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

Military Discharge Status Inquiries

Late in January, Oswald received a letter from his mother stating he had been given a dishonorable discharge from the Marines (it was actually “undesirable,” a less derogatory characterization), reviving his fear of prosecution. On January 30, he wrote to his brother for more information and to John B. Connally, Jr., then Governor of Texas, whom he mistakenly believed was still Secretary of the Navy, asking him to look into the discharge as a “gross mistake or injustice” to a “boni-fied U.S. citizen and ex-service man.” Connally referred the letter to the Department of the Navy, which replied that no change in the undesirable discharge was contemplated. On March 22, Oswald wrote insisting on a full review; the Department replied that it had no authority to hear such petitions and referred him to the Navy Discharge Review Board. Oswald completed the enclosed application in Minsk but did not mail it until after returning to the United States.

Final Soviet Departure and Travel Arrangements

On May 10, the Embassy wrote that everything was in order and suggested Oswald bring his family to sign final papers. He was discharged from the factory around May 18. He picked up his Soviet exit visa on May 22 and had an interview with an MVD official for final departure clearance. By May 24, the Oswalds had arrived in Moscow and completed documents at the American Embassy, with Marina receiving her U.S. visa. On June 1, Oswald signed a promissory note for a repatriation loan of $435.71. The family boarded a train for Holland, passing through Minsk that night, and crossed the Soviet frontier at Brest on June 2. Two days later, they departed Holland on the SS Maasdam.