Does Connally's wrist wound disprove the SBT?

[Tom Graves]

I posted this a few weeks ago at another forum:

Dr. Gregory said he thought the bullet entered the top side of JBC's right wrist and exited the bottom side. If so, how could a bullet that exited JBC's chest have done that? We know that JBC was holding his cowboy hat in that hand. Was he holding his cowboy hat really awkwardly near his chest or somewhat lower equally awkwardly when he was shot at Z-222?


Another member replied:

Ai response

Dr. Gregory was absolutely right about the wrist wound orientation, but his interpretation does not contradict the Single Bullet Theory once you factor in Connally’s real arm position.

Three key points:

1️⃣ Connally was NOT holding his hat up by his chest

At Z-222/223, Connally’s right wrist was held low and turned inward, almost flat across his lap. This position is visible in multiple Z-frames.

➡️ He only raises the hat after he has been hit and is reacting.

2️⃣ The bullet exiting Connally’s chest was traveling downward and to his right

This matches:

• the sixth-floor angle,

• Connally’s rotated body position,

• and the inward-turned orientation of his wrist.

Thus, the bullet exiting his chest would naturally continue forward-downward → into the top, radial (thumb-side) portion of his wrist, exactly as Dr. Gregory described.

3️⃣ The wrist wound does NOT require an “awkward” hat-holding position

Connally was holding the hat loosely by the brim, low over his lap.

His wrist was not vertical — it was angled inward and slightly raised.

➡️ When the bullet exited his chest, his wrist was already in the line of fire.

No strange or contorted pose is needed.

⸻

Why Dr. Gregory’s testimony actually supports the SBT

People often quote Gregory as if he disproved the SBT — he didn’t.

He said the entry to the wrist slanted downward and toward the thumb side.

That is exactly the direction the bullet would travel after:

1. entering JFK’s back → exiting his throat

2. entering Connally’s back → exiting his chest

3. continuing forward/downward → striking Connally’s wrist

Gregory did not say the wrist wound was inconsistent — he said he could not determine the exact direction without seeing Connally’s arm position at the moment of impact.

The Z-film now shows us that position clearly.

⸻

🔍 So the correct reconstruction is:

• At Z-222, Connally is rotated rightward.

• His torso is turned.

• His wrist is low, across his lap, turned inward.

• Hat held loosely by the brim.

• The bullet exits chest → strikes wrist in the orientation Gregory described.

Everything matches the physical evidence.

⸻

Bottom Line Answer:

The wrist wound is perfectly consistent with the bullet that exited Connally’s chest.

No awkward hat position is needed.

No second shooter is required.

This is why every modern forensic reconstruction (not just the Warren Commission) reaches the same conclusion.

[Charles Collins]

I posted this a few weeks ago at another forum:

Dr. Gregory said he thought the bullet entered the top side of JBC's right wrist and exited the bottom side. If so, how could a bullet that exited JBC's chest have done that? We know that JBC was holding his cowboy hat in that hand. Was he holding his cowboy hat really awkwardly near his chest or somewhat lower equally awkwardly when he was shot at Z-222?


Another member replied:

Ai response

Dr. Gregory was absolutely right about the wrist wound orientation, but his interpretation does not contradict the Single Bullet Theory once you factor in Connally’s real arm position.

Three key points:

1️⃣ Connally was NOT holding his hat up by his chest

At Z-222/223, Connally’s right wrist was held low and turned inward, almost flat across his lap. This position is visible in multiple Z-frames.

➡️ He only raises the hat after he has been hit and is reacting.

2️⃣ The bullet exiting Connally’s chest was traveling downward and to his right

This matches:

• the sixth-floor angle,

• Connally’s rotated body position,

• and the inward-turned orientation of his wrist.

Thus, the bullet exiting his chest would naturally continue forward-downward → into the top, radial (thumb-side) portion of his wrist, exactly as Dr. Gregory described.

3️⃣ The wrist wound does NOT require an “awkward” hat-holding position

Connally was holding the hat loosely by the brim, low over his lap.

His wrist was not vertical — it was angled inward and slightly raised.

➡️ When the bullet exited his chest, his wrist was already in the line of fire.

No strange or contorted pose is needed.

⸻

Why Dr. Gregory’s testimony actually supports the SBT

People often quote Gregory as if he disproved the SBT — he didn’t.

He said the entry to the wrist slanted downward and toward the thumb side.

That is exactly the direction the bullet would travel after:

1. entering JFK’s back → exiting his throat

2. entering Connally’s back → exiting his chest

3. continuing forward/downward → striking Connally’s wrist

Gregory did not say the wrist wound was inconsistent — he said he could not determine the exact direction without seeing Connally’s arm position at the moment of impact.

The Z-film now shows us that position clearly.

⸻

🔍 So the correct reconstruction is:

• At Z-222, Connally is rotated rightward.

• His torso is turned.

• His wrist is low, across his lap, turned inward.

• Hat held loosely by the brim.

• The bullet exits chest → strikes wrist in the orientation Gregory described.

Everything matches the physical evidence.

⸻

Bottom Line Answer:

The wrist wound is perfectly consistent with the bullet that exited Connally’s chest.

No awkward hat position is needed.

No second shooter is required.

This is why every modern forensic reconstruction (not just the Warren Commission) reaches the same conclusion.

I believe that the response you quoted has it right. I think that if JBC had not been holding his hat, that the more relaxed position of his palm facing towards his belly would be the expectation. The fact that JBC was holding his hat is what caused the rotation of his forearm such that the palm of his hand would be facing downward instead of the more relaxed position with the palm facing his belly.