Mr. RANKIN. You say when the school authorities asked you, you sort of
went along with it. What do you mean by that?
Mrs. OSWALD. When the lady called me and said that, "I understand you
are leaving town, Mrs. Oswald."
Mr. RANKIN. What did you say?
Mrs. OSWALD. Well, because there was a switchboard, and my job was in
jeopardy, I don't know the exact words, but I said--I had to be kind of
vague about it and not discuss it. I knew I wasn't leaving town, sir.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you tell her you were not?
Mrs. OSWALD. No, I don't think I told her. But I had to be very--I
would lose my job if they thought I was leaving town. It was news to me.
So Lee that afternoon, from school, came into Kreeger's Specialty Shop
where I was working and said, "Mother. I want to join the Marines, and
I have quit school."
Now, Mr. Kreeger--and he may be leaving--Mr. Frank Kreeger who is owner
of Kreeger's Specialty Shop, and all of the personnel there--this is a
very small shop, and Miss Lillian, who was manager, knows of this. I
became very excited and I started to cry. And they let me go home with
Lee.
So Lee was determined at age 16--his birthday was going to be October
18th, right--and this was October 7th--was going to join the Marines.
So what Lee wanted me to do was falsify his birth certificate, which I
would not do. And he kept after me, like a boy.
Now, this is a normal boy, wanting to join the Marines.
"I don't see why you don't just put that I am 17 years old."