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Warren Commission Hearings: Vol. VIII - Page 278« Previous | Next »

(Testimony of Daniel Patrick Powers)

Mr. Powers.
normal individual was doing at that time. I can't recall what would substantiate that in my mind; it just stuck in my mind that he did some reading, or all during this period of time that he was an individual that, rather than play poker or go out on liberty, he was just as well content to stay and read a book or things of this nature, and this may be that he was outside of the group and he did this to----
Mr. Jenner.
You mentioned poker, so I assume that you played poker on the trip over?
Mr. Powers.
I don't play. I don't play cards.
Mr. Jenner.
Well, were there poker games, however, on the way over?
Mr. Powers.
I imagine there was. There was card games to some nature, whether it was poker or something, I don't know. To be truthful, I don't recall.
Mr. Jenner.
Did Oswald engage in the card games whenever there were----
Mr. Powers.
I don't know; I don't recall.
Mr. Jenner.
Do you recall whether he did any gambling?
Mr. Powers.
I don't recall; no, sir.
Mr. Jenner.
Anything else that you recall occurred on this ship, either something that occurred or impressions that you have or now have of this man during this period of time?
Mr. Powers.
No.
Mr. Jenner.
For the purpose of perhaps refreshing your recollection, was there an occasion in which he made some comment that "All the Marine Corps did was to teach you to kill," and after you got out of the Marines, you might be good gangsters?
Mr. Powers.
Yes; he made that statement. Now, whether it was at this particular period of time or not, I'm not sure.
Mr. Jenner.
You do recall that he made that statement?
Mr. Powers.
That statement was made and I think it was--he was probably parroting somebody else that made the statement previously. And I think it was this was a common statement, but as I recall, he---he did say this.
Mr. Jenner.
Yes.
Mr. Powers.
But now when we were playing chess at one period of time, whether it was on the ship or not, I'm not sure, possibly it could have been in Japan, but it would most likely have been on that ship.
Mr. Jenner.
I take it, however, that this you might classify as some griping----
Mr. Powers.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Over the Marines?
Mr. Powers.
This would be normal.
Mr. Jenner.
Or something similar?
Mr. Powers.
You wouldn't attach any significance to it. Someone would say, "The Marine Corps stinks," or something of this type, and whether one individual said it or another, you wouldn't attach any significance to it.
Mr. Jenner.
I see.
Atsugi is about 35 miles from Tokyo, isn't it?
Mr. Powers.
Yes; it is.
Mr. Jenner.
When you reached Atsugki, what was your assignment?
Mr. Powers.
We were assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron No. 1, and assigned to crews within this squadron.
Mr. Jenner.
Did you have some abbreviation for that?
Mr. Powers.
MACS 1, M-A-C-S 1.
Mr. Jenner.
And you were headquartered at the naval air station at Atsugi, Japan?
Mr. Powers.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Jenner.
Oswald--what did he serve as? I mean, was he a radar operator?
Mr. Powers.
I assume he was a radar operator. From here I lost almost total contact with the individual other than just seeing him. I played football during the fall and during this period of time we would play, we played in the bowl games, and the squadron went down to the Philippines, and I stayed in Japan.
Mr. Jenner.
You didn't go to the Philippines?
Mr. Powers.
I did at a later date, but when the rest of the squadron went
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