[KENNEDY, JOHN FITZGERALD]. OSWALD, LEE HARVEY, Assassin of President Kennedy. Autograph letter signed ("Lee") to his mother, Marguerite [Santa Anna, Ca., postmarked 8 July 1959]. 2 full pages, 8vo, with original postmarked Air Mail envelope addressed in Oswald's hand to "Mrs. M. Oswald," and with return address: "PFC LH Oswald...," letter and envelope laminated. A RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE FUTURE ASSASSIN. Oswald, who joined the Marine Corps in 1956, is planning to request a special discharge in order to support his destitute mother. "Dear Mother...[I] was very unhappy to hear of your troubles, I contacted the Red Cross on the base here, and told them about it. They will send someone out to the house to see you, when they do please tell them everything, they want to know, as I am trying to secure an Early (hardship) discharge, in order to help you. such a discharge is only rarely given. but if they know you are unable to support yourself then they will release me from the U.S.M.C. and I will be able to come home and help you. The Red Cross cannot give you funds of any kind they can only give you me. and only If you make the right impression on them. Only if they know you cannot and are not reciving help from any other kin, and only if they know you are in dire need now! Please tell them I will be able to secure a good job, as this is important, also send me the names of some actual business's that I may write them and get an acceptance letter. This last point is not required but it would help my case for a hardship discharge if and when I bring it before my commanding officer. Just inform then I have been your only source of income. Lee."Oswald was discharged, as he hoped, but instead of remaining in Fort Worth to provide for his mother went to the Soviet Union. When the Marine Corps learned of this, his discharge was changed from "honorable" to "dishonorable."

[KENNEDY, JOHN FITZGERALD]. OSWALD, LEE HARVEY, Assassin of President Kennedy. Autograph letter signed ("Lee") to his mother, Marguerite [Santa Anna, Ca., postmarked 8 July 1959]. 2 full pages, 8vo, with original postmarked Air Mail envelope addressed in Oswald's hand to "Mrs. M. Oswald," and with return address: "PFC LH Oswald...," letter and envelope laminated. A RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE FUTURE ASSASSIN. Oswald, who joined the Marine Corps in 1956, is planning to request a special discharge in order to support his destitute mother. "Dear Mother...[I] was very unhappy to hear of your troubles, I contacted the Red Cross on the base here, and told them about it. They will send someone out to the house to see you, when they do please tell them everything, they want to know, as I am trying to secure an Early (hardship) discharge, in order to help you. such a discharge is only rarely given. but if they know you are unable to support yourself then they will release me from the U.S.M.C. and I will be able to come home and help you. The Red Cross cannot give you funds of any kind they can only give you me. and only If you make the right impression on them. Only if they know you cannot and are not reciving help from any other kin, and only if they know you are in dire need now! Please tell them I will be able to secure a good job, as this is important, also send me the names of some actual business's that I may write them and get an acceptance letter. This last point is not required but it would help my case for a hardship discharge if and when I bring it before my commanding officer. Just inform then I have been your only source of income. Lee." Oswald was discharged, as he hoped, but instead of remaining in Fort Worth to provide for his mother went to the Soviet Union. When the Marine Corps learned of this, his discharge was changed from "honorable" to "dishonorable."

Details

[KENNEDY, JOHN FITZGERALD]. OSWALD, LEE HARVEY, Assassin of President Kennedy. Autograph letter signed ("Lee") to his mother, Marguerite [Santa Anna, Ca., postmarked 8 July 1959]. 2 full pages, 8vo, with original postmarked Air Mail envelope addressed in Oswald's hand to "Mrs. M. Oswald," and with return address: "PFC LH Oswald...," letter and envelope laminated. A RARE AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE FUTURE ASSASSIN. Oswald, who joined the Marine Corps in 1956, is planning to request a special discharge in order to support his destitute mother. "Dear Mother...[I] was very unhappy to hear of your troubles, I contacted the Red Cross on the base here, and told them about it. They will send someone out to the house to see you, when they do please tell them everything, they want to know, as I am trying to secure an Early (hardship) discharge, in order to help you. such a discharge is only rarely given. but if they know you are unable to support yourself then they will release me from the U.S.M.C. and I will be able to come home and help you. The Red Cross cannot give you funds of any kind they can only give you me. and only If you make the right impression on them. Only if they know you cannot and are not reciving help from any other kin, and only if they know you are in dire need now! Please tell them I will be able to secure a good job, as this is important, also send me the names of some actual business's that I may write them and get an acceptance letter. This last point is not required but it would help my case for a hardship discharge if and when I bring it before my commanding officer. Just inform then I have been your only source of income. Lee."

Oswald was discharged, as he hoped, but instead of remaining in Fort Worth to provide for his mother went to the Soviet Union. When the Marine Corps learned of this, his discharge was changed from "honorable" to "dishonorable."