(Testimony of Nelson Delgado)
Mr. Delgado.
hardship discharge because he had gone to see the old man and so forth and so on, but, like I say, it usually took so long time to get a hardship discharge, too.
Mr. Liebeler.
So you and Oswald were actually quartered in the same quonset hut up to the time Oswald Was discharged?
Mr. Delgado.
Up to the time I went on leave.
Mr. Liebeler.
And when you came back Oswald was gone?
Mr. Delgado.
Right.
Mr. Liebeler.
You never saw him after that?
Mr. Delgado.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did Oswald say anything to you while you were in the Marines together about going to Russia?
Mr. Delgado.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
He never did?
Mr. Delgado.
No; I couldn't understand where he got the money to go.
Mr. Liebeler.
You said before he didn't spend very much money.
Mr. Delgado.
Yes; but I imagine the way it costs now, it costs at least $800 to a $1,000 to travel across Europe, plus the red tape you have to go through.
Mr. Liebeler.
When did you see this official-looking envelope that you mentioned before with the seal on it? Do you remember when that was?
Mr. Delgado.
Outside of being prior to one of my departures for Los Angeles--the month, you want?
Mr. Liebeler.
Yes; if you can remember it. I mean, was it----
Mr. Delgado.
It's hard to say, because we were together so long. It was one of the weekends I was going into Los Angeles.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you remember whether it was before or after your rifle practice?
Mr. Delgado.
No; It was after, because prior to our rifle practice I don't think we had any political discussions at all.
Mr. Liebeler.
Most of those were after the rifle qualifications?
Mr. Delgado.
Yes; you see, this all happened,, oh, between when I say, May to September or May to August, of going on leave, all these incidents, you know.
Mr. Liebeler.
Do you remember how long you were back at Santa Ana after your leave before you were discharged?
Mr. Delgado.
About 2 months, I guess.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did the FBI agents ask you about that?
Mr. Delgado.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
You mentioned this fellow by the name of Call.
Mr. Delgado.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Richard Call?
Mr. Delgado.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Was he in your quonset hut?
Mr. Delgado.
No; he was in our company. He was in a different quonset hut.
Mr. Liebeler.
Was he a friend of Oswald?
Mr. Delgado.
Semifriendly. I know personally that he used to call Oswald Oswaldovich or Comrade. We all called him Comrade, which is German for friend. We didn't put no communistic influence whatsoever. But then he made the statement saying, no, he never called Oswald "Comrade," or anything like that, you know.
Mr. Liebeler.
Who said that?
Mr. Delgado.
Call.
Mr. Liebeler.
How do you know?
Mr. Delgado.
The FBI agent told me.
Mr. Liebeler.
The FBI agent told you that?
Mr. Delgado.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
You just mentioned the term "Oswaldovich"; is that right?
Mr. Delgado.
Yes; he asked me if anyone had called him Oswaldovich. No. Comrade commissar; yes. We all used to kid around that language. He used to like it, and he would come out, we would call him "comrade," and he would go straight, jack up and give a big impression. But Call said he didn't. Well, that's his prerogative. He didn't want to get mixed up in it.
|
