Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Benbrook Residency, Lee’s Early Schooling, and 1946 Mastoidectomy

After John and Robert entered boarding school, the Ekdahls moved to Benbrook, a Fort Worth suburb, living on Granbury Road in a stone or brick house on a large plot. Lee was admitted to the first grade at Benbrook Common School on October 31, with his birth date incorrectly given as July 9, 1939, to meet the age requirement. On February 8, 1946, he was admitted to Harris Hospital in Fort Worth with acute mastoiditis; a mastoidectomy was performed without complications, and he was discharged in four days. Lee later reported an abnormal left eardrum, though a Marine physical a year later found no defects.

Marriage Breakdown, 1946 Separation, and Covington Schooling

The Ekdahls’ marriage quickly broke down, with Marguerite suspecting infidelity before the first year was out, finding Ekdahl stingy, and arguing about his refusal to share money. In summer 1946, she left him, picked up John and Robert from Chamberlain-Hunt, and moved to Covington, Louisiana, at 311 Vermont Street, where they were described as a happy family though Lee kept to himself. After the boys returned to boarding school, Lee enrolled in September at Covington Elementary School, having not completed the first grade at Benbrook despite satisfactory attendance and A’s and B’s.

Reconciliation, Fort Worth Relocation, and 1948 Divorce

Lee received no grades at Covington, from which he was withdrawn on January 23, 1947, after his parents reconciled and moved to Fort Worth at 1505 Eighth Avenue. Four days later, he enrolled at Clayton Public School, completing first grade with B’s except A’s in physical education and health. He entered second grade there in the fall but was withdrawn before grades were recorded as relations deteriorated. Continued arguments and Marguerite’s discovery of Ekdahl with another woman culminated in her ordering him out in January 1948. Ekdahl filed for divorce in March, alleging cruel treatment; the jury found for Ekdahl, and on June 24, the court granted the divorce, returning Marguerite to her former name.