PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
_County of San Benito, ss_:
I, James Anthony Botelho, 820 West Alisal Street, Salinas, California,
being first duly sworn, depose and say:
That I served in the United States Marine Corps from January 8, 1957,
to January 8, 1960. I served with Lee Harvey Oswald from about March
to September 1959, while we were both attached to Marine Air Control
Squadron No. 9, Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana, California.
Oswald once mentioned to me that he would like to go to Cuba to train
Castro's troops because of the money he would earn.
I shared a room with Oswald for approximately two months prior to his
discharge. He was unusual in that he generally would not speak unless
spoken to, and his answers were always brief. He seldom associated with
others.
Oswald subscribed to a newspaper printed in Russian, which I believe
he said was published in San Francisco. It was common knowledge that
Oswald had taught himself to speak Russian. Oswald used expressions
like "da" and "niet" around the squadron. Some of his fellow Marines
kidded him by calling him "Oswaldskovich". Once, when I called him
up "Oswald", he requested in a serious vein, that I refer to him as
"Oswaldskovich". At times Oswald referred, seemingly seriously, to
"American capitalist warmongers."
At times I discussed Communism and Russia with Oswald. My impression is
that although he believed in pure Marxist theory, he did not believe in
the way Communism was practiced by the Russians. I was quite surprised
when I learned that Oswald had gone to Russia.
Generally, Oswald's uniforms were clean but not neat; they were either
unironed or sloppily ironed.
As far I know, Oswald seldom left the post. On one occasion he and I
went to a movie in Santa Ana; on other occasions we walked around Santa
Ana.
Although Oswald did a good deal of reading, I do not remember what
sort of books he read. We both enjoyed classical music. I still have
some of the classical records we purchased together. I recall that he
particularly enjoyed Tchaikovsky's "Russian War Dance". Oswald played
chess with both me and Call. Oswald was not a very good chess player,
although he was better than I was.
It was my impression that Oswald was quite intelligent. He performed
his job no better and no worse than the average Marine; he made no
effort to obtain perfection. His superiors had to "keep after him"
in order to get him to finish the job he had been assigned. This
surveillance made him all the more belligerent. In my opinion, one was
likely to get better results from him by treating him politely.
I do not recall Oswald's engaging in any fights, except for
nonbelligerent recreation around the barracks.
It is my impression that Oswald's clearance was taken away from him;
for this reason, I believe he was made company clerk at Santa Ana.
I believe that before Oswald requested his hardship discharge, the
Sergeant Major was planning to take steps to "straighten Oswald out."
Although Oswald may have drunk at times, I never observed him to be
intoxicated.
I do not remember Oswald's studying Spanish or German nor do I recall
any remarks concerning his religious beliefs.
I remember Oswald's having a date with a girl who spoke Russian. I
believe Oswald liked the girl a great deal, but he was for some reason
unable to get in touch with her thereafter. I have no recollection of
his receiving any visitors.
Signed this 3d day of June 1964, at San Juan Bautista, Calif.
(S) James Anthony Botelho,
JAMES ANTHONY BOTELHO.