104-10433-10001 “y Dien gp ae 1031 - 405 5 December 1968 | 3 Disposition ~ This document was released with portions deleted. The . deleted portions contain information about a specific foreign intelligence method, "as well as information identifying Agency components and Agency staff “employees, Agency internal filing instructions were also deleted. The ‘deletions were made under the authority of exemptions (dQ), ()2) and | | " (©)@). i eth =!
13-00000 a a Cs. 73) , December 1966 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECTY "American Defectors to the USSR" 1, The attached material was part of a soft file entitled "Ainerican Defectors to the USSR", which was set up by 6R/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, In the fall of 1966, the files were turned over tect) state.) In most instances, basic’information was then abstracted for the US Defector Machine Program) In all 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, 3. It is sugzested that any dissemination of this data shoud be coordinated with 6B Division\and with (1 Staff (CI/MRO), in . view of the frequently inadequate sourcing and of the fact that disseminations have already been made(thr ough the US Defector) (vac hine Program) Document Number  (O3l— OS SEP 1976 for FOIA Review on 3 eopy Oo, -2 99 LM GECRET) @%-2 4727) f FT cage
13-00000 cen od ae eee nee Met eee ema 2 ode ee gine eevee op temas eerammnte sss tenatele bahia ome cme eee ‘ 1 . ai . A tyes a OSWALD, Lee Harvey {(z-/- 2 gave) ©.) Date of Births 168 October 1939. New Orleans, soutatasa © Date of Defection; October 1959 Educations High school. Always a studious type, read books that were considered "“deep*, ot , Military Service: Joined the Marines at 17. Says he did this because he didn't want to be a burden on his mother. Became a PFG, radar operator} 14 months service Japan and the Philippines. Honorable discharge on 3 September 1959 (dependenay discharge). Backgrounds Father, an insurance salesman, died before Lee was born. Has a brother who is 4 salesman at Acme Brick Company, ‘Fort Worth, Texas, and a half brother John Edward Pic age 28, a US Air Force Staff Sargeant stationed in Japan. Mother is currently employed as a supply mother at the Methodist Orphans Home, Waco, Texas. (DBF 49478, 25 May 1960) According to newspaper article, reasons for his defection were a comb nation of family poverty, what he considers the plight of US negroes, and. the US Marines or American imperialism abroad. At 15 or so he read "Das Kapital" and agreed with its theorles. A year before his discharge, hs began to prepare for life in the Soviet Union by using a Berlitz gramear to teach himself how to read and write Pugadan Never, however, did he consider deserting the Marine Corps. After discharge from the Marines, Lee visited his mother in Fort Worth for about 3 days, then left for New Orleans where he planned to resume employment with an export-import company for which he had worked prior to enlisting in the Marines. Shortly after he arrived in New Orleans, he sant his mother a note saying that he had booked passage to Europe, that he was doing something he felt he must do. His arrival in Moscow _ came as @ shock to the family. Travel money probably came from that saved while in the Marines. He had never expressed any sympathy for the Seviet Union or Communism. He had been interested in Guba and South America and his family would have expected him to go there, if anywhere. Mail sent to him since his defection has been addressed to the Hotel Mstropole, Moscow. He acknowledged receipt of his mail in 1959, but letters sant in 1960 have been returned to the senders. (oer 49u78)) In November 1959 the Soviets were investigating. the possibility of sending Lee to a Soviet higher technical institute. (Wash.Evening Star) _ May 1960 Mra. Oswald received a letter from the Albert Schweitzer Collezs GEERT) Ger - 287247)
13-00000 a? Ss es — ae a a wp ea ee gee wee ee ale ee nee te aoe a “ ° to: 4 8 a ( o* SOT a ( € a ° ¢ - “ . . ob # \ in Switzerland, and which was addressed to Les, which said in effect that this college was expecting Lee Oswald on 20 April. 1960. After A recelpt of the letter, Mrs. Oswald planned to write to the co learn if her son was in actual attendance there. (oF 49478 _ The Soviets neither encouraged nor discouraged Oswald's desire to become ae & Soviet cltisen. The American Embtissy wanted him to think it over before hearing his oath renounoing American citizenship. As a result, Osvald is bitter towards the consul there. He has stated that regardless of any material shortcomings he sees while in the USSR, he will never go back to the USA. Ress... : . ; .3 \ Wrinelke, DWeswes reluves VSR onde Cer eee Cord duns (dive \eosk . . e a. Qewned Vase Wns wsjo QEK HS or Prose e dings oa Qrecaae 3 Set) . Warrid Marin Nidselacuna Veosakowa , ‘own duly AY, Naletevsk, : ArahangehrObl Labreratory aseist. Sept bY ayphed wise come ust ‘ kin Oswarta. a oe Unleas so noted, info is from the Washington Evening Stary 26 Nov. 1959. i | Qcewerk (aaranods aN Oneastisct Sota +, Kemmty . ecmemaael | , She. + Kuta 4 quel am ow 26 nevenbenr) 1463 ash i ae | 4 Lemp ered fiom Detter Gul
13-00000 on ete le a tine eer ron eam aoe Asem smc oeeBatae cbvtee ve = tr ePERRETAG DB I emerempmaunimt FT = ay Yu RP Bn orp: ~~ . : . : : ri ran, — disseminations have already been made - cf € 6 t aa - § December 1966 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT? "American Defectors to the USSR" 1, The attached material was part of a soft file entitled "American Defectors to the USSR", which was set up by . around 1960 ard maintained by various © components , until ca, 1963, The compilations were derived from a variety of sources, and contain both classified and overt data, | 2. In the fall of 1966, the files were turned over to In most instances, basic “information was then abstracted - » Inall instances in which the material was unique, or repr esented a valuable collation effort, it has been incorporated into the appropriate 201 file, along with a copy of this memorandum, 3. Itis suggested that any dissemination of this data should be coordinated with ~- and with: — » in view of the frequently inadequate sourcing and of the fact that 4 ‘Orig - | | “198 | — 405 lL, es oo Document Number 1 ~. oo 1 . for FOIA Review on SEP 1976 ° “ eo. . ve e a oS bapy a a
13-00000 emanates So RESONANT ofl» fr ttxtreceCpuaSeteneettnenPectcti ne OEE ate ves see oe . 4 om te teen ntetne et th, . . . 6 Ba . . . oa : CLT ET OSWALD, Lea Earvay Date of Birth: 18 October 1939.- Hew Orleans, Louisiana Date of Defaction: October 1959 Education: High school. Always a studious type, vead books that wars considered "dsap*. . Military Service 3 Joined the Marines at 17. Says hs dia this because he didnit want to be.a burden on his mother. Became a PFC, radar operator; 14 months service Japan and the Philippines. Honorable discharge on 3 September 1959 (dependenay discharge). 7 Backgrounds j Father, an insurance salesman, died before Les was born. Has a brotker who is @ salesman at Acne Brick Company, Fort Worta, Texas, and a half brother John Edward Pic age 28, a US Air Force Staff Sargeant stationed in Japan. Mother is currently employed as a supply © mother at the Methodist Orphans Home, Wacoy Texase According to newspaper article, reasons for his defection were a cohbi~- nation of family poverty, what he considers the plight of US negroes, and the US Marines or American imperialism abroad. At 15 or so he read Das Kapital” and agreed with its theorilus. A year before his disctarge, he began to prepare for life in the Soviet Union by using a Berlitz . grammar to teach himself how to read and write Fussian. Never, however, did he consider deserting the Marine Corps. After discharge from the Farines, Lee visited his mother. in Fort Worth for about 3 days, then left for New Orleans where hs planned to resume employment with an export—import company for which he had worked prior. — to enlisting in the Marines, Shortly after he arrived in New Orleans, . he sent his mother a note saying that he had booked passage to Europe, . that ha was doing something he felt he mst do. His arrival in hoscow came as a shock to ths family. Travel money probably came from that saved while in the Marines. He had never expressed any sympathy for the Soviet Union or Communism. Ha had been interested in Cuba and South America and his family would have expectsd him to go there, if anywhere. Mail sent to him since his defection has baen addressed to the Hotal Metropole, Moscow. He acknowledged receipt of his mail in 19593 but letters sont in 1960 have been returned to the sonders. “ In November 1959 the Soviets were investigating the possibility” of . sending Lae to a Sovist higher technical institute. (Wash.Evening Star) May 1960 Mrs. Oswald received a letter from the Albert Schweitzer College
in Switzerland, ard which was addressed to Les, which said in effect: that this college vas expecting Lee Oswald on 20 April 1960. After. receipt of the letter, Mes. Oswald planned to write to the collage to ' Jjearn if her son was in actual attendance there. The Sovists neither encenraged ror discouraged Oswald's desire to becoxe & Sovist citisen. Tne American Embassy wanted him to think it over oefors hearing his cath renouncing Amarican oltizenship. Asa result, . . Osuald is bitter towards the consal there. Hse bas stated that regardless | of any material. shortcomings he asses whils in the USSR, he will never go cack to the USA. seg Panel. Weswes raven GSA oday devon ent bent Veaah \ “Gensed Vase Warns y wo Bers “ve Pres? Siwy Res Ware Warwa udidgeena® ‘eoSatawa, bern duly eal, balind, . Avehang2buOw. | Walneratbry moErSd. Sagk b\ ayphed MUSA come. USH abe A. Oswald. Shack + Kd tye an tensed tem DrotOes yee eae COT EPEN ENTE ae ney Ge + re 3 Oe mers ee an, Te