Mr. JENNER. This is your best recollection?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
He had previously, before going into the Coast Guard, joined the Marine
Corps Reserve, the base of which was, at that time, at Grand Prairie,
Tex. I believe it was 105 Howitzer, something like that. And he was
perhaps in that 4 or 5 months before he joined the Coast Guard. When it
came up about the Coast Guard, I believe we all talked about it, or at
least he talked to Lee about it in front of me.
Mr. JENNER. You used an expression, "I believe we talked about it." Is
it your recollection that you did?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir. Nothing that I remember particular about that.
Mr. JENNER. What was the character of the discussion, Mr. Oswald? You
had a family in which your mother was having some difficulty supporting
you boys? You had a brother who needed to be supported. Was there any
discussion--or was there a discussion of what would happen in the event
that first John and then you joined the service?
Mr. OSWALD. I believe reflecting on what mother said to me when I made
my decision to join the Marine Corps was that perhaps it was the best
thing, where I would not be a burden to her to that extent, and also
perhaps be able to help her when she needed help. And I think this
would be in line with what was said when John left for the Coast Guard,
that this would be, of course, one less for her to take care of at the
house, to feed and to clothe, and so forth. And it would relieve her of
her responsibility along that line--it would help her, because of the
limited amount of funds that she had coming in.
Mr. JENNER. Did you ever make an allotment of any portion of your
service pay to your mother?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; I did not.
Mr. JENNER. To your knowledge, did John?
Mr. OSWALD. No, sir; he did not.
Mr. JENNER. You were single at this time?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
Mr. JENNER. Your brother John was?
Mr. OSWALD. 1952?
Mr. JENNER. When he entered the Coast Guard.
Mr. OSWALD. When he entered the Coast Guard he was single.
Mr. JENNER. Did he marry while he was in the service?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir; he did.
Mr. JENNER. Now, was he in the Coast Guard when he married?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir; he was.
Mr. JENNER. I take it he did leave the Coast Guard.
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir; he has.
Mr. JENNER. And did he enter into military service when he left the
Coast Guard?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir; he did. He transferred from the Coast Guard into
the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. JENNER. And when was that?
Mr. OSWALD. I believe this to be around 1955. I believe it would be
accurate to say in 1954. I do recall a letter from John to the extent
that he lost a stripe when he transferred from one service to the
other, and I believe this letter came to me when I was in Korea, which
was 1954 and early '55. I believe it was 1954.
Mr. JENNER. When you were in Korea, did you say?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
Mr. JENNER. When did you say, if you did, that your brother John
married? Do you recall the year?
Mr. OSWALD. I believe this would be late 1950 or '51.
Mr. JENNER. That was during the period you were working at the A&P?
Mr. OSWALD. Yes, sir.
Mr. JENNER. And where was he stationed at that time?
Mr. OSWALD. New York City.
Mr. JENNER. Staten Island, I guess.
I would like to ask some questions about that later on, but I prefer
now to return to this.
You enlisted in the Marines, then, in the summer of 1952.
Mr. OSWALD. July 11, 1952.
Mr. JENNER. Would you give us in very short compass your military
career?
Mr. OSWALD. I went to boot camp at San Diego, Calif., and from San
Diego I went to combat training at Camp Pendleton, Calif. When I left
Camp Pendleton, I was transferred from the infantry into the Marine Air
Wing.
I went to Jacksonville, Fla. to a preparatory school down there in
Marine aviation--more or less to determine your ability and what your
strong points were, and what field you would be best qualified in the
aviation division.
From Jacksonville, Fla., I went into Millington, Tenn., right outside
of Memphis, Tenn., a Navy school, where for approximately 6 months I
attended metalsmith school.
From Memphis, Tenn., or Millington, Tenn., I went to Miami, Fla. for
approximately 9 months. I was not in school any longer. I was on the
job. And from Miami, I was sent overseas to Korea.
Mr. JENNER. And how long were you overseas?
Mr. OSWALD. Approximately 18 months, sir.
Mr. JENNER. From when to when?
Mr. OSWALD. I reported to Santa Ana, Calif. in January or February of
1954.