in Dallas and he should hear what happened. Even though he said he would not say anything if he has a question he can ask. You see, of the entire mission, from the 18th to the 24th that was the most dangerous part and we
could have been found out.”
“If that had happened, even with Oswald thought to be the assassin and now dead, the organization might have been exposed,” I said.
Now all we have to do, or rather Alice, is find out who these people are. With John coming out I suggested we not continue until he arrives. Walter was especially grateful at the extended break so he could look over the papers and pictures he’d saved.
CHAPTER TWELVE
After lunch from one of the best delis in LA, if not the world, we continued. I started the recorder, added the necessary information including FBI Special Agent John Wentworth.
“Walter, how long was the plane ride from when you lifted off to landing?”
“Which one? We flew in the private plane for about two hours landing in Oklahoma City. From there we took a commercial flight to Dallas.”
Why wouldn’t these people fly them straight to Dallas? Unless this was to keep where they trained a secret.
“Are you sure all your time was in Texas and not another place?”
“As I said during a previous interview, I’m sure.”
“Alright. So, what happened next? When you arrived in Dallas?” Nancy said.
“Our primary cover was salesmen who knew each other. We took a taxi to the hotel and checked in, agreeing to meet in the bar. After we each had a drink, we took a walk over to Dealey Plaza. We wanted to see where I would be taking the shots from. They wanted to study the building since they had an even more difficult job. Getting inside the depository, find Oswald then sneak him out and back to the boarding house. All the while not attracting attention to themselves.”
John raised his hand, like a student would in school when they had a question.
“Go ahead.”
“If the others were to get Oswald out of the building what about his rifle?”
A Conspiracy Uncovered Page 7
