Bock was living in West Berlin, Germany
"I was at home and was listening to music on the American Forces Network when the announcer interrupted the program with the news that the President of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, had been shot.... That night there were hundreds of thousands of Berliners who mourned his death by joining in the torchlight march which ended at the Schöneberg Rathaus [city hall] where a memorial service was held for our American friend. I remember that thousands of Berliners had candles in their window that night as a sign of mourning for the dead chief-of-state. I am not aware of any specific reason, political or otherwise, why the people of my country loved John F. Kennedy so much, but they liked him very much even before his visit there during the summer of 1963. When he gave his famous speech, his words, 'Ich bin ein Berliner' just increased our endearment and affection for him."
