ALS in pencil signed “Love, Lee, XX,” on a 5.5 x 3.5 postcard with an image of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, no date, but postmarked August 31, 1957. Oswald writes from Hawaii to his mother, Marguerite Oswald, in Fort Worth. In full: “Well only 1 day here but I have been having alot [sic] of fun, 12 more days at sea to Japan.” At the time of writing, Oswald was in his first year of enlistment in the Marines, and was en route to his assignment at Atsugi Naval Air Station in Japan. Provenance: Charles Hamilton Galleries auction, New York, September 30, 1965. Copies of the original catalogue listing, final price list, and related clippings accompany the postcard. A few light creases, mild soiling and handling wear, and tape remnant to image side, otherwise fine condition.
In June 1957, the Marine Corps gave Oswald the occupational specialty of Aviation Electronics Operator. The next month he reported for duty to the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, California, and was attached to the 4th Replacement Battalion. His unit departed for Japan on August 22, and nine days later, during a stop in the Hawaiian Islands, he mailed this postcard home. One wonders what type of “fun” Oswald was having during his brief stay in Hawaii, as most of his short-lived military career revealed evidence of a troubled man. He was court-martialed twice, including once for shooting himself himself in the elbow with an unauthorized handgun. In a separate incident in the Philippines, Oswald inexplicably began firing his rifle into the jungle while on guard duty. After falsely claiming that he had to care for his mother, the Marines granted him a hardship discharge in 1959. Four years later, he would alter the course of history. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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