Mr. Jenner.

You had the impression she had actually seen him in Japan?

Mr. Pic.

No; she wasn't in Japan the same time he was. This is a year after I am in Japan, sir, before I had seen her.

Mr. Jenner.

I see.

Mr. Pic.

And she had seen him when he first joined the Marine Corps, is my impression, sometime while he was in the Marine Corps and in the States.

Mr. Jenner.

You had the impression that Lee had visited their home in New Orleans?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir; that is the impression I got.

Mr. Jenner.

Go on.

Mr. Pic.

Well, at this time, my mother was still writing to me, I never answered any of her letters. Maybe I would receive a letter from her every once, every 2 or 3 months. I also was aware of the fact that Lee was going to be discharged from the Marine Corps.

Mr. Jenner.

You became aware of that through what means?

Mr. Pic.

The letters I would receive from my mother. She informed me that Marilyn Murret--that Lee upon his discharge had gone to Europe. I asked her how did he ever decide that, and where did he get the money and she said he saved it while he was in the Marine Corps.

Mr. Jenner.

Did she say he had gone to Europe?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir. Her quote, sir, to the best of my knowledge, "Do you know that Lee is in Europe?" I said, "No, I don't know that." I had no way of knowing that. So I started asking her about him, and this is what she told me that Lee had gone to Europe.
It was that night, sir, on the 9 o'clock news that I learned that Lee had defected.

Mr. Jenner.

You say 9 o'clock news--was that--

Mr. Pic.

Japan time, sir, that night.

Mr. Jenner.

I mean, what source was the news?

Mr. Pic.

American Armed Forces Network. My wife and I were in bed, and I was about half asleep, and the radio was closest to her and she nudged me and told me, and I said, "No, it couldn't be." So the next day it appeared in the paper.

Mr. Jenner.

What paper?

Mr. Pic.

The Stars and Stripes, sir. Then I heard it on the radio again the next day. There were a couple or three articles in the Stars and Stripes about his defection. And I reported to the OSI and told them who I was, and I told them who he was. Then I got in contact with the Embassy in Japan.

Mr. Jenner.

That is the American Embassy?

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir; and attempted to contact Lee. The only thing I could get out was a telegram. I think my quote in the telegram was "Please reconsider your actions." This, I understand, was delivered to him at the Metropole Hotel in Moscow. After this defection I received several--

Mr. Jenner.

Excuse me.

Mr. Pic.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Jenner.

When you heard this what was your reaction?

Mr. Pic.

I didn't believe it. I mean my wife told me it was him, and I think I stayed awake until the 10 o'clock news to hear it and they mentioned it, and that was it, and so the next day it was in the paper and that is when I reported to the OSI.

Mr. Jenner.

What is OSI ?

Mr. Pic.

Office of Special Investigator, I believe, for the Air Force.

Mr. Jenner.

Well, after the rebroadcasts and you became convinced it was your brother what was your reaction?

Mr. Pic.

It was hard to believe. It was just something you never expect.

Mr. Jenner.

Had he done or said anything during all your life together which served to lead you to think, well maybe it is so that he has?

Mr. Pic.

Well, sir, ever since he was born and I was old enough to remember, I always had a feeling that some great tragedy was going to strike Lee in some way or another, and when this happened I figured this was it. In fact, on the very day of the assassination I was thinking about it when I was getting ready to go to work, and just, I was thinking about him at that time and I figured