Hero-Tim McCarthy
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It was a wet Spring morning in Washington, D.C. Tim McCarthy of the US Secret Service had the day off. At the last moment, a request came down for an additional agent to help protect newly-elected President Ronald Reagan. Special Agent McCarthy and a co-worker flipped a coin to see who’s day off would be ruined. Tim McCarthy lost.
And so on Monday, March 30th, 1981 Tim McCarthy would accompany President Reagan to a speech he was giving at the Hilton Hotel just across town in DC. The Secret Service decided to forego the presidential body armor, the “Iron Underwear,” because the President would only be exposed for 30 feet between the car and the building.
The speech was uneventful, and the crowd only managed to generate polite applause for the new President. He’d only been in office 69 days, and the Union Leaders of the AFL-CIO weren’t sure how the conservative Reagan would support their cause.
Unbeknownst to President Reagan or the Secret Service, a disturbed young man named John Hinckley Jr. had infiltrated the press line with a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Hinckley was convinced that if he generated enough spectacle out of killing President Reagan, the love of his life actress Jodie Foster would understand how he felt about her.
Hinckley had previously attempted to assassinate President Jimmy Carter, Reagan’s predecessor. President Carter had changed his schedule at the last minute during the campaign, and Hinckley never got his chance.
- Jerry Parr, in the raincoat, President Reagan waving, and Tim McCarthy on the far right moments before the assassination attempt.
As President Reagan approached the big black limousine, Hinckley fired his pistol rapidly triggering six shots in three seconds. As soon as the shooting started, the Secret Service executed their precise drill to protect the President. Jerry Parr threw Reagan bodily into the vehicle and lay on top of him to protect him from the incoming fire. Tim McCarthy, seeing the shooter, stepped between the pistol and the president and spread his arms and legs as wide as possible to shield Reagan as he was being evacuated.
- Tim McCarthy shot protecting President Reagan
Tim Mccarthy was shot in the chest for his heroism. There were many heroes that day. Both the Secret Service and the Washington D.C. Police performed well in the conduct of their duties. The President’s Secretary, James Brady was badly hurt, along with officer Thomas Delahanty. President Reagan was also wounded by a ricochet.
It is awe-inspiring to watch a trained and capable professional execute his duties when everything is on the line. I’ve seen it a few times in my life, and it always renews my sense of respect for the American fighting man. Tim McCarthy knew that he couldn’t possibly draw his weapon in time to stop Hinckley. He used the only weapon left to him. He not only displayed his exceptional courage to Hinckley, but to the entire world. What men are these of the United States Secret Service!
Tim McCarthy is a Hero, Stud, Gunfighter, and a Champion.
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