For more than sixty years, Lee Harvey Oswald has been known for playing a leading role in the Kennedy assassination. But not much is known about Oswald other than for being the man accused of murdering the 35th President of the United States. Here are five interesting facts that you may have never learned!
1. He served in the Marines — where his nickname was “Osvaldovich”
Oswald took an early interest in socialism after picking up a leaflet about the coming execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, who had been convicted of spying for Russia. “I was looking for a key to my environment, and then I discovered socialist literature,” Oswald wrote in his diary. “I had to dig for my books in the back of dusty shelves of libraries.” Despite his socialist leanings, Oswald enlisted in the Marines and in 1957 was stationed in Atsugi, Japan. While there, he earned the nickname “Osvaldovich.”
2. He was linked to an assassination attempt before JFK
Seven months before the Kennedy assassination, Oswald allegedly fired into the home of an ultra-right wing Army general named Edwin Walker. The bullet, which missed Walker, was linked to Oswald’s ammunition after the Kennedy assassination.
3. He once considered hijacking a plane to Cuba
According to McMillan, Oswald wanted to help train Castro’s army in Cuba, but because he could not secure a visa, he was forced to devise an alternative plan.
4. Oswald was arrested for the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit but not for the murder of JFK.
It wasn’t until 10 hours after his arrest that he was finally charged with murdering the president.
5. About two hours after the assassination of JFK, Oswald was brought to the jail.
Dallas PD investigators, however, did not know for sure who they had in custody since Oswald was found to have two different identifications on his person. One was in his real name and the other bore the name Alek James Hidell. To make identification even more difficult, Oswald refused to tell them who he was, instead, choosing to recommend that since they were the cops, they could figure it out themselves.
Mama's Boy, premiering at Stageworks Theatre on April 9, takes a look into Lee Harvey Oswald's relationship with his overbearing mother. Get your tickets and learn more about Oswald and how he "ticked."
