Interview of Cooper suspect re military, employment and personal history

FD-302 (REV. 3-8-77)

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FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 9/2/84

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[REDACTED] temporarily residing at the [REDACTED] Toomsuba, Mississippi, was contacted at his place of residence by Special Agents (SAs) [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] of the Meridian Resident Agency (RA) of the FBI. [REDACTED] was made aware of the identities of the interviewing Agents, and of the purpose of the interview, after which he voluntarily provided the following informa- tion:

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[REDACTED] was born [REDACTED] at [REDACTED] grew up on the estate of [REDACTED] estate was located in the State of Delaware, and [REDACTED] was employed as a [REDACTED] with the [REDACTED] worked on the [REDACTED] estate and attended primary education at the EDDYSTONE HIGH SCHOOL until the eighth grade. [REDACTED] has read extensively, and has taken a number of other training courses outside of his formal education in order to supplement his knowledge.

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In [REDACTED] left the [REDACTED] estate and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a rifleman in an infantry platoon. [REDACTED] served throughout the United States and in Korea during the Korean conflict, and was discharged in [REDACTED]

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While in the U. S. Marine Corps, [REDACTED] was treated in a military hospital [REDACTED] [REDACTED] was awarded a Purple Heart after an individual of the military service approached him while he was in the hospital and asked him if he had been injured. [REDACTED] indicated that he had gotten scratched up in his activities with the military, and as such, he was eventually awarded a Purple Heart. [REDACTED] stated that the United States Government, upon further investigation, subsequently asked that the medal be returned, but [REDACTED] was unable to do so in that he no longer had it in his possession.

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While in the Marine Corps, [REDACTED] went into [REDACTED] status, which was later reflected on his

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Investigation on 8/23/84 at Toomsuba, Mississippi File # JN 164A-181 [REDACTED] 164A-81·8171 SA [REDACTED] by SA [REDACTED] :KF/dwd Date dictated 8/25/84

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This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. DB Cooper-19559

FD-302a (3-8-83)

JN 164A-181 Continuation of interview of [REDACTED] , Page 2

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military record.

In [REDACTED] was discharged from the United States Marine Corps, and later in that same year, after becoming intoxicated, enlisted in the United States Army. [REDACTED] was subsequently discharged from the United States Army for [REDACTED] into the United States Army. [REDACTED] stated that at the time of his application into the Army, he did not advise on his application that he had been a former member of the United States Marine Corps.

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In [REDACTED] married [REDACTED] in the State of Delaware. [REDACTED] were divorced after approxi- mately one year of marriage, and he is unaware of her present whereabouts. In [REDACTED] married [REDACTED] in the State of Florida. [REDACTED] after a short period of time, and he is unaware of her present whereabouts. Despite his divorces, [REDACTED] stated that he gets along well with women, and divorced his wives because of personal differences.

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[REDACTED] has lived in a number of locations throughout the United States, which include Phoenix, Arizona; Culver City, California; Fort Worth, Texas; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach, Florida; along with the Portland - Seattle area, Oregon and Washington State.

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[REDACTED] stated that he has been arrested on only a few occasions, one of which was in [REDACTED] [REDACTED] further stated that he was arrested on a few occasions for [REDACTED] but otherwise, did not come into contact with law enforcement authorities.

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The [REDACTED] family consisted of [REDACTED] mother and father, two sisters and two brothers. [REDACTED] is deceased, but [REDACTED] mother, [REDACTED] presently resides at Wilmington, Delaware. [REDACTED] sister, [REDACTED] has twice been married to spouses named [REDACTED] and presently resides as [REDACTED] in Newcastle, Delaware. The other sister is identified as [REDACTED] who resides in Minquade, Delaware. [REDACTED] had two brothers, identified as [REDACTED] residing in Newcastle, Delaware, and another brother, [REDACTED] who died in 1973.

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DB Cooper-19560 FBI/DOJ

FD-302a (3-8-83)

JN 164A-181 Continuation of Interview of [REDACTED] , Page 3

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Throughout his lifetime, [REDACTED] has been employed in a number of positions, which included the [REDACTED] out of Prescott and Flagstaff, Arizona. [REDACTED] was assigned to a [REDACTED] team out of Prescott and Flagstaff, Arizona. As a member of the [REDACTED]

[REDACTED] which were unreachable by conventional means. [REDACTED] stated that he never parachuted while employed with the [REDACTED]

which were unable to land on the ground. While working with [REDACTED] on a number of occasions, spent nights in the woods [REDACTED] but stated at no time did he ever become lost. From his military experience, and from work with the [REDACTED] had experience in reading topography maps, and using orientating skills (cross-country travel by map reading).

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Besides working for the [REDACTED] has been employed in [REDACTED] throughout the United States. [REDACTED] stated from 1969 through 1973, he lived in the State of Florida, where he [REDACTED] on the [REDACTED] at Palm Beach, Florida, and the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In 1981, [REDACTED] went through the [REDACTED] in Ft. Worth, Texas, and eventually worked in [REDACTED] within that city. [REDACTED] further stated that at one time, he was employed as a [REDACTED] in the Newcastle, Delaware, Workhouse, and had also worked in the Portland - Seattle area of the Pacific Northwest. In the last 1960's, early 1970's, exact dates of which his mind is not sure of, he worked in Seattle, Washington, in a western style [REDACTED] worked as a [REDACTED] employee, and as part of his uniform, wore black clip-on ties, while the female employees of the [REDACTED] wore short western-style skirts. While visiting Seattle, [REDACTED] spent approximately three weeks in Portland, Oregon, but does not exactly recall the dates, nor where he had been before or immediately after that time frame in his life.

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[REDACTED] stated that he has lived in Reno, Nevada, during the 1960's, been to Las Vegas, and has spent small amounts of time in Juarez and Tijuana, Mexico.

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DB Cooper-19561

FBI/DOJ

FD-302a (3-8-83)

JN 164A-181

Continuation of interview of [REDACTED] , Page 4

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While in Nevada, [REDACTED] did some gambling and described himself as being a heavy drinker, who has sustained for approxi- mately 11 years. [REDACTED] stated that he mostly drank beer, but on occasion, would drink hard liquor to "impress people." [REDACTED] is a moderate smoker, who generally has always smoked filter tip cigarettes in soft pack containers. [REDACTED] presently smokes Salem brand cigarettes, but has in the past smoked Pall Mall, Camels, and Lucky Strike cigarettes.

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[REDACTED] stated that during his lifetime, he has lived with two or three women in various parts of the country, but he does not recall the locations or their names. [REDACTED] said he generally treated women well, and did not use profane language, except on an occasional basis. [REDACTED] stated that he used to make a habit of going to church on a weekly basis to the [REDACTED] wherever he happened to live.

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Besides his experiences in the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] stated that his flying experience was limited to trips in a [REDACTED] and small fixed wing aircraft of a [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and in the service in military-type transport aircraft. [REDACTED] stated that he had not flown commercially, and had no parachuting skills.

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During the course of the interview, [REDACTED] was asked if he was treated for any medical related problem other than those which he had previously mentioned with regard to his military service. [REDACTED] stated that in 1971 or 1972, he had [REDACTED] The [REDACTED] which was performed in Panama City, Florida, by a Doctor (FNU) [REDACTED] The injury and subsequent treatment of [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] on the outside of the [REDACTED] It is further noted that [REDACTED] the rest of which have either been lost due to injury or disease.

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In the last several months, [REDACTED] has worked at the [REDACTED] in Toomsuba, Mississippi, until Friday, August 17, 1984, when his employment was terminated and he was asked to leave the property. [REDACTED] personal vehicle has an inoperable engine, and as such, he is attempting to obtain funds to either have it repaired, or to obtain transportation from the Toomsuba, Mississippi, area. [REDACTED]

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DB Cooper-19562 FBI/DOJ

FD-302a (3-8-83)

JN 164A-181·

Continuation of Interview of [REDACTED], Page 5

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has all of his personal property with him, and does not have a permanent residence, but at this time, resides at the [REDACTED] at Toomsuba, Mississippi, which is operated by [REDACTED] (FNU) [REDACTED] An agreement has been reached between [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] for [REDACTED] to travel to Bryant, Michigan, where he is to [REDACTED] 76 year old uncle and his wife.

It is [REDACTED] intention to travel to Bryant, Michigan, as soon as possible, upon obtaining transportation to the Michigan area, for him and his two miniature poodles.

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In order to support himself and obtain funds to travel to Michigan, [REDACTED] is working for [REDACTED] [REDACTED] and further works as a [REDACTED] under [REDACTED] for [REDACTED] whose main office is located at [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Freeport, Illinois, 61032. [REDACTED] is a division of the AMWAY CORPORATION, which distributes house- hold type cleaning products.

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By interview and observation, [REDACTED] is more fully described as follows:

Name [REDACTED] Race White Sex Male Age [REDACTED] Date of Birth [REDACTED] Place of Birth [REDACTED] Eye Color Blue Height 5'10" - 5'11" Weight 160 pounds [REDACTED] indicated he has weighed up to 195) Hair Color Dark brown with some graying Hair style Parted on the left side and combed back Dominant hand Right Complexion Ruddy Voice Moderate to low; conversed intelligently; no particular accent Demeanor Polite Social Security Number [REDACTED] Military Service U. S. Marine Corps Service Number [REDACTED] Driver's Licenses Delaware - Number unknown; Mississippi - Number unknown; Texas - current driver's license - [REDACTED] giving an address of [REDACTED] Ft. Worth, Texas, [REDACTED]

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DB Cooper-19563 FBI/DOJ

FD-302a (3-8-83)

JN 164A-181 Continuation of Interview of [REDACTED] , Page 6

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Other identifying numbers [REDACTED] dated January 6, 1982; (division of AMWAY), [REDACTED]

Scars, marks, tattoos [REDACTED]

Deformities or pecularities [REDACTED]

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During the course of the above interview, [REDACTED] made specific inquiry as to whether the fugitive matter being discussed dealt with the hijacking incident in which the suspect parachuted out of the aircraft in Northwestern United States. [REDACTED] further stated that he had wished that he had been the individual that had jumped out of the airplane and gotten away with the money.

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DB Cooper-19564 FBI/DOJ