21-12-2011, 07:32 AM
Mr Jewett makes a valid point regarding the sad state of ambulance service in the early '60s. As seen in Dallas, they were operated by funeral homes. It's really scary to think about it now, just how lacking the accepted norm was. In early '62, as a teenager I was involved in an accident, along with another student while we both were passengers on a bus. Now, this accident occured about 5 or 6 miles from the Texas Medical Center in Houston, but the ambulance was a converted '58 Chevrolet station wagon, stick shift, and with the least powerful engine available, and I am convinced it was a well used station wagon before the "conversion". The "attendants" worked at the funeral home, and had no idea what a paramedic was. And, no air conditioning. So yes, in a major city, a real ambulance was unlikely to arrive when called. We were fortunate to have a non-profit Mercy Corps Ambulance operated by R S Bill who saved many lives. I apologize for drifting off topic, but some of the younger folks have no idea how things have changed. Also, being in a time or segregation there was even a race issue regarding where the ambulance was sent from. But, that being said, I tend to believe LHO may have died before being placed in the Oneal Funeral Home ambulance, and was shot by Jack Ruby. I say that not as a researcher, as I am not one, but as a student of research.
hock:
hock: