SAC Seattle re CHANGED NORJAK, interview of David Sturges Cooper, Subject #738

SAC, SEATTLE (164-81) (P) 11/6/75

SA [redacted] b6 b7C

CHANGED NORJAK

---

RE: DAVID STURGES COOPER SUBJECT #738

Title marked changed to reflect correct middle name of subject #738 as being STURGES rather than as previously reported STUGES.

Re Seattle memo of SA [redacted] 9/26/75. b6 b7C

On 10/30/75, DAVID STURGES COOPER, [redacted] Yelm, Washington, was advised of the identity of SA [redacted], FBI, and upon being advised of this agent's identity, COOPER stated he was not D.B. COOPER. He added that he had spoken of the Northwest Orient Airlines hijacking with [redacted] Yelm, Washington, and they had joked about his name being similar to that of the hijacker.

Mr. COOPER stated that he was a retired U.S. Army Colonel, receiving a pension in excess of $1400 a month. He added that he was last stationed at Madigan Hospital and explained that he had been a doctor in the Army. He further advised that he served in the Special Forces in the Republic of Viet Nam and Laos during the early 1960's and he has been trained as a parachutist, as well as receiving flight training and also attaining the title of Flight Surgeon.

He stated that he retired about the first of July, 1970, and immediately thereafter travelled to Korea where [redacted], at Seoul, Korea. He b6 b7C

---

(2)- 164-81 PTS/bjt (2)

[handwritten initials]

164-81-[illegible]

DB COOPER-53970 Sub 738

SE 164-81

explained that [REDACTED]

He also noted that he [REDACTED]

Mr. COOPER stated that on 11/24/71, at the time of the hijacking, he was at home with [REDACTED]

COOPER stated that he currently is building a new home on a 10-acre parcel of land purchased on [REDACTED] Yelm, Washington, and the home will be valued at approximately $50,000. He stated he is financing the home through the Evergreen Savings and Loan Association, Yelm, Washington. He further stated he owns 68 acres in Lewis County, which he purchased for $23,000, paying $7,000 down and the remainder he is making in monthly payments. He added that the ten acres of land on which he is building his house was purchased for $17,000; $5,000 down with the remainder being made in monthly payments. COOPER stated that prior to his retirement, he had at one time as much as $100,000 in stocks; however, during his being stationed overseas, he lost approximately $50,000 because of market drops and he noted that at this time he still currently owns approximately $20,000 worth of stocks from which he receives $300 to $500 a year in dividends. Mr. COOPER added that he does not use any credit cards, but does have a checking account and safe deposit box with the Pacific National Bank of Washington, Spanaway Branch.

COOPER stated that he had been fingerprinted by the U.S. Army and had received a Top Secret Clearance. He further noted that he has never smoked cigarettes.

The following description was obtained by observation and interview:

Name: DAVID STURGES COOPER Race: White Sex: Male Age: 52 years

2

DB COOPER-53971

SE 164-81

Date of Birth: 9/15/23 Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio Height: 5'8½" Weight: 145 lbs. Hair: Grey Eyes: Hazel Complexion: Fair SSAN: 297-16-9901

---

Also, on 10/30/75, [redacted b6/b7C] [redacted] Yelm, Washington, verified that [redacted] was at home on 11/24/71. Both [redacted] noted that they virtually stay at this residence all of the time and, with only two or three exceptions, have they travelled from the residence for any prolonged period.

---

It should be noted the writer feels there is enough discrepancies in the physical description between DAVID STURGES COOPER and UNSUB to eliminate him as being identical. However, it is noted that COOPER has been fingerprinted by the U.S. Army, and, therefore, comparisons of his fingerprints with partial fingerprints in file will be left to the discretion of the case agent.

---

DB COOPER-53972

---

b6 b7C

3