ColonelFolsom. This is correct.
However, there appears to be an error here, since the original sentence was for 20 days, and not 28 days, as shown under the subject entry.
Mr.Ely. Right.
So I suppose we have a typographical error, substituting 28 for 20 and we also have a misleading sentence in that it implies that the sentence was vacated rather than that the suspension of the sentence was vacated.
ColonelFolsom. This is correct.
Mr.Ely. However, Colonel, what did happen is that when he was court-martialed the second time, they then sentenced him to both the sentence for the second court-martial and at that time gave him the sentence that he received in connection with the first court-martial?
ColonelFolsom. Well, that portion of it—unexecuted portion of the first sentence.
Mr.Ely. That is correct. Thank you.
On page 9 of the exhibit we have some records relating to the second court-martial. At this point, again, I think the page is in general self-explanatory. However, under the section marked "Findings" on each charge, and specifications, there is the notation that on Charge II he was found not guilty, and then it goes on to say, "On specification of" Charge I. Am I correct in thinking that is a typographical error and that it should be that on the specification of Charge II, he was found not guilty?
ColonelFolsom. That is correct.
Mr.Ely. So the record should read, on page 9, that Oswald was found guilty on Charge I, which was a violation of Article 117 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Similarly he was found guilty on the specification under Charge I, which was wrongfully using provoking words to a staff noncommissioned officer. However, on Charge II, which was a violation of Article 128 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he was found not guilty, and he was similarly found not guilty on the specification of that charge which was assaulting a staff noncommissioned officer by pouring a drink on him.
ColonelFolsom. This is correct.
Mr.Ely. Turning now to page 10 of the exhibit, the title of which is "Administrative Remarks" I note entries dated April 14, 1958, indicating that a request for an extension of Oswald's overseas tour had been received and approved.
Must such a request come from the marine whose overseas tour is involved?
ColonelFolsom. Yes. This must be a voluntary request from the individual concerned.
Mr.Ely. In other words, then, Oswald wanted to stay overseas longer than he was scheduled to have been over there?
ColonelFolsom. Yes.
Mr.Ely. I note, also, on page 10 that this extension which had been approved was later canceled, on July 13, 1958.
Is there any way of determining from this record what the reason for this cancellation was?
ColonelFolsom. No; other than knowledge of the system, which indicates that the local commander withdrew his approval of the extension as a result of the disciplinary action.
Mr.Ely. So we might guess that because this followed his second court-martial, that was the reason?
ColonelFolsom. Yes; and it followed it very closely.
Mr.Ely. Now, we will move all the way over to page 26, and I want to ask you about only one entry here—actually it is two entries relating to one event.
On January 19, 1959, the record discloses that Oswald departed El Toro for Yuma, Arizona, and that on January 26, 1959, he returned to El Toro from Yuma.
Is there any way of telling from this record for what purpose he went to Yuma?
ColonelFolsom. Yes. The record shows that he departed MCS, MCAS, El Toro, for ADEX, 1-59, which is a designation for an air defense exercise, the first one held during 1959.
Mr.Ely. Turning to page 27, I just want to clear up one detail that might be confusing to somebody who has been in the Army rather than in the Marine Corps.
It is here noted that Oswald was, at least for part of his career, private, first class, and at the same time his pay grade was "E-2". Am I correct in asserting that in the Marine Corps a private is an E-1, a private first class is an E-2, your E-3 is a lance corporal, and your E-4 is a corporal?
ColonelFolsom. This is correct. This is under the new rank structure.
Mr.Ely. Turning now to page 36 of Folsom Deposition Exhibit 1, I want to ask you about only one abbreviation here. This is one that is indicated for both the periods June 27, 1958 through June 30, 1959 and July 1, 1958 through July 24, 1958. It is an abbreviated CNF SSCM. What does that stand for?
ColonelFolsom. Confined, serving sentence—it should be summary court-martial, but let me look at the record.
Mr.Ely. You mean there should be three "S's"?
ColonelFolsom. I just want to be sure somebody didn't goof and ring a special in here.
Yes—serving sentence, summary court-martial.
Mr.Ely. Turning now to page 106 of the exhibit, we have here a document relating to the high school level general educational development tests which were taken by Oswald on March 23, 1959. Page 106 reports the scores received by Oswald on each of these five tests, and also converts each score into a so-called United States percentile.
However, it does not make clear what the five areas in which Oswald was tested were. Could you tell us what they are?
ColonelFolsom. Yes. The high school "GED" test covers five areas. One, English literature; two, English composition; three, social sciences; four, physical sciences; five, mathematics.
Mr.Ely. Is it the case that those five that you have just read off were read in the same order as they are numbered on the score sheet?
ColonelFolsom. Yes. The battery is administered in the sequence in which it appears on the report.
Mr.Ely. And am I correct in asserting that on this test Oswald received a rating of satisfactory?
ColonelFolsom. This is correct. I believe USAFI rates as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Mr.Ely. Right.
Well, that is not entirely clear. We have a rating code printed in the lower right-hand corner.
ColonelFolsom. Well, they have two passing ones—satisfactory, and "D" with distinction, and "U", unsatisfactory.
Mr.Ely. So he could have received a higher rating than he did?
ColonelFolsom. This is correct.
Mr.Ely. Finally for this document, turning to page 120, we have a rather imposing score sheet which relates Oswald's scores while he was in training at Jacksonville, Florida. Could you explain the meaning of these numbers insofar as you can?
ColonelFolsom. Well, the first column indicates the number of hours devoted to the subject. In the first instance, 37 hours to mathematics, two examinations were given, he achieved a score of 67 on the first and 54 on the second.
The last—the next column indicates his average score for that subject.
Twenty-five hours physics, score, 75 and 77.
Mr.Ely. Excuse me. Do you know whether those scores you just read are on a scale of 100?
ColonelFolsom. I do not know. But from the mathematics I would assume they are, particularly since they say that 62 is a passing score.
Mr.Ely. I see.
Now, getting back again to the column which is second from the right, which you say represents his average. It is his average on the previous test carried out to three digits without the decimal point.
ColonelFolsom. That is correct. This report was prepared on an electric accounting machine, and is a little difficult to interpret.
Mr.Ely. Yes. But I do see that that makes sense in terms of the individual scores.
ColonelFolsom. Do you want to go through all of these?
Mr.Ely. No; I don't think that will be necessary, now that you have explained the principle by which the scores are recorded.
ColonelFolsom. Under the heading "Indoctrination Test Scores" this is a test, an Army test battery, which in this instance was administered by the Marine Corps at a Navy installation. It consists of a reading and vocabulary, arithmetic computation, arithmetical reasoning, and pattern analysis. The "GC" is an abbreviation for "GCT".
These are raw scores.
Mr.Ely. The ones designated RV, AC, AR, and PA?
ColonelFolsom. And the scores indicated are raw scores, which converted to the Marine Corps scoring on the general classification test shows that Oswald achieved a score of 105 on this test battery, and a score of 106 on the Marine Corps test batter. So the correlation is quite close.
The column headed "B" indicates year of birth. And the "G" column indicates the number of years of schooling—in this case, nine.
Mr.Ely. All right.
Colonel, I would finally like to show you a document which has already been introduced in evidence before the Commission in connection with the testimony of Marguerite Oswald. It is, therefore, designated Exhibit 239.
This exhibit is a photostatic copy.
Could you tell us, Colonel, of what it is a photostatic copy?
ColonelFolsom. It is a Photostatic copy of the U.S. Marine Corps Scorebook for use with the U.S. Rifle, Caliber 30 M-1.
Now, this scorebook is issued to each individual at each time they are sent on the rifle range for qualification or requalification.
They are maintained by the individual and are used to provide the individual with a record of the idiosyncracies of the weapon, and the weather on the day that the entries are made. This is referred to in the Marine Corps as the zero of the rifle, because the sight settings are individual characteristics of the particular rifle used. That is, he may—this rifle may require a half a point more windage under the same wind velocity than another rifle, and that the scale by yards may require adjustment depending upon the range that is being fired.
Mr.Ely. This book, then, is used by the individual Marine prior to his firing for record in order that he can zero his weapon so that he will do well on his record firing?
ColonelFolsom. This is the purpose. And it should be maintained even on the day that he fires for record.
In this particular record, it would appear that the entries were rather limited. As a matter of fact, it was not adequately maintained for the purpose for which it was designed.
Mr.Ely. Is it possible, Colonel, to tell anything from this scorebook, assuming for the moment that it was accurately maintained, concerning the marksmanship of Lee Harvey Oswald?
ColonelFolsom. Well, yes. But very generally. For instance, at 200 yards slow fire—on Tuesday, at 200 yards slow fire, offhandposition——
Mr.Ely. You are referring, are you not, to the page designated 22 in Oswald's scorebook?
ColonelFolsom. Right—well, 22 as opposed to 23. He got out in the three ring, which is not good. They should be able to keep them—all 10 shots within the four ring.
Mr.Ely. And even if his weapon needed a great deal of adjustment in terms of elevation or windage, he still would have a closer group than that if he were a good shot?
ColonelFolsom. Yes. As a matter of fact, at 200 yards, people should get a score of between 48 and 50 in the offhand position.
Mr.Ely. And what was his score?
ColonelFolsom. Well, total shown on page 22 would be—he got a score of 34 out of a possible 50 on Tuesday, as shown on page 22 of his record book.
On Wednesday, he got a score of 38, improved four points.
Do you want to compute these?
Mr.Ely. I don't see any point in doing this page by page.
I just wonder, after having looked through the whole scorebook, if we could fairly say that all that it proves is that at this stage of his career he was not a particularly outstanding shot.
ColonelFolsom. No, no, he was not. His scorebook indicates—as a matter of fact—that he did well at one or two ranges in order to achieve the two points over the minimum score for sharpshooter.
Mr.Ely. In other words, he had a good day the day he fired for qualification?
ColonelFolsom. I would say so.
Mr.Ely. Well, Colonel, as far as I can see, that is all the testimony that we need from you with regard to these records. No doubt there are ambiguities in the records which I have not caught. I have asked you about the ones that seemed most confusing to me.
Can you think of anything else that you would like to add for the record?
ColonelFolsom. No; I believe that the record is rather complete. There are no missing documents from this official record. The photostatic copy contains everything that is in the original record.
And I do not believe that there are any discrepancies, other than those clerical errors which have been noted on such items as the summary court-martial records.
Mr.Ely. But you cannot think of any errors which we did not mention during your testimony today?
ColonelFolsom. No; I do not.
Mr.Ely. All right.
In that case, Colonel, on behalf of the Commission, I want to thank you very much for giving your testimony. It has been very helpful.
The testimony of Captain George Donabedian was taken at 2:15 p.m., on May 1, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C., by Mr. John Hart Ely, member of the staff of the President's Commission.
Mr.Ely. Will you stand and be sworn?
Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
CaptainDonabedian. I do.
Mr.Ely. Please be seated.
My name is John Ely. I am a member of the legal staff of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy.
Staff members have been authorized to take the testimony of witnesses pursuant to authority granted to the Commission by Executive Order No. 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and joint Resolution of Congress No. 137.
Under the Commission's rules, each witness is to be provided with a copy of the Executive order of the joint resolution, and a copy of the rules that the Commission has adopted governing the taking of testimony from witnesses.
Is it correct that I have provided you with copies of these documents?
CaptainDonabedian. Yes.
Mr.Ely. Under the Commission rules, also, each witness is entitled to 3 days' notice before he is required to come and give testimony.
You were not given 3 days' notice.
However, each witness can waive that notice requirement if he wishes, and I assume by your presence that you are willing to waive that notice requirement.
CaptainDonabedian. I do.
Mr.Ely. Would you state your full name, please?
CaptainDonabedian. Captain George Donabedian, Medical Corps, U.S. Navy.
Mr.Ely. And what position exactly do you hold?
CaptainDonabedian. Staff medical officer, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
Mr.Ely. You are an M.D., is that correct?
CaptainDonabedian. Yes; I am.
Mr.Ely. How long have you held the position of staff medical officer?
CaptainDonabedian. Since July 1959.
Mr.Ely. Prior to the assassination of President Kennedy, had you ever heard of Lee Harvey Oswald?
CaptainDonabedian. No; I had not.
Mr.Ely. You, like Lieutenant Colonel Folsom, were called in to give us some help in interpreting the records of Lee Harvey Oswald—in other words, your testimony does not stem from any personal contact with the man.
CaptainDonabedian. Right.
Mr.Ely. I will show you now a document which I have just labeled "Donabedian Deposition Exhibit No. 1."
(The document referred to was marked "Donabedian Deposition Exhibit No. 1" for identification.)
Mr.Ely. Doctor, could you tell us generally what this document is?
CaptainDonabedian. This is taken from the health record of the marine.
Mr.Ely. It is, in other words, a photostaticcopy——
CaptainDonabedian. A photostatic copy of a medical document which each military person has. We have the physical examinations on entrance, and any other illnesses that he may develop during his service, which diseases are recorded and the treatments are recorded, and the inoculations he receives.
Mr.Ely. I have numbered the pages of this exhibit in the upper right-hand corner. Because it was previously part of a larger document, Commission Document 82, the pagination of Donabedian Deposition Exhibit No. 1 runs from 132 through 171.
Doctor, I would like, first, to refer you to an entry made on page 147 of this exhibit, and dated July 12, 1958.
Could you explain it?
CaptainDonabedian. "Bleeding from the rectum. For the past 1 month has noticed bleeding on paper after bowel movement. This a.m., one to two drops bright red blood dropped into stool. Bowel movement light brown and very hard. Examination."
Mr.Ely. The copy at that point becomes illegible.
CaptainDonabedian. "Slight irritation and moderate." Anyway, they gave him treatment with mineral oil.
Mr.Ely. And what was the overall diagnosis?
CaptainDonabedian. Hemorrhoids was the diagnosis.
Mr.Ely. And what did you say the treatment was?
CaptainDonabedian. The treatment was mineral oil, rectal suppository.
Mr.Ely. All right. I would like to show you now an entry which is on page 40, but which is chronologically later than the one to which we just referred, and that is the entrydated——
CaptainDonabedian. 10-6-57. "Urethritis acute. Nonvenereal."
Mr.Ely. Before we get into that, could we discuss the entry of 10-10-58?
CaptainDonabedian. "Sigmoidoscopy." I don't know what this number is, unless the number of the procedure. They discharged this man on 10-13-58.
Mr.Ely. Do you believe that relates to the hemorrhoids?
CaptainDonabedian. He may have had some trouble with the lower bowel, or possibly some more bleeding, and they looked inside the rectum and the sigmoid to determine if there was any cause of the bleeding.
Mr.Ely. I would like at this point to refer you to pages 152 through 156 of this exhibit.
I shall let you proceed to explain what these mean without questioning.
CaptainDonabedian. On 9-10-58, slight burning on urination. "Has urethral discharge."
Mr.Ely. Well, if you cannot read it, there is nopoint——
CaptainDonabedian. Then they took a smear.
Mr.Ely. What is the purpose of a smear?
CaptainDonabedian. A smear is to diagnose the cause of the infection, the cause of the discharge, to see what type of bacteria was present.
And on 9-23-58, report of a urethral discharge sensitivity test. A culture was taken and reported staphylococcal hemolytic. And the sensitivity test to determine what drug we have that will affect that particular bacteria that is causing this. And erythromycin was the drug of choice.
On page 154, on 16 September 58 he evidently went to one of the outlying dispensaries, and they said "Send to the mainside for smear," which means he was sent to the mainside dispensary to get the smear taken.
September 1958, the complaint was urethral discharge. They sent him to the lab for a smear.
And here it says, "Gram negative, diplococci intra- and extra-cellular morphological resembling neisseria gonococci."
Mr.Ely. Could you tell us, Doctor, generally, what that means?
CaptainDonabedian. Well, this resembles the gonococcus bacteria which causes gonorrhea. And it says here morphologically resembling this germ—since the only legal diagnosis would be to have a culture made to prove this or disprove it.
And here for his treatment they gave him penicillin, it looks like 400,000 units, four times a day, for 3 days, and said "Return on Monday in the p.m., for a repeat smear."
Then on September 30, 1958, "Still has profuse discharge, somewhat clearer, received course of penicillin ending 2 days ago."
In other words, he had finished getting his penicillin. So for this profuse discharge, they treated him with chloromycetin capsules, one, four times a day, and return Monday for smear and culture.
Then on September22——
Mr.Ely. I believe the last item was September 20.
CaptainDonabedian. Then September 22, 1958, urethral discharge, and it says "September 23" underneath—"urethral discharge, smear and culture."
The smear showed many pus cells, no organisms noted. The culture showed micrococcus pyogenous vas aurens. This is the type of bacteria that gives a dark-greenish color discharge.
Mr.Ely. Does either the results of the smear or the results of the culture say anything about whether or not Oswald had gonorrhea, or can we tell?
CaptainDonabedian. Not in this one.
The one above here, we assume he had gonorrhea—on the 16th.
Mr.Ely. We would assume he had it, even though, as you pointed out, you could not prove it in court, because it was determined by a smear rather than a culture?
CaptainDonabedian. Most of the doctors use this. They may take a smear, and they find that—intra and extracellular diplococci, they treat the patient for gonorrhea.
Now, the treatment for his micrococcus pyogenous is "continue chloromycetin," I guess it is four times a day. Yes; it was four times a day. And then continue four times a day. And something was given. And they wanted him to return again. I cannot tell what this is. Instructions, probably. Some instructions were given.
On September 29, 1958, the complaint was urethral discharge. They took a smear. And that was—"many pus cells were noted, no organisms were noted."
The note underneath is "good response to therapy, has been doing much heavy lifting." They must have given him light duty for 3 days. "To repeat smear, 1 week."
October 6, 1958, the complaint was urethral discharge. They took a smear. The report was "moderate amount of pus cells, few gram positive cocci."
This is not gonorrhea. "Heavy discharge with occasional burning. Has been doing heavy lifting recently."
"Some heavy discharge with occasional burning of the urination"—although this says dysurea—"has been doing heavy lifting recently."
October 24, 1958, the complaint was urethral discharge, and they gave him pyridium, one tablet five times a day—one gram five times a day.
No—"return in 5 days."
They just gave him pyridium, and "d" means to duty, and return in 5 days.
"Smear, few pus cells, some mucus threads noted, occasional gram positive cocci noted."
The next date is hard to tell. Something—"qid for for 5 days."
The next thing is hard to tell.
Mr.Ely. All right. That entry is illegible.
CaptainDonabedian. Page 156. He was admitted to the sick list, 9-16-58, diagnosis, "urethritis acute due to gonococcus." This is No. 0303. And inhandwriting——
Mr.Ely. That is my handwriting, so we will disregard that.
CaptainDonabedian. The chief complaint is urethral discharge. "Present illness. Patient complains of a slight discharge and a stinging sensation on urination. Past history—previous venereal disease. Physical examination, essentially negative, except for thick mucco burn discharge from the urethra. Laboratory. Smear reveals gram negative intra- and extra-cellular diplococci having a morphology resembling gonorrhea."
Unless they took a culture to grow the germ out, they could not absolutely be certain.
Mr.Ely. You mentioned that under this previous history column it mentioned "previous VD." Does that mean that Oswald had had it prior to this time?
CaptainDonabedian. At another time, in his past, whenever that would be. It could have been while he was in the service, although we didn't notice in these records. But he could have had it before he came in the service. VD could be any venereal disease. There are five different kinds.
Mr.Ely. But you have not seen any reference in his medical records to any prior case during his military career?
CaptainDonabedian. No; except those that we reported within those dates.
Treatment was procaine penicillin, 900,000 units, intramuscularly for 3 days.
Now, you remember when we read the other report it looked like 400,000 units. It is most apt to be 900,000 units.
Mr.Ely. It should be noted page 156 contains typewriting rather than handwriting as the other one did. And I believe this entry on page 156 is something of a summary.
CaptainDonabedian. This is a summary. He was admitted on 9-16-58, and discharged on the same day. But they readmitted these VD cases for statistical purposes, so we can keep track of how many people have been in contact with this. And he was sent to duty under treatment and observation.
Mr.Ely. Would it be fair to say, Doctor, summarizing your testimony as to these few pages, that this looks, as far as we can tell, like a typical case of gonorrhea?
CaptainDonabedian. Yes; it does.
Mr.Ely. Nothing extraordinary about it? But it certainly does seem that he did have gonorrhea at this point?
CaptainDonabedian. Right.
Mr.Ely. These medical records also contain entries relating to the gunshot wound received by Oswald in connection with the .22-caliber pistol he had stored in his footlocker. I believe those entries are self-explanatory. Also, in filling out his own forms on physicals, Oswald made reference to a mastoid operation which he had had when he was a child. This, also, I think, is something we don't have to go into at this point.
Doctor, I will ask you, in conclusion, if you, in looking through his medical records, have noticed anything which we have not mentioned which seems to you extraordinary—anything over and above the normal marine's complaints.
CaptainDonabedian. No; not offhand. He had a sore throat, which many boys have in the service. He had a cold. And he had one other infection, otitis media, in 1957.
Mr.Ely. That reference appears at page 150.
CaptainDonabedian. And they give him penicillin, 600,000 units, 5 days.
I see nothing else.
Mr.Ely. In that case, Doctor, we will thank you very much for helping to explain these records for us.
CaptainDonabedian. Thank you.
The following affidavit was executed by James Anthony Botelho on June 3, 1964.
AFFIDAVIT
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSIONON THE ASSASSINATION OFPRESIDENT 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 theclassical 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.
(S)James Anthony Botelho,James Anthony Botelho.
(S)James Anthony Botelho,James Anthony Botelho.
The following affidavit was executed by Donald Peter Camarata on May 19, 1964.
AFFIDAVIT
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSIONON THE ASSASSINATION OFPRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
State of California,County of Santa Cruz, ss:
I, Donald Peter Camarata, 601 Burlingame Avenue, Capitola, California, being first duly sworn, depose and say:
That Lee Harvey Oswald and I were concurrently stationed at the following military installations while we were both members of the United States Marine Corps: Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi; the Marine Air Stations at El Toro and Santa Ana, California, and possibly the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville, Florida. Although I served in the Far East, Oswald and I were not in the same unit at that time.
While in the Marine Corps, I heard from other Marines that Oswald was studying Russian. I personally observed that Oswald had his name written in Russian on one of his jackets, and played records of Russian songs so loud that one could hear them outside the barracks.
Either en route back to the United States or subsequent to my return, I heard a rumor to the effect that Oswald had been in some way responsible for the death of Martin Schrand. I have no personal knowledge of any such involvement. I do not remember who told me of this rumor, and am not even certain that I heard it from more than one person.
Oswald seldom, if ever, left the post in the company of other Marines. I would not characterize Oswald as an extremely unfriendly person; he simply did not often choose to be with his fellow Marines off post.
Oswald was not particularly prone to fighting. Although he apparently resented the orders of his superiors no more than does the average Marine, he was more outspoken than average in his resentment. However, he generally followed such orders.
Although I have no firm impression of the level of Oswald's intelligence, he was a man who attempted to make other people believe he was intelligent.
I know from rumor that Oswald received a newspaper printed in Russian. I was informed by my fellow Marines that one of his superiors—either the First Sergeant or a Lieutenant—asked Oswald why he read this paper.
I have no recollection of Oswald's studying or speaking either Spanish or German: of any remarks on his part concerning Communism, Russia, or Cuba: of his religious beliefs: of any abnormal attitude toward women on his part; or of his receiving any visitors.
Oswald was nicknamed "Oz".
Signed this 19th day of May, 1964, at Santa Cruz, Calif.
(S)Donald Peter Camarata,Donald Peter Camarata.
(S)Donald Peter Camarata,Donald Peter Camarata.
(S)Donald Peter Camarata,Donald Peter Camarata.
The following affidavit was executed by Peter Francis Connor on May 22, 1964.
AFFIDAVIT
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSIONON THE ASSASSINATION OFPRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
State of Connecticut,County of New Haven, ss:
I, Peter Francis Connor, 27 Flaum Drive, West Haven, Connecticut, being first duly sworn, depose and say:
That, while I was in the Marine Corps, I was stationed at Atsugi, Japan, with Lee Harvey Oswald.
Oswald had the reputation of being a good worker. I observed that he was not personally neat. I remember that while Oswald was in Japan, he wore an expert rifleman's medal.
I never heard Oswald make any anti-American or pro-Communist statements. He claimed to be named after Robert E. Lee, whom he characterized as the greatest man in history.
Although Oswald engaged in several fights—one of them with a Robert Demurs—I have no recollection as to how good a fighter he was.
Oswald did not choose to associate with his fellow Marines, nor did they choose to associate with him. He often responded to the orders of his superiors with insolent remarks.
I have no recollection to how much Oswald drank.
I was of the opinion that Oswald was intelligent. He read a great deal, but I do not remember what sort of books he read.
Oswald was nicknamed "Harv." This was a shortened version of his middle name; for some reason it upset him to be called by it.
I have no recollection concerning Oswald's religious beliefs, his attitude toward women, or what he did off post.
Signed this 22d day of May, 1964, at West Haven, Conn.
(S)Peter Francis Connor,Peter Francis Connor.
(S)Peter Francis Connor,Peter Francis Connor.
(S)Peter Francis Connor,Peter Francis Connor.
The following affidavit was executed by Allen D. Graf on June 15, 1964.
AFFIDAVIT
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSIONON THE ASSASSINATION OFPRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY
State of New York,County of Erie, ss:
I, Allen D. Graf, 31 East Utica Street, Buffalo, New York, being first duly sworn, depose and say:
That I served in the United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. While stationed in California, I was Lee Harvey Oswald's Platoon Sergeant.
Oswald often complained about the Marine Corps; he seemed to me to resent all military authority. He also seemed narrow-minded, refusing to listen to the views of others.
Once, at the rifle range, I had a long discussion with Oswald concerning why he found it difficult to adapt to the Marine Corps. He explained that his mother had had a great deal of trouble during the depression and that when he was young, he had often not had enough to eat. He felt that he had been forced to accept responsibility at a premature age. He remarked that he was tired of being "kicked around."
Oswald never gave to me any indication of favoring Communism or opposing capitalism.
It was difficult to judge the level of Oswald's intelligence, because he seldom stated his opinions. However, with regard to his job in the Marine Corps, Oswald learned quickly.
Oswald went to a great many movies, and did not often engage in sports.
It is my recollection that Oswald enjoyed firing a rifle, and scored in the "high expert" range.
Oswald did not drink excessively, and kept his temper—if indeed he had a temper—in check.
I have no recollection of Oswald's studying foreign languages; of where he went when he had time off; of his reading habits or religious beliefs; or of any nicknames for him. Nor do I remember his having any dates.
Signed this 15th day of June, 1964, at Buffalo, N.Y.