Mr. Pic.

coming towards my 18th birthday and I decided I had just about finished school and I would be graduated, if I passed everything I would, and I decided to join the service, the Coast Guard, and then I processed my paper work, and 3 days prior to graduation I quit school and joined the Coast Guard.
At this time to get in the Coast Guard was rather hard to do. You had to get on a waiting list and when they called you and you didn't show up for it you didn't get in maybe for 6 months or so. I joined the Coast Guard because it was the hardest service to get into. I wasn't interested in the Army or the Marine Corps or the Navy. I took the one that was hardest, the hardest requirement and I got into it.
So, in January, approximately 25 January 1950 I joined the Coast Guard, and left for Cape May, N.J. I did not see Robert, Lee, or my mother until October 1950, 9 months later.

Mr. Jenner.

October of 1959?

Mr. Pic.

No, sir; 1950. 1950.

Mr. Jenner.

Before we get to that or probe that any further, Lee returned to school in the fall of 1949?

Mr. Pic.

That is right.

Mr. Jenner.

He was still at Ridglea Elementary, then?

Mr. Pic.

As far as I know, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

What was his general attitude and his activities during this period 1948, 1949, through the summer of 1949.

Mr. Pic.

Sir; I was 17 years old, I wasn't interested in what an 8- 9-year old kids activities were in school. I mean I had girls on my mind and other things like that, you know.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes.

Mr. Pic.

To be honest with you.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes, of course. What was your impression of him at that time?

Mr. Pic.

He would get into his trouble, and maybe he would have trouble with a neighbor now and then about walking across their lawn or something. I remember once there was a fight on the bus because of Lee that my brother Robert got beat up because. Robert probably would remember that better than I did.

Mr. Jenner.

I don't know whether he mentioned that.

Mr. Pic.

I know he got his rear end whipped because of Lee.

Mr. Jenner.

All right.
You entered the Coast Guard, and then you didn't see either of your brothers or your mother from the time of your enlistment in January of 1950.

Mr. Pic.

That is right.

Mr. Jenner.

Until when?

Mr. Pic.

October 1950, sir. Early October 1950.

Mr. Jenner.

What was that occasion?

Mr. Pic.

I went back home on leave, back to Fort Worth on leave, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

How long were you home on leave?

Mr. Pic.

I think I took 20 days' leave. I think I stayed there 15, 16, something like that, about 2 weeks.

Mr. Jenner.

What was the general atmosphere around the house at that time?

Mr. Pic.

Well, everybody was glad to see me. I was--well, I come home with a couple of hundred dollars, you know a sailor off the high seas always saves his money and the mother right away wanted to hold it for me and so she conned me into that, and she let me have a few dollars of my own.
Then I spent most of my time looking up old girl friends and things, and visiting Mr. Conway. He and I were always playing chess together.

Mr. Jenner.

Mr. Conway, I took his deposition.

Mr. Pic.

Yes, very nice man.

Mr. Jenner.

He spoke of playing chess with you a great deal.

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

I had forgotten that. Lived across the street.

Mr. Pic.

No, sir; about five doors, four doors to the right of us.

Mr. Jenner.

On the same side of the street?

Mr. Pic.

Same side.

Mr. Jenner.

Hiram Conway.

Mr. Pic.

Hiram P. Conway.