Jacksonville Aviation Training and Security Clearance
On March 18, Oswald reported to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended the Aviation Fundamental School for 6 weeks, receiving basic instruction including radar theory, map reading, and air traffic control procedures. Both this course and his next assignment at Keesler required handling confidential material. He was granted final clearance to the “confidential” level on May 3 after local records disclosed no derogatory data. He completed the course the same day, ranking 46th in a class of 54, and was promoted to private first class effective May 1. He received ratings of 4.7 in conduct and 4.5 in proficiency, the highest ratings he ever attained.
Keesler Air Force Base Radar Operator Training
Oswald left for Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, the day his course was completed, traveling with a group of six marines led by Pfc. Daniel P. Powers. At Keesler he attended the Aircraft Control and Warning Operator Course, covering aircraft surveillance and radar use. Powers remembered Oswald as “a somewhat younger individual, less matured than the other boys” who was normally outside the group, noting his nickname was “Ozzie Rabbit.” Oswald generally stayed to himself, often reading, did not play cards or work out with others, and spent weekends alone, possibly returning to New Orleans. He finished the course seventh in a class of 30 marines on June 17 and was assigned MOS Aviation Electronics Operator on June 25. He went on leave June 20, possibly visiting his mother, and received ratings of 4.2 in conduct and 4.5 in proficiency, which Powers thought was “pretty good.”
Deployment to Japan and MACS-1 Assignment
On July 9, Oswald reported at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, California, classified as a replacement trainee in the Fourth Replacement Battalion. On August 22, he departed San Diego for Yokosuka, Japan, aboard the U.S.S. Bexar. During the voyage, he taught Powers to play chess and they played frequently, sometimes more than four hours a day. Oswald read extensively; Powers recalled he read “a good type of literature,” particularly Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” The Bexar docked at Yokosuka on September 12, and Oswald was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron No. 1 (MACS-1), Marine Air Group 11, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Atsugi about 20 miles west of Tokyo. As a radar operator in the less-than-100-man squadron, his function was to direct aircraft to their targets by radar via radio communication with pilots, and to scout for incoming foreign aircraft such as straying Russian or Chinese planes for interception.
chapter II. With the assistance of Agent in Charge Sorrels of the
Chapter II covers Lee Harvey Oswald’s Marine Corps service from his overseas deployment in Japan through his discharge, focusing on disciplinary incidents (a locker shooting and two courts-martial), his deployment to the Philippines with MACS-1, his reassignment to the radar crew at El Toro, his growing interest in Russia and Marxist ideology, his application to Albert Schweitzer College, and the circumstances of his dependency discharge and subsequent undesirable discharge from the Marine Corps Reserve.
Accidental Locker Shooting and Hospitalization
On October 27, while opening his locker to remove gear, Oswald dropped a derringer .22 caliber pistol, which discharged and struck him in the left elbow. Fellow marine Paul Edward Murphy, in the next cubicle, heard the shot and found Oswald sitting on the locker calmly stating, “I believe I shot myself.” Oswald remained in the naval hospital at Yokosuka until November 15.
First Court-Martial for Unregistered Firearm
The Judge Advocate General concluded that Oswald had displayed “a certain degree of carelessness or negligence” by storing a loaded revolver in his locker, but that his injury was incurred “in the line of duty” and not due to his own misconduct. He was charged with possession of an unregistered privately owned weapon in violation of general orders. Following a court-martial on April 11, 1958, Oswald was sentenced to confinement at hard labor for 20 days, forfeiture of $25 per month for two months, and reduction to the grade of private. The confinement was suspended for six months, after which it was to be remitted.
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