Mr. Jenner. But during all of the period, from the divorce of your mother and Mr. Ekdahl, proceeding from that time forward, she again returned to what she had been doing prior to the marriage—that is, working to sustain the family?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; that is correct.
Mr. Jenner. And if I may use the expression you did, Lee was left to shift for himself during the daytime, get to school, get back to school, and be around until either you boys returned to the home or your mother returned to the home?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; that is correct.
Mr. Jenner. Because he didn't have anybody particularly assigned or who undertook to care for him?
Mr. Oswald. No, sir.
I might say you mentioned "you boys." Of course at this time John was in the Coast Guard, so it was either myself or my mother.
Mr. Jenner. And particularly during the year you were employed at the A&P, and your mother was also employed, then certainly during that period there was no one even available to take care of him, is that correct?
Mr. Oswald. That is correct.
Mr. Jenner. What were your hours?
Mr. Oswald. My hours varied somewhat. We had different types of shifts for different days. Normally perhaps from 7 to 4 or 5 o'clock, and on the weekends—stock day was Wednesday, when all shipments came in, to restock the store. That was Wednesday and Saturday. Usually they were long days. I worked from 7 o'clock to 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock at night. And on Saturdays practically always after the store was closed, we did the cleanup, and rewaxing the floors and sometimes it was anywhere from 10 to 10:30 at night, and perhaps even 11 o'clock before I was home.
Mr. Dulles. Did Lee's school at that time keep him until about 4 o'clock, do you know?
Mr. Oswald. I believe, sir, that would be—he was, of course, at that time, attending West Ridglea Elementary School. I believe it would be about 3 o'clock, because I believe high school at that time—we were getting out at 3:40. And I believe the elementary school was either 40 minutes or an hour earlier.
Mr. Jenner. You attended Arlington Heights High School for the school year '51-'52?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; that is correct.
Mr. Jenner. And what about the year '52-'53?
Mr. Oswald. July 1952 I joined the Marine Corps.
Mr. Jenner. And in July 1952, when you joined the Marine Corps, what do you recall was your status as far as your schooling was concerned?
Mr. Oswald. I completed my junior year in high school.
Mr. Dulles. Did you enlist for 3 years?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.
Mr. Jenner. And your brother was still in the Coast Guard?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir; he was still in the Coast Guard at that time.
Mr. Jenner. And, at that time, I take it your brother Lee was attending Arlington Heights High School? That would be 1952?
Mr. Oswald. Just a minute, please.
In 1952 Lee was 13 years old. He would be attending W. C. Stripling Junior High School then.
Mr. Jenner. I see. For the school year 1951–52?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir. Junior high school there was from the seventh to the ninth grades. And as soon as he was through with his sixth year, he started attending W. C. Stripling Junior High School.
Mr. Jenner. As soon as he finished the sixth year at Ridglea Elementary School, he entered W. C. Stripling High School, as a seventh grader?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir—junior high school.
Mr. Jenner. Now, the condition that you described as to Lee shifting for himself during the daytime, when your mother was away working and you were away working, and your brother John was in the Coast Guard, continued, I take it, when he began attendance and while he was attending W. C. Stripling Junior High School?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.
Mr. Jenner. Was there a discussion, a family discussion when you enlisted in the Marines, or prior to your enlisting in the Marines, as to your doing so, and quitting high school?
Mr. Oswald. No, sir; there was not.
Mr. Jenner. That was of your own volition?
Mr. Oswald. Yes, sir.
Mr. Jenner. Did you talk to your mother in advance about it?
Mr. Oswald. No, sir.
Mr. Jenner. Not at all?
Mr. Oswald. No, sir.
Mr. Jenner. Had anything preceded in the way of family discussion of your brother John's entry into the Coast Guard?
Mr. Oswald. I feel like it was, sir. He had previously——
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.