Mr. Jenner.

the lectures occurred when, at that time Oswald raised his hand and engaged in dissertation?

Mr. Thornley.

I might have been but I don't recall it if I was. I recall being present at several lectures at E1 Toro, and it just might have happened. It was the kind of thing Oswald would do and it wouldn't even have phased me. I probably wouldn't even have bothered to remember if it had happened. It would have been just part of the daily routine there so I would have--

Mr. Jenner.

Did you ever engage in that sort of thing?

Mr. Thornley.

No; I never had guts enough to stand up and tell an officer he didn't know what he was talking about. Behind his back I might tell somebody that such-and-such officer didn't know what he was talking about, but I was never quite that brash--in that particular respect, anyway.

Mr. Jenner.

What were your impressions on Oswald being interested in music?

Mr. Thornley.

Not being interested in music myself particularly

Mr. Jenner.

I take it you had none; that is, any impressions as to his interests?

Mr. Thornley.

So, therefore, I had none; correct.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you ever play chess with him?

Mr. Thornley.

No.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you ever see him playing chess with anyone else?

Mr. Thornley.

Just now you mentioned the word "chess" as a definite association; I think he did play chess. I can't place the person. This--there were some other people in the outfit who played chess. There is one name I have been trying to remember for a long time, and I think it starts with, "Win" something. "Winter" something. I'm probably way off base there. But a tall blond corporal, I believe, played chess and a couple of other men in the outfit played chess. At that time, I guess at Chat, I knew how to play chess. I have never been particularly interested., though, in the game so I don't--I am pretty sure I didn't play chess with him.
In fact, come to think of it I had just been cured of playing chess 8 months before that; somebody beat me in about six moves and I stopped playing for about a year. It wasn't me.

Mr. Jenner.

While at El Toro did Oswald become engaged in any physical altercations with anybody?

Mr. Thornley.

No; definitely not to my knowledge. Never got into any fights or even any hot personal argument over anything, that I know of.

Mr. Jenner.

What was your impression, if you had one then, as to his disposition in that regard?

Mr. Thornley.

I had the impression that he avoided violence.

Mr. Jenner.

While you were at El Toro do you recall whether Oswald ever went off the base on liberty?

Mr. Thornley.

As far as I know he didn't.

Mr. Jenner.

Were there any discussions on the base as to what, if anything, Oswald did?

Mr. Thornley.

Not in my presence.

Mr. Jenner.

What, if anything, Oswald had done off the base on liberty?

Mr. Thornley.

Not in my presence.

Mr. Jenner.

Was there ever any discussion of Cuba and Castro and that problem?

Mr. Thornley.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

All right; tell us all about that.

Mr. Thornley.

Well, at that time I and Oswald were both, and a couple of other men in the outfit, were quite sure that Castro was a great hero.

Mr. Jenner.

Why?

Mr. Thornley.

Well, he was liberating Cuba from Batista and, of course, we had heard all about Batista and what an evil man he was, which I am sure was true, and most of us had read some of the things written by Castro, some of Castro's promises--such as he would take no part in the government after the revolution, such things--so we had the definite impression--I remember there was one Puerto Rican boy, myself, Oswald, a couple of others who had quite an admiration for Castro, and thought the pro-Communist statements he was or might be making at the time, were made simply to guarantee a little more independence for his island because it was located so close to the United States.