Mr. Powers.

people did make this kind of statement, and you never again attached any significance to it.
Some individuals did extend--rather ask for an extension. Whether he did or not, I don't know.

Mr. Jenner.

What about Oswald's drinking habits or propensities?

Mr. Powers.

I think that he probably maybe experienced inebriation maybe possibly for his first time while he was in Japan, extensively at least; and other than that, I don't know. And a lot of the guys just went out, and that's all they went out for, to get drunk, and that was it. I don't know.

Mr. Jenner.

But you have no impression of Oswald in that particular connection?

Mr. Powers.

No; nothing. My actual association with him in Japan was limited to other than just seeing him in the barracks and saying, "Hi, Ozzie."

Mr. Jenner.

Did he have any interest in the Russian language?

Mr. Powers.

Somewhere along the line he was reading a Russian book or Something. I'm not sure, again, whether it was written in Russian or whether it was written in the American language. It pertained to the Russian philosophy, but there is something in my mind that I relate associate, reading this type Of literature. I think it was in Japan, but I'm not sure, though.

Mr. Jenner.

Do you have any impression of him studying the Russian language as such?

Mr. Powers.

In actually sitting down and studying it; no.

Mr. Jenner.

In seeking to become familiar with the language?

Mr. Powers.

I would say no; no, that I do not because I just don't have any real concrete recollections for the individual other than just brief glimpses.

Mr. Jenner.

Were you still acquainted with him, still stationed with him when there arose an incident where he had an altercation with a noncommissioned officer?

Mr. Powers.

I'm not sure. It seems to me I was, but again I'm not sure. It either came--I truthfully can't say, but there is something again, maybe something that I read since then, or since when all of this came out, something that I read, but there is something in my mind that he had a fight with a non-commissioned officer or something of this nature.

Mr. Jenner.

That wasn't extraordinary; that would occur once in a while?

Mr. Powers.

Yes. All of a sudden a guy blows up and swings at somebody, and right away it's a fight. And if it could be blown out of proportion, too, if the noncommissioned officer wanted to take it, any time take a swing or strike a blow, it was supposed to be a serious offense in the Marines; well, is it or not, I don't know.

Mr. Jenner.

By this time, were you a sergeant?

Mr. Powers.

I believe I made sergeant right before I came home, or---I think it was a week or two right before I came home. I was a sergeant before I left to come home, I believe.

Mr. Jenner.

Still at this time Oswald continued to have the reputation that he was not an aggressive person?

Mr. Powers.

No; I don't think--I think he came out of his shell, to coin a phrase; he was becoming older and more mature, and he stood a little more for his personal rights; at least, this is an opinion that you get from the incident that he did have there in the barracks, not from close relationships with him.

Mr. Jenner.

Did you have a recollection that in Japan he began to stand up for his own rights?

Mr. Powers.

Yes.

Mr. Jenner.

He was a little more aggressive than he was back in the States?

Mr. Powers.

Yes. Again this might go back to the area that he was too scared the first year or so or 9 months while he was in the Marine Corps, after coming out of the initial indoctrination of coming out of training, and then he becomes himself, so you can't make a subjective appraisal during that tint 9 months.

Mr. Jenner.

Did he ever express any sympathy toward the Communist Party?

Mr. Powers.

None that I recall.