PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
ON THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
_County of Northampton, ss_:
I, Richard Dennis Call, R. D. 1, Hellertown, Pennsylvania, being first
duly sworn, depose and say:
That I served in the United States Marine Corps from September,
1956, to December, 1959. From December, 1958, to December, 1959,
I was stationed with Marine Air Control Squadron #9, Lighter Than
Air Station, Santa Ana, California. During this time I made the
acquaintance of Lee Harvey Oswald. I lived in the ensign hut next to,
and was on the same radar crew as, Oswald. I estimate that I talked
to some extent with Oswald each day during the period that we were
stationed together.
It was very difficult to evaluate Oswald's personality because he never
talked about his life prior to joining the Marine Corps or about what
he did while in the Marine Corps. Although by the usual standards I was
just an acquaintance of Oswald, I probably was one of his best friends.
Oswald once dated an airline stewardess who was learning Russian.
Oswald spent a great deal of time reading. I do not remember what he
read, because he never talked about it. He also spent a great deal of
time playing chess. I played chess with him about once a week; we were
of approximately equal ability.
Although members of the unit often had discussions on foreign affairs,
Oswald seldom, if ever, participated.
During this time, Oswald was studying Russian. For this reason many
members of the unit kidded him about being a Russian spy; Oswald seemed
to enjoy this sort of remark. At that time I had a phonograph record of
Russian classical pieces entitled "Russian Fireworks." When I would
play this record, Oswald would come over to me and say "You called?"
I had a chess set which contained red and white chessmen; Oswald
always chose the red chessmen, making some remark to the effect that
he preferred the "Red Army." In connection with this general joking
about Oswald's interest in Russian, he was nicknamed "Oswaldskovich."
However, I do not recall Oswald's making serious remarks with regard to
the Soviet Union or Cuba.
On one occasion, Oswald remarked to me that he had been awarded a
scholarship to Albert Schweitzer University and that he planned to
attend, remarking that they taught English at Schweitzer.
I believe Oswald generally remained on the post; I do not remember
anyone's going on liberty with him. Sometimes he and I went to the base
movie theatre.
Oswald was not enthusiastic about his job, and performed about as well
as the average radar operator.
Although I sometimes observed Oswald drinking in the Enlisted Men's
Club, I do not remember his ever becoming intoxicated.
Oswald complained about the orders he was given, but no more than
did the average Marine. However, it was my opinion that the Staff
Non-Commissioned Officers did not think of Oswald as capable. In my
opinion, this attitude was a result of the fact that Oswald did not try
to hide his lack of enthusiasm.