AFFIDAVIT OF DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY, JR.
The following affidavit was
executed by David Christie Murray, Jr. on May 15, 1964.
PRESIDENT'S
COMMISSION
ON THE
ASSASSINATION OF
AFFIDAVIT
PRESIDENT JOHN
F. KENNEDY
STATE OF
FLORIDA,
County of Duval,
ss:
I, David Christie Murray, Jr.,
1419 Pinewood Road North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, being first duly sworn,
depose and say:
That I served in the United
States Marine Corps from approximately October, 1956, to October, 1959. I
served with Lee Harvey Oswald in MACS-9 at the Lighter Than Air Station at
Santa Anna, California. Part of the time I was stationed at Santa Anna, I was
married and therefore during that time lived off the base. While at Santa Anna,
I served also with a Marine named Nelson Delgado, whom I had previously known
while I was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina. My impression is that
at this time Delgado was an immature person with few original thoughts.
Oswald did not often associate
with his fellow Marines. Although I know of no general explanation for this, I
personally stayed away from Oswald because I had heard a rumor to the effect
that he was homosexual. I personally observed nothing to support this rumor,
and am not sure that I heard it from more than one person. Oswald seldom, if
ever, went out with women; this may have been one of the reasons I came to the
conclusion that he might have been homosexual.
Oswald complained about orders
given him more than the average Marine did. He was a person who was never
satisfied with any event or situation. He was quietly sarcastic. Though he
tried to be witty, in my opinion his attempts at humor failed. However, he---unlike Delgado--was not a show-off; he
did not seem to want to be the center of attention.
I regarded Oswald as quite
intelligent, and, prior to the assassination of President Kennedy, was of the
opinion that he had received a college education.
I am under the impression that
he told me that he was a college graduate, but I may have come to this
conclusion because he once spoke to me of going to Officer Candidate School.
Oswald was not personally neat,
but he performed his job well. When I knew him, he was studying Russian. He
often made remarks in Russian; the less intelligent members of the unit admired
him for this.
I do not recall Oswald's making
any remarks on the subject of religion. Nor do I recall his drinking. Although
I do not remember his getting into any fights, he had a "chip on the
shoulder" personality which would be likely to involve him in fights. I do
not remember his studying either Spanish or German.
Although I recall that Oswald
read a great deal, I do not remember what sort of books he read. He played
chess a good deal, particularly with Richard Call. I have no recollection of
his enjoying music. Nor do I remember his making any trips off post, or his
subscribing to a Russian newspaper.
Most of his fellow Marines
called Oswald "Lee." I do not remember his being called
"Oz".
Signed this 15th day of May,
1964, at Duval County, Fla.
(S)
David Christie Murray, Jr.,
DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY, JR.