Hero Clint Hill

Clinton "Clint" Hill found his brief moment in American memory when he leaped upon the back of President John F. Kennedy's limo in Houston, TX, after the president had been shot.

A history major who served in the Army following graduation from college, Hill in 1958 joined the U.S. Secret Service. After his training, he was given the White House assignment and provided protection for both Dwight D. Eisenhower and JFK.

In this position, Hill was on the detail for the fateful Houston trip in November 1963. He rode in the car immediately behind the president's car.

When he heard the first shot and saw the president lurch forward, he ran to the trunk of the limo and jumped onto it to shield the president and first lady. Another shot or shots were fired; one hit front-seat passenger Texas Gov. John Connally in the back, wounding but not killing him.

Two cars further back in the motorcade, Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood did essentially the same thing for V.P. Lyndon Johnson, who was not hurt.

Hill could see that Kennedy had been mortally wounded, with part of his head lying on the car seat and blood everywhere. He yelled for the driver to go quickly to the nearest hospital.

November 22, 1963 was one of America's saddest days. The president had been assassinated, but alert agent Clint Hill had done his heroic best.