PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
STATE OF TEXAS
_County of Lubbock, ss_:
I, Mack Osborne, 2816 43rd Street, Lubbock, Texas, being first duly
sworn, depose and say:
That while I was in the United States Marine Corps, I served in Marine
Air Control Squadron 9 in Santa Ana, California, with Lee Harvey
Oswald. Prior to his discharge, I shared a room with him.
Oswald was at that time studying Russian. He spent a great deal of his
free time reading papers printed in Russian--which I believe he bought
in Los Angeles--with the aid of a Russian-English dictionary. I believe
he also had some books written in Russian, although I do not remember
their names.
I once asked Oswald why he did not go out in the evening like the other
men. He replied that he was saving his money, making some statement
to the effect that one day he would do something which would make him
famous. In retrospect, it is my belief--although he said nothing to
this effect--that he had his trip to Russia in mind when he made this
statement.
Although Oswald did not directly talk back to his superiors, he did
the tasks assigned him poorly and complained about them to his fellow
Marines.
My recollection is that Oswald was a radar operator of average ability.
Although he was personally clean, he scored quite poorly on barracks
inspections.
Although Oswald was not openly hostile to his fellow Marines, when they
asked him to participate in their activities, he would refuse, stating
that he had something else to do. He thereby encouraged others to leave
him alone.
Oswald drank only in clubs located on the post. He explained to me
that he did not drink off the post because while stationed in Japan,
he had been court-martialed for hitting a sergeant with a beer bottle.
I do not recall his having any fights while at Santa Ana. However, I
remember Oswald's telling me of a fight with a brig guard, as well as
of the fight with the sergeant, in Japan.
I do not recall Oswald's studying either Spanish or German. I do not
recall any remarks on his part concerning Communism, Russia, or Cuba.
Because of the fact that he was studying Russian, fellow Marines
sometimes jokingly accused him of being a Russian spy. In my opinion he
took such accusations in fun.
Although I did not regard Oswald as particularly intelligent, I got the
idea that he thought he was intelligent and tried verbally to suggest
to others that he was.
Oswald read a great deal, although I do not remember what sort of
books he read. He also watched television and played chess. I have no
recollection of any interest in music on his part. Although he would
discuss religion with others, he was noncommital as to his own opinions.
Oswald seldom, if ever, went out with women. I suspect that this was
part of his program on saving money. He seldom left the post, although
sometimes when I returned from weekends, he would tell me that he had
been to Los Angeles--implying that he had simply gone to break the
monotony.
I do not recall Oswald's having any nicknames. He was simply called
"Oswald" or--by those who knew him well--"Lee Harvey".