William Greer
William Greer
William Robert Greer (September 22, 1909 – February 23, 1985) was an Irish-born agent of the U.S. Secret Service, best known as being the driver of President John F. Kennedy's presidential limousine in the motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas on November 22, 1963, when the president was assassinated.
History
Greer was born on a farm in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1929. He worked for over a decade as a chauffeur and servant to several wealthy families, including the Lodge family in Boston and a family in Dobbs Ferry, New York. During World War II, Greer enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the presidential yacht) in May, 1944. After his discharge in 1945, he joined the United States Secret Service on October 1 of that year. In 2013 it was publicly discovered that while in Ireland he had been a member of the Drumbonaway lodge of the Orange Order.
History
Greer's duties brought him into close contact with Kennedy, and he can be seen in several pictures with the Kennedy family. He chauffeured the president on many occasions, including in Dallas. As with all agents involved, there has much speculation about, and criticism of, his actions on that day. Greer testified before the Warren Commission on March 9, 1964. Greer testified that he heard three shots, the first he thought was the backfire of a motorcycle and so did not react. About three or four seconds later he heard a second shot which prompted him to turn around and as he did so he noticed Governor Connally was wounded. He describes the second and third shots as occurring "simultaneously, one behind the other". When they arrived at Parkland Hospital Greer helped bring Kennedy into the emergency room and according to Greer it looked like the top right rear of Kennedy's head was "all blown off".
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