Mr. Jenner.

You did mention to the FBI when you were interviewed that he was on mess duty, and I assume in the first place he was not on mess duty all the time while he was in the Philippines, was he?

Mr. Powers.

No; you're assigned--privates and privates first class are assigned this duty periodically. I think you're assigned one week out of the year.

Mr. Jenner.

This was not a mess duty assignment by way of punishment?

Mr. Powers.

I don't think so.

Mr. Jenner.

How long were you at Corregidor, a couple of months?

Mr. Powers.

I want to say 4 to 6 weeks, but it could have been longer.

Mr. Jenner.

What was your means of transportation to and from Corregidor?

Mr. Powers.

LST.

Mr. Jenner.

That's landing ship tank?

Mr. Powers.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

And when was this? Along about March of 1958, is that your recollection?

Mr. Powers.

I think it was; it was in this late-February-early-March Period.

Mr. Jenner.

When you returned to Cuba Point, you stayed there, but Oswald and some of the other members of the squadron returned to Japan?

Mr. Powers.

Yes; I think they left out four, four of us stayed behind at Cuba Point.

Mr. Jenner.

Did. you do--did you return then to Atsugi?

Mr. Powers.

Yes; I did.

Mr. Jenner.

About when?

Mr. Powers.

I think it was in May.

Mr. Jenner.

Of 1958?

Mr. Powers.

Yes, sir; late April or early May of 1958.

Mr. Jenner.

When you reached Atsugi, was Oswald there?

Mr. Powers.

During this period of time, I think he was there, but it was shortly thereafter or just before I got there he was--he shot himself in the hand or in the leg or something. I don't remember which part of the body it was.

Mr. Jenner.

In the left arm or elbow.

Mr. Powers.

I'm not sure. I couldn't truthfully say what it was. He was in a different part of the barracks and I think it was in the evening that they hauled him out in an ambulance; yes, it must have been.

Mr. Jenner.

What-was your information and what is still your information with respect to that incident? How it occurred, and whatnot.

Mr. Powers.

He was fooling with a weapon, whether he was cleaning it or what he was doing with it; I don't know. You see, this is what I recall: He was cleaning the weapon and it accidentally discharged, and he was hauled away, and I think he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon or something of this nature; I'm not sure.
They brought him up for court-martial. Whether he was actually court-martialed then, I don't know.

Mr. Jenner.

This was a privately owned weapon?

Mr. Powers.

I think so. All the less, it wasn't--I don't think it was a Government issue; I think it was a small caliber. I think it was a .22.

Mr. Jenner.

Yes; .22 pistol.

Mr. Powers.

Yes.
Mr., JENNER. What was the scuttlebutt about that particular incident, if any?

Mr. Powers.

Nothing. It--just the name again stuck to--"Ozzie screwed up again," or something. That was probably the general statement. I think this was the feeling of the group at that time.

Mr. Jenner.

Now, you used an expression "screwed up again." I'm going to ask you now what was the reputation of Oswald and the attitude of the squadron with respect to him----

Mr. Powers.

Well, going back to----

Mr. Jenner.

During this period of time?

Mr. Powers.

I think this idea of him being a somewhat weaker individual held--well, tie was in the squadron here physically he was not an overpowering individual, and "Ozzie," I think, stuck with him most of the time through the time he was in the Marines or at least the Period that I was associated with him, and he did what he was told and never went out of the way to do any