. >> jerry jensen's story doesn't end as badly as most. weeks before he was to be pushed out of the army, a general who had met and been impressed by jensen and his service intervened. she called for carson commanders. >> she called fort carson and said knock it off. let this guy out medically in a way he's earned. and they did. but the statistics show that lots of other injured guys like him didn't have anyone to call and they were just kicked out. >> today, jensen lives a short drive from fort carson. his health has deteriorated and he's still waiting for the va to approve of an operation that will give him some teeth. >> i don't think it means anything, because sometimes when i sit down with a soldier, they're so broken down by the things that have taken place, their dignity has been stripped and so when you sit down, and you talk to them, i have to remind them of who they are. you graduated from your basic training. you made it through the met station. you passed the physical. you passed the written test. remember that day. remember who

we now go to kron tv and jerry jensen. >> >> reporter: the atmosphere of gloom and silent defense spareallen over every part of the united states is very clear in san francisco. any difference in a reaction to the people here on the west coast is due to time. because of the time difference, people here learned of the assassination of president kennedy before noon, so they have had one half of a whole working day to contemplate this tragedy. a large crowd has now gathered. i would like to get some reaction from you people. how do you feel about hearing the news? >> i still can't believe it. i know it happened, but i can't believe it. >> reporter: where were you when you first learned of the death >> i was at my desk. >> reporter: sir, what are your feelings? >> i was shocked almost beyond nonbelief. i was at work when i first heard of it in richmond. someone came into the office and mentioned something about it. still too much to believe. i'm very sattenned by this horrible thing that happened. it's almost impossible still to comprehend this terrible disaster. >> reporter: if you with li