(404-10267-10428 tae MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: “American Defectors to the USSR" | EX +786 5 December 1966 1, The attached material was part of a soft file entitled "American Defectors to the USSR", which was set up by SR/6 ‘(Support) around 1960 and maintained by various SR' components until ca, 1963, The compilations were derived from a variety of sources, and contain both classified and overt data, j | | 2. Inthe fall of 1966, the files were turned over to CI : Staff, In most instances, basic information was then abstracted i for the US Defector Machine Program, Inall instances in which the material was unique, or represented a valuable collation effort, it has been incorporated into the appropriate 201 file, along with a copy of this memorandum, ' FS 3, It is suggested that any dissemination of this data should be coordinated with SB Division and with CI Staff {CI/MRO), in view of the frequently inadequate sourcing and of the fact that disseminations have already been made through the US Defector ' Machine Program, Orig - CI/MRO 1- RID/FI 1- SB/RMO Lb. cuRKAT 1- CI/R&A nL AE Life fe Lf fi? of? bo iL men pews SECRET FAL nf REVIEWED BY FBUJFK TASK. FORCE WW SLLS98 dhe A OS RELEASE IN FULL Cl RELEASE IN PART C TOTAL DENIAL
ry a . 1 vag 2 . : mF PLTATILI Eletfelas (Sicol'ne at birth but never veed), oe 201 -/¢ 13 Febouary 1921, creo’lyn, OY 7 on enget metal vorner, carnentcr, and edt fens, To resid-nee f¢aligy Stream, Lon: Isl. ' * Yorld Viar II. Three years service in airfor ce, including service in india. as enlisted ground cre‘ carpenter, {anE-b “oseaw: Despatch lll, Li Sept 59, attacnead) -, October 1915. Medical discharge, for which he franted and still receiving 30% disalility pension. According to his ow statez:nts, he may have been dis- charred on mental rrounds and may hava had later Psy yehiatric treateent fron. 1945-1953. "For tate Jota years after the war” he was at a trade school in Los anceles. (Unidentified newspaner article dntelined Kescow 5 Sept 59, cited in DEA-64069 of 21.1. 6k, in SRS files) 19 Dec 195). Narried Helen SCHO Siz, born 2910 in “us sia. (68069) 19 Dec $7. Divorce. She residing: Les ingeles’ with for vreyear-old davghter; running candy business. (66069) . 19591959, At this tine(and ccobably in the whole pest-sar period so far) personality clashes with sunericts nade it Lcesible for hin to hold jobs, fn addition to carpenter and sheet metal worker (arnarently his specialties) he worked ag acrobat, draftenan, crocery clerk, etc. (60069) Early Aurust. 1999, Ye departed Hew York on an organized tour to estern Desp 111). He said that he paid $965 (60062). He may have nad helo from the brother with whoa he lived, because excest for his irresular workire income, he had only nis oan: sion: | weld te hin, 310 to wife for suppor’ of child. (Lesp 111) 10 fueust 1959, Entered Soviet tnien at Vyborz,| on rucular sevendday tourist viee incre: in wasnuington 20 July 1959. On to ieningrad and roscow the nex day, (eso 111) » 18 ducust 1959. Vay his tour rrora -to entrain for igaingrad, there to board the EALIIRA for London. He suddenly decided to star in voseor, failed Sho: rup at the station, ami canceled snip reservations through inturist guide. - Ee had no communist sympathies or is eoler isal Inenings tevard the Ulm, and , “Shad no grievances against the US. Thourt ht he could eet 1 good job in the BU ‘though adnitted had no friends there and knew nothing, of country, people, ér language. (68069) \ 18 August 1959 and the follewine tea d ys« spermine his cecisien to about ite (Lesp 111). logs ee, 27 furvst 1959, Ke want toned nis {nt éintdon in casual conversatioa with a resident auerice: correspondent, wio svgrested he Aifora the EArt» {Lesp 111) 23 aAnevst 1°59, He visited the Exbassy and was interviewed fer tivo hovre by ny ar, vith the correspomlent also present. Geve Wis recrar Sor eanttag to ste’, said nad teaven initiativ. kpzapernaesk asikire hotel manzcer and antrist wide how he ‘sorld stats no one had indreed or invinenced. = Pea
a y ™ . . { OS et tels aivies “co Clan crete Utisr te see @ eerie pay vtiar eavie! et ti« . ibs bet Rad ast vet vent it, cCtill aed reters s ey olay tickets but i Gteld Inturigt 9 ile; cot werrled bee ° ee ang virtvally ow. of moneys, Wulch he hed i tourist 3 cevse exmceted ingrdiate seviet rescome te his Jeb recrest. The 2itfalls and exploitation sossibilitics were exclained te him out he dississed as clow-ani- darrer, srid hac heard tinei chanrine in USSR. Ye was jiven rane and teloohone saber of Snerican Catholic eriest in iaxcow, sho srbseqvently telked with his. He was rational, Lerical, serious, nom-arcressive, but)insisted on renouncing eitizenshio and defecting. (Less. 111) 29 “urvst 1959. He went ahead ard sent the letter 'te the “unreme Soviet. He did not kees a cory but teld AmErb it included five ‘soccifle points as spe- cified by Inturist cuides 1) DPOB, 2) nanes and addresses of relatives, 3) his property and bank accounts (none); bh) his skills, education, and work record; and 5) his moral, iceoloc ican, and (illeridle) reasors for wanting Soviet cit- isenship. Wouldn't say what he had written under 5) ex whether he had said anything against the LS. (Desp. 111) ro , 2 September 1959. He cane to the Srbassy, turned in his passport, told of sendirg the letter to the Suprene Soviet, and indicated, he had not. chanced his mird, Snyder again explained the irrevecatility of remincintion and whea Pete rulli said he untersteod sericvsness, asked hin to cone back in the afternoon when Snyder werls Le presared to administer the oath of remunciation. This was done, (Desp. 111) . 5 Sentember 1959. He told several reoola that he felt "morally and econ- onicaily at hom in the Yoriet Union" ... many jobs in recent years in US ard not hagny there. (£Bxstee633< Not bitter avainst US, ent just Liked SU betters veoole not in a hurry and net nervous urecxs; ha thonht ther were tryin. te do thincs right in the SU. (65069) . | 'B Santenver 1959, Ne eare to the Snhassy to reqest a uritten statenent of his citizensnin states fer tie Soviet avthorities. “nen teld “assy wevld infera him as soon as State informed then, he switched to queetions re visa requirements for entering US. he felt fers civing hin rurcaround becanse no acknewledrement -of his letter or repeated job requests, c‘entioned he without noney or friends, no sneak “ussian, ete. wiich had all Seen pointed ot to hin a few dars before, Exandiatels Still no Seviet rres: exsleitation known to ‘yoassy and no apnresch to the “nbassy about him. He still at Hotel Uxcaina, at. Sovtet expense but left to his own devices. [Inb ocinéd this stright indicate Sovs undeciced what do with nin or do nct think hin gocd exploitation neterial. Xo evidence of prevocaticn or entrapment, tit Sovs havz deliberately facilitates his actions: rernitted hin overstay visa, encouraced als thresyh inturist cvide to sdek cifZizenshio fron Suprene Soviet, and allowed his renain at bkraina on credit. Petrulli renained nest and rational throvgh all three meetings at Ex). Imwdiately after this interyiew at ind, he tole Awrican correspondent he ‘vst wanted te co hore. (Desp. W)i- senis-“wes prebably what cae out in Kashinrton Post on 9 Sept:-said he, Had Goi stupid thing to renounce US cit- Taensatp in nones of Seviet ... wanted ce ‘home ... had rengunced Ul citizenship because of "too many contradict‘ons® in the American war of life ... would declines with thanss even is they now offered sin Coviet titicenship ... chanre of mind net due to disillusionwnt with EU oct because no friends or relatives te look cut fer hin as at none. (69069) . '
14-00000 ~ Stiles VU. Jertemter 155, On this dete on uaice: nat edi ~“ovlet effictal told hin (In vesronse fo ATs letter reqvestin; ‘Lovie? iticesstir) that he sheuld have applied at the SevEm. bashity tony ranarer of ildtzina dotel told him he would nave to vecete the prenises by 16 oaptesber; and both told him te re- ; trieve his rassport fren the am@n> or get scme xint of travel docesent frox ‘ thea, oveause he had to leave. His brother hac -sent hin 3300, (68069) ‘ 1 15. Sentenber 1959, He arpeared at An®ab and teld shove ultinatun. (68069) | 19 Septenber -1959, According te DBA-60069 he applied for an energancy passcort a this date, but it seems likely that he mist have anplied for it on the 15th or seme date in tetween, because a bashiry ton Post article-of 19 Sertenber (cited in 65069) revorted that his US citizenshio had already been returned to him, since State had declared hia legally incommetent; sare appeared in HY Times of 19 Sept. He declared himself Pluckiest guy in the world", His serious mental condition further confirmed by exewile, who said he a very sick man alternately woncerf:1 and terrizle «: : hn. ae Cd “6 . : ae gee, - : es soe i \ i i .. ‘ —— a eT as
14-00000  Seninily Bat, Pe ee ee Ce SUBJECT: PETRULLI, Biebeles : : fubjoat, a tourist in Rwala, axpeared at the Aseriem thensy in Ruevew en 9 august 195), intisating that be wished te revaie in the Soviet Unico, - tegpite being gavtioned ty on Eabascy official, tad /s0% iastigted Ghai be weighed te. Fpacueee Ble bmatieas eltivensipe Bo said ba liked viet tbe Gita shante for aod thought be would be able te make a better Living in tat country. * cosevtes 2a cath of semacistica of bis Amricen aitiveanip en) feptotar Sisanships 1959, ead wteted Cint be had epplicd far Sovict et Subjcot was bere fa Byoeklyn, Gee Tork, om 13 Fotarsary 1992, of Italia | bers parecte. Ge wae a eleot-netal worker “valley 6230 Tees, feo Yarz, yoyo had * tem divorced, in Desestey 1987, fron bis Suusden-teoe wife, chow Se bad cerrisd in Becenher 195, end by ule he Psa a dantter, fevjecs peperiely eornt io the Uuited Fiates dir fares, during werld bar 11) ext nase dlactarge? is wetcher LS, after untargaiag trostecst an a mental hough tale is @ebecnaantly had _ payohlatrie ears, wikile Ilving ia Califernia, Gubdjest obtaised @ pacaport on 9 dune 19977, tor a temas trip te inyheod and Puselay cntere] the Oxi: 2% Vibosg, fren Pinlemi, on 10 cut 1959, ta & reguler pevenedley touriat seg and catered kouieted @ as & tencist, an LL Aucast 1936 After reseuscing ble Janricas cliisenmip ca 3 supp taednow ISSR, Say lect ro epprared at Ge Amerigesn mhesay on 6 feotwaler 184), giatiac tut "te fake ese Sovieta ware ctviag him ¢be ms aroced sad that he ted clerged Ria mim! end eiehed to reteia bia United States slbicsostiip aed ret. bea, Tho bcvdata ted ropertetly sdvised Sijest that ts obtain Sorist atiiaendg, Be sonal wove $e veturp tn Vackinetan, fo Co, and epgly at the ezket vbeory CwYes aldordlLas ee o forsign evrvice disratsh from teqcow, theres wao Bo @widane Cf plenned Serict prowsatins o¢ entrazemoty but the foviets Red fect iitetad bia setione Ry knowingly geritting bis 40 overstey Bis visa, simeusaging tarcech Aha Lye Crerist guidé te com his aitisawhip ayplisaticn to he Snprem Sevdet, and slicuing Ic to rauain on aredls ef 0 Cohuso hetele *he rtate Separtsact Puled thet fabsect’s aiterptal’ Youmeleties ef hie ” tatted “¢ates eliieenship wee mot a Sogatly eonge Lact ast, ant be ws gives o emmy pasetert for the Ualted states. Re returned 1 hia boms in Maw lore, “(Gin avers saterentian 10 largilj tak trop a feratin earcies Ciarateh, af 9/S%e InCuran tion regardiag Ss. ject'a cde talein® 3 neceperh to paturn $9 ths tected Ltatos, | eae ‘Lspe0 formations regarting his return buna, 1% fran Sew Tore biueck nouspaper arblolaes) Crem Cov OM.ce o\ Ver on An dale ‘Go gol - 761394 reviewed o” He
14-00000 PETROLLI, Nicholas Date of Births .13 February 1921 at Brooklya, Heo . Education; Highechoo] Military Services USAF during World War IJ; dtecharged | 1945 after undergoing treatment in a mental hospital. Marital Status: Divorsed. Decoubor 1954 married a pasitan-bora girls fin December 1957 divorced her, one child, a gir wat oe Date of Defections August 1959 ne Petrulid left his fanily in the U.S., traveled abroad on a two-week trip. Ha entered the Soviet Usdon on eo regular goven-dey tourist vies on 11 August. On 28 Auguat be notified the U3 Gabasay that he vished to give up his Amorican eitizenahip. When questioned by a atranger, he did not know why he traveled to the Soviet Union, what he planned to de there, how he planned to support himself, and why, specifically, he desired to renounce bis American citizenship. : ‘ a sheot~natal worker, Petrulli had a history of mental illnogs. Ho changed : hie mind about detecting juat before the Soviet Union refused hin citizenship. (Wash. Evening Star 24 Nov 59) He had turned in his passport to the U.S. Embassy, Moscow. The Stats Daparte ment ruled that his attempted reranolation vas not a legally coapetent act. a . . Subsequently, the Sabassy issued him a passport valid only for return to the ‘ : UVoited States. He received a Soviet exit visa leas than 2 hours before his , ; ; plane left Moecow on 21 September. He has since been living with a brother ' in Valley Stream, Long Island. = (Now York Tines 20 Oct 59) oe rs 4 @ a t a . . « ' ; Zz . . « at 5 acaeelee’ Me bee. vee ‘ aia? “ wed a Ys | oa oe han ke: nr aaa a . ' ard Cagare : ; | Ac} -76/ 3 33° + we 4 ‘fiat ang al J oeeearts: ot ey
14-00000 o eweme we oe we “~ PSIRULLE, Nicholas en / os . He had turned in his passport to tbe u:3. Sabassy, Moscow. Tha State Soo aes oO Date of Births ca 1921 Place of Birth: USA Date of Defection:s sumer 1959 Petrulléi.left hie family in the 0.3., traveled to’ tze Soviet Union and - atated that he wished to give up his American altisenship. Vhen queationed, ; he did not know why he traveled to Rusaia, what he planned to do there, 3 bow he plaoned te support himself, end why, apecifically, he desired to * renounce ‘is American citizenship. {oaP-41273, 27-Jan 60) A sheot-aetal vorker, Pstrulli had a histery of mental ilimess. Hs ehanged his mird about defeating juat before the Soviet Union refused hia oltisenship. (Wash. Evening Star 26 Yow 59] Departaent ruled that hia attempted reminclation was not @ legally - competent act. Subsequently, the Mubasey issued hin a passport valid _. . ' enly for retura te the United States. He recelvedia Soviet oxit visa , less thaa 2 hours before his plene loft Moscow on 2h aeepeet Ho has ainos been living with a brother in Valley Stroam, long Island (Hew York Times 20 Oct 594 . . i penly Lf treee3 un acy Bicrelas rotrulii is 1lG-47 manber of 7+ 3 SescomInngastd Sena: ‘ise iurty Grub his rosidescs 13% Caristogher 3t., so hae York City. (927232502, Supt 53) : .
A ? POTRULLI, Nicholas GNicolina PETRULLA Defected August 1959 had psychiatric care while living in california. | | Oe Pek sare yrs . : . . ‘ ° , | t | { othe... \ ee 1 The following infornation is SRCHET . | ‘While traveling in the USSR as a tourist : in the summer of 1959, Nicholas PETRULLI . ‘ appeared at the United States Embassy, in Yoscow on 28 August 1959 and informed’ Embassy officials that he wished to remain 4 in the USSR. On 3 September 1959 he executed an oath of renunciation ef his American citizenship and etated that he had applied for Sovict citizenship. On & September 1959 , - : : PERTULLI returned to the U. S. Embassy’ and . - . a stated that the Soviets were "giving him a run around" and that he wished to retain his Amorican Citizenship. He was given a one-way 3 Passport to the United States and returned to © his home in New Yerk on 22 September 1999 A sheet metal worker by profession, PETRULLI was 20 a wer born in Brooklyn, New York on 13 February ea ooo ab etarer™ of Italian-born parents. He had been aivossil in December 1957 from his Russian-born wife. eave whom he married in December 1954 and by ‘whom he has a daughter. Dering World War IT FETRULLI served in the United States Air Force and received a atecharge ai 1918 « after undergoing treatment in a mental hospitals He subsequently re one 8
14-00000 aoe S 9 OO con gee prose on be yd! ‘S cove’ oa i, SURSCT \ PETRUS 3 iy iicholas ed % aka PE STRULLA, Nicolina . “gave Subject, a tourist in Russia, appeared at the American, lubassy in Moscow on 2 duguat 1959, indioating thet he wiched to remain in the Soviet Union. Tespite being cautiened by an Rmbagsy official, Subjoct insisted that he wighed to renounce his American citizenship. He said he Liked what the YSSK stands for and thought he would be able to make a better living in thet eountry. He executed an oath of remmeiation of his Americen eitisenship on 3 Septenbor 1959, and stated that he had applied for Soviet eitisenship. ~. Eubjeet was born in brooklyn, New York, on Bb February 1921, ‘of Italien. berm parents. lie was a vheet-neotal worker fn Valley Strean,| New York, who had’. been diverved, in December 1957, from hie Rugsian-born wife,' whom he had married in Recenber 19S) and by when he hog a daurhter. fubject reportedly served in the United States Air Yoree, curing Vorld tar iT; and was dizeh sarged in votober’ 19LS, after undargoior treatment in a contal hospital, Hs subsoquontly had peyehlatric cars, while living in California. Subject obtained a passport on 2 dune 1953, for a tuo-wee’ trip te Unvland and Hueaiag entered the U58.: st Vibomg, from tinlami, on 10 4ucuet 1959, on a remular seven-day tourist visas and entored Lenin-rad as 4 tourist, on LL August 1959. After renouncing ble American citiconship on 3 Lentenbor, 1959, Subject re- appeared at the American smassy on 6 Septentar 190%, stating that he felt the Soviets were giving him tae mm around ami that he had chan ed his air! and wished ¢o retain hig United States citizenship and return hori. ihe Sovicts had resortediy advised Subject that te obtain Soviet citiaenghip, he would have to return to Washington, 0. C., and apply at the Soviet Embassy there. accordin: to a foreleg. service dispatch from Moscow, there was no evidence cf planned Saiet provocation or entrapment; but the * soviets had facilitated his autions by knowingly pernitting hin to overstay his viea, encouraging through his In- tourdst guide to send hie citizenship application to the fupreme toviet, and allowing hia te renain on credit at a deluxe hotel. , The State Departaont ruled that Subject’s attenmted renunciation of his United States eltizenship was not a legally competent act, and be was given a . One-way passport for the United States. Ha Zesures to his homa in Kew York, on 22 Soptenber 195°, : coe 3 ae 8 pO 1 ihe above informatian is largely take frca a foreign eervice dispatch, of 9/11/59. Infornation regarding fubject's ob- tainins a paseport to return to the United States, and ine formation reganting his return home, 12 from Kew York Tincs hewepaper articles. . '