TOKYO — Shock, disbelief and grief were the first reactions of American women in Japan at the news of President Kennedy’s assassination.

Mrs. Edwin O. Reischauer, wife of the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said at the U.S. Embassy residence early Saturday:

"This is the greatest shock we have ever had. I can hardly believe it. It is a great loss not only for America but for the whole world."

Mrs. Maurice R. Preston, wife of Lt. Gen. Preston commander, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force, said at the Sanno in Tokyo:

"My husband told me the president had been shot and I didn’t believe it at first. I am still shocked and can say no more."

At the U.S. Army Japan WAC Detachment in Camp Zama near Tokyo, Capt. Virginia Heseman, detachment commander, received the news from her first sergeant.

"I got the call early this morning. I am absolutely shocked. It is terrible and I find it hard to believe."

At her Grant Heights housing area home, Mrs. Raymond W. Swanson, wife of Capt. Swanson, 6100th Support Wing, heard the news on the Far East Network.

"To say the least I am shocked," she said. "I am appalled that something like this can happen in our nation in this day and time."

Margaret Brown, a secretary at Hq., Fifth Air Force, didn’t know about the assassination until she was asked for her reaction.

"This is just awful. He is such a young man and someone we all admire. How horrible."

The wife of the Yokota AB Methodist Chaplain, Mrs. A. D. Cockburn said her husband had left the house early to play golf and had not yet heard the news. But she had.

"A friend of mine called at 7:50 a.m. and told me about it. I have been in a state of shock since. When my friend told me Kennedy was dead and shot in the head, I told her ’Oh yes’m Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that.’ But when she said `No. Mary. It’s true,’ then I believed it. I told her to get down on her knees and pray for Lyndon B. Johnson."

Chaplain (Cdr.) Richard G. Hutcheson; senior Protestant Chaplain at U.S. Fleet Activities, Yokosuka said he heard the news and was "terribly shocked about it." "It’s terribly hard to believe. We re going to include memorial prayers in our services tomorrow."

Chaplain (Lt.) Leonard S. Cahan, Jewish chaplain, staff commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, had not heard the news, When informed by Pacific Stars and Stripes he said after a long, pause:

"The cause of brotherhood has been given a devastating blow. President Kennedy, went far beyond the normal duties of his office in this respect. It’s very ironic that in almost a century apart the two presidents who did the most to promote the emancipation, of peoples in our country should meet similar fates."