New York Family Conflict and Bronx Relocation
The New York visit began well, with John taking leave to show Lee the city, including the Museum of Natural History and a Staten Island ferry ride. The atmosphere soured as Mrs. Oswald quarreled frequently with John’s wife, contributed nothing toward her and Lee’s support, and was seen by John’s wife as setting Lee against her. The visit ended when Lee threatened Mrs. Pic with a pocket knife during a quarrel, and Lee also hit his mother, permanently destroying his good relationship with John. Mrs. Oswald and Lee moved to a one-room basement apartment at 1455 Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx; he had been enrolled at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School but was withdrawn on September 26 after irregular attendance and enrolled at Public School 117 four days later. After moves to 825 East 179th Street and various jobs including Martin’s Department Store and a hosiery chain, Lee was registered at Public School 117 until January 16, 1953, having been present only 15 full and 2 half days out of 64, receiving failing grades in most courses.
Lee’s Truancy and 1953 Judicial Proceedings
Lee’s truancy increased after the move to the Public School 44 district, where he refused to attend; an attendance officer found him at the Bronx Zoo, clean and well-dressed but surly. Several truancy hearings in January led to a decision to begin judicial proceedings if truancy continued. Mrs. Oswald called the Community Service Society on January 16 seeking help, citing adjustment difficulties, but failed to keep a January 30 appointment, and the case was closed. On March 12, an attendance officer filed a petition alleging excessive absence, refusal to register at Public School 44, and being beyond his mother’s control regarding school attendance; Mrs. Oswald appeared alone in court, reporting Lee refused to appear. Lee registered at Public School 44 on March 23, but on April 16, Justice Delany declared him a truant and remanded him to Youth House until May 7 for psychiatric study.
chapter II. With the assistance of Agent in Charge Sorrels of the
This chapter traces Lee Harvey Oswald’s path from his assessment at Youth House in New York through his time on parole, his return to New Orleans, his schooling, and his enlistment and training in the U.S. Marine Corps, ending with his deployment to Japan. It covers psychological evaluations, court proceedings, failed treatment referrals, the family’s unauthorized move to New Orleans, his years at Beauregard Junior High and Warren Easton High School, various civilian jobs, and his Marine Corps training at San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Jacksonville, and Keesler Air Force Base before assignment to MACS-1 at Atsugi, Japan.
Youth House Assessment and Initial Probation
Lee was assessed at Youth House through a series of tests and interviews conducted by a staff social worker, probation officer, and Dr. Renatus Hartogs, the chief staff psychiatrist. The findings indicated Lee was withdrawn and socially maladjusted, with a mother who showed insufficient interest in his welfare. Mrs. Oswald, who visited and formed a highly unfavorable impression of the facility, opposed institutionalization. Dr. Hartogs recommended probation with referral to a child guidance clinic and urged Mrs. Oswald to contact a family agency, recommending that institutional placement occur only if probation-based treatment failed.
Failed Community Treatment Referrals
The probation officer’s same-day referral to the Community Service Society was rejected due to the agency’s full caseload and the intensive treatment Lee would require; the society confirmed this and closed the case on May 31. A parallel application to the Salvation Army was also declined because it could not provide the needed services.
New York Seventh Grade Performance and Brother’s Visit
Lee attended school regularly during the remaining weeks of the term and completed the seventh grade with low but passing marks in all academic subjects, though he failed a home economics course. His conduct was generally satisfactory, and he was rated outstanding in “Social-Participation.” He belonged to a model airplane club and had a special interest in horseback riding. That summer, his brother Robert visited New York while on leave from the Marines; Robert did not perceive Lee as unhappy or behaving abnormally, and did not observe strain between Lee and his mother. Mrs. Oswald mentioned Lee’s court appearance only in passing.
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