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 noncommissioned 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.