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Lini Fuhr was born July 1, 1905, Patterson, New Jersey, and died March 27, 1982, in New Jersey.

Lini did not fight in the war; rather, she served as a nurse.

Lini served in the war for three months, after which she was repatriated into the United States and eventually moved to Mexico.

Lini continued to serve as a nurse when returning back home.

“Feel good today-got a whole night's sleep from 8 P.M. till 6:30 this AM. What to someone else is a bottle of champagne may be a night's sleep and an American cigarette to us, and when we get a letter-ah-that's the height of pleasure! By the way-when are you going to write me? Haven't heard from you yet-least you could do”

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William Sennet was born in October 1914 in Chicago Illinois. From a young age he was actively involved in social justice campaigns and hunger strikes.

He volunteered for the war with the Communist Party when he was 23 years old, serving with a different regiment before briefly joining the XV Brigade. He returned to the United States after a year and half in combat but returned to service during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps in 1943.

He spent his time teaching illiterate soldiers after the war, even though he only had a ninth-grade level education, and eventually managed a multi-million-dollar trucking company. He died in 2003 in Los Angeles, California.

“Yes sir – the big offensive is on, and stories from Spain will be much different now. Let me hear what the American papers say about it. Enclosed you will find the bulletin issued to us before the drive started. It was really an inspiring thing to read and started everybody off in the right spirit.”

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David Gordan was a Russian American born in Russia in 1909. He attended university in Wisconsin and worked in the paper industry as well as being a CP organizer. He served in Spain from 1937 to 1939 when he returned to the US and worked as an editor for the Daily Worker paper. In 1944 he enlisted in the US Army to serve in WWII. David died in 1973 in NYC.

“What is more, this particular poster deals with the principal pride of Catalonia, with what so strongly characterizes its special individuality and comprehends all of its cultural traits−the Catalan language… The specially marked portion, translated, reads: “Jose Juan Jubert (fined) 100 pesetas and Javier Gibert Porrero, 100 pesetas, for speaking in Catalan at the table in the dining room of a hotel.””

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"I am now living through an inspiring period of Spanish history and can watch the play unfold from my position on stage. . .The main party slogan of "Unity to win the war" has expressed the real sentiment of the masses, and the Spanish people are rolling towards their revolutionary destiny like one man. This spirit crops up throughout the Spanish Army and results in unbelievable acts of heroism and sacrifice."

Lawrence sailed out April 4, 1937 on the Aquitania. He had served in the national guard previously. He was killed in action on January 22, 1938 in Teruel, seven years after his affiliation with the Communist Party in 1931.

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About Kanute Frankson: Kanute Frankson was originally from Jamaica and immigrated to the USA, where he worked as an auto-mechanic. In addition to fighting in the Spanish Civil War, Frankson taught mechanic classes in Spanish to young Spaniards. After being injured in the war, Frankson returned to the US, where he later died in a car crash.

Letter Quote: “As soon as I got to the foot of the steps I heard the machine gun and I ran back into the shelter. My father and mother, and many of the neighbors, ran up to see what was happening. When I finally got to the top of the stairs I saw them lying in pools of blood.”

-- Entry written by: Catey Borja --

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Edward K. Barsky, born in 1855, was a medical doctor and surgeon from New York City. He founded the North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy, which arranged for the shipment of medical supplies and ambulances to Spain from the United States. Later, in 1937, he and other medical personnel from the committee traveled to Spain to serve with the Republican Medical Service in American Hospitals during the Spanish Civil War. He set up hospitals throughout Spain, as well as worked in mobile hospitals close to the front to help wounded soldiers recover. After a trip home to the U.S. to raise funds, he returned to Spain and was appointed the Surgeon General of the International Sanitary Service. After the war, he was married and together they adopted one daughter.

“The horror — the misery — the feeling of impotence that we had-the sense of resignation and acceptance-all these would make a terrible tale. How we tried to keep the place warm—fought to heat water-struggled with gasoline stoves that wouldn't work — This night we worked over apparently hopeless cases — operating — operating — treating shock — groans of the wounded — the transfusionist running from one operating room to another — and we kept going all the time. I don't know where we got the strength and the endurance to keep going — but we did. The sky was gray when we stopped and I for one, hoped that it would pour — rain and rain — so that the planes wouldn't come and so that we could sleep —I got to bed — really too tired to sleep — finally dozed off. And was suddenly awakened. That morning the planes came over early and bombs were dropping about us.”

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Leon Rosenthal was born on November 20, 1912 in Hartford, Connecticut and was killed in February 1938.

He was a mechanic and salesman and was part of the YLC in 1935.

He sailed on the Aquitania on May 12, 1937 and the Georgic on May 15, 1937. He arrived in Spain on June 6, 1937.

He served with the XV International Brigade, which fought for the Spanish Republic.

"Lazily the delicate cirrus clouds float across the deep blue sky, the birds chirp gently and underneath is the deeper sound of drums, the recruits drilling below on the Exposition mall - the distant sound of auto horns & street cars fading as the wind shifts” (423-424).

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David Gordon, who signed his letters Dave, was an American born in Dimitovka, Russia.  He attended Wisconsin  Experimental College.  He served in the Spanish Civil War for two years from 1937-1939.  He went on to serve in WWII, enlisting in 1944.  Upon his return, he worked as editor for the Daily Worker.  Dave died in New York City in 1973.

“Yet how easily a bomb crushes one [village] to the earth-making a heap of sand, stones and splinters. And they were such pretty, post-card pictures before -villages and towns out of the children's story books.” -Letter on August 14th, 1938

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Leon Rosenthal was born November 20, 1912 in Hartford, Connecticut. He married Lee Brohinsky, whom his letters were addressed to, about two and a half years before he sailed to Spain on May 12, 1937, as a member of the Lincoln Brigade. Before joining the Lincoln Brigade, he was a mechanic and a salesman, giving him the needed experience to operate the "sound truck" used to spread propaganda to the fascists on the front lines of the battlefield. Rosenthal was killed in action in February, 1938 on the Extremadura Front.

“I do, however, want to mention one of the many thrilling sights of the past few days–one for which we had a real grand-stand seat. The fascist bombers and pursuit planes had come over to attempt to bomb and strafe our lines. Before they could get a real start–out of nowhere appeared a large number of our “chatos'' pursuit planes–they attacked the fascists in their skillful formation…This is only an isolated incident–we have seen, in our short time at the front, much to warm the heart of an anti fascist. Someday–soon I hope–we’ll discuss these things over a quiet cup of tea.”

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Harry Meloff was born in New York City, New York on June 10th, 1915. Meloff was born into Jewish family who migrated from Russia to New York prior to his birth. Before the war, Meloff was an actor, composer, and musician as a member in the Convulsiaries and the Youth Theatre.

Harry openly associated with the Communist party and sailed for France on February 2nd, 1937 at the age of 23. He fought in Brunete and Belchite where he was killed in action on September 15th, 1937.

"It's things like what you said-"I figure that I have more to read here than you there so I may as well send you more letters than I receive-" that makes me realize my real friends"
think of me not only when they get mail"(145).

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John Leopold Simon was born on January 18, 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died on December 20, 1999 in New York City. He arrived in Spain in February of 1937 and served there until his return in November 1938. During his time in the war, he served as a soldier with various battalions and as a doctor. Upon his return to the US, Simon went to medical school and ultimately opened a private practice in psychiatry. He was interested in the social roots of mental illnesses, and he wrote articles to help the working class fight against capitalism.

“The relation of the Americans to the other national groups and to the Spanish population is unique. In the Brigade, it is always the Americans who start the singing. The juvenile qualities, of which our people are accused by the slightly effete savants of Europe, come into good stead by infusing their enthusiasm into the more mature working class groups from the European countries. Then, too, Americans are still thought of by most Europeans, even by many European workers, as being almost universally rich. That these "rich" Americans should have crossed the seas to fight for them impresses the Spanish people, & explains the extra loud cheers the populace greets us with.”

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Archie was born march 1911 and died in 1990, at 79 years old from cancer. Archie grew up in Sioux Falls with his mother and father.  He joined the young communist party and helped with the helped the newsboys advance their cause, and fostered Brown's political education. Archie was known for his organization skills and he got to gather rally's and talks about what was happening in this time. He was arrested  at one of these rallies for disturbing the peace. After jail, he joined  the international Brigardes from Spain and fought for some time. He returned home and enter the war.  He remained overseas until early 1946, serving with the occupation forces in Europe.  He was named state trade-union director for the Communist Party. Archie ran communist and activist movements. It seemed that Archie has a strong voice in this time.

"I am writing this on top of a very steep cliff overlooking our lines stretched in the valley below. There is a lull between the fighting, and the enemy artillery is devoting all its attention to us. So are the trench mortars, not to mention the aviation, which is almost ceaselessly overhead. There is no doubt that they have discovered our Headquarters, but we can't afford to move because this is the bestobservation post we have. Life is exciting. “

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David Gordon was born January 25th, 1909 in Dimitovka, Russia. He went to college at Wisconsin Experimental College. David was the editor of a newspaper, "The Daily Worker." He died on June 21st, 1953 and is laid to rest in Long Island Cemetery.

"I imagine food has been a problem as old as the history of living things. You'll grant that makes it a rather old subject. Yet with new conditions, in a new setting it becomes a new problem. Let me give you some facts and impressions about a food question here-and its partial solution--Barcelona had a food problem. Prohibitive prices prevented many from eating as they should."

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Hutner Herbert was born on December 6, 1910 in New York City, New York. He was Romanian American, his dad being from Romania. He served with the XV BDE (Lincoln- Washington Battalion) with his brother Daniel Hutner who was killed in action. He returned to the US on November 23, 1937 and wrote his letter this year as well. Hutner also fought in WWll in the US armed forces from October 1942 -1946. He passed away in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida.
Letter Quote: “We spent all our time laughing at each other and at everything under the sun. It was a time for laughter indeed-there was soon to be little enough laughter. But it was the laughter of men-men who were not afraid to die, but who loved life.”
Entry by: Sydney Hagey

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Robert Merriman was born on November 17, 1908, in Humboldt, California. He graduated from the University of Nevada before doing his graduate work at the University of California. He was 29 years old when he decided to serve with the Lincoln Battalion. Merriman first served as the Adjutant Commander thanks to his ROTC background, but later took over as the command of the battalion when they went to the Jarama Front. Merriman identified as part of the communist party. He was wounded in action on February 27, 1937, and had to recover before going back into action. He was killed in action in April, and it is believed that he was captured and then executed.

"Marion, dear, I love you! I am willing to die for my ideas. May I live for them and you! Men may die and mean to die (if necessary) so that the revolution may live on. They may stop us today but tomorrow we take up the march."

Esmeralda Arce

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Donald MacLeod was born on March 28th, 1913, in Wisconsin. He went to the University of California for college, and was a single man. He sailed aboard the Aquitania in 1937, and arrived in Spain about a month later. While in Spain, he served with the 1st Regiment de Tren. He returned to the United States in late October of 1938 aboard the Brittanic. He married his wife, Janice Billings, in 1941, and passed away July 28th, 1987.

“Finding yourself now in the Fascist Army and feeling the injustice of your past existence and at the same time knowing that your fellow countrymen are fighting to establish a better & more just mode of living, you can understand why there are still, in spite of increased vigilance by the fascists, over one hundred deserters a week to our lines. And why, furthermore, we gain, after taking a town, almost as many men as we lose in taking it.”

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Canute Frankson was born on April 13, 1890, in the Parish of St. Catherine's in Jamaica.

He emigrated to Wilkes Barre, Pennslyvania in 1917 with his wife Rachel. He worked as a machinist while living in Pennslyvania and continued the same practice after moving to Detroit. He joined the communist party in 1934 and set sail to Europe in 1937. His skills regarding auto machines served greatly in the war and was promoted to Head Mechanic at the International Garage in Albacete. His ability to speak Spanish also helped him greatly. Unfortunately, he was killed in an auto accident in 1940.

The quote that stuck out to me from Canute Frankson was this:

"Strange, although I knew that those airplanes over my head carried hundred of pounds of high explosive bombs, and that any minute they may be let loose upon us, I was not at all frightened. It may have been because of the children's attitude."

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Anne Taft was born December 31, 1912 in New York City to a Jewish family. She attended Nurses Training at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital School and had 1 year of college. She left the U.S. on January 16, 1937 and arrived in Spain on January 28, 1937, where she served with the Medical Services, Romeral Hospita, Villa Paz and Mataro. She returned to the States on August 30, 1938 and married Dr. Leon F. Muldavin. Taft died in New York on March 17, 1989.

"No running water; water had to be carried in the house after we had pulled it up from a weIl, and then was placed in tanks for scrubbing. Water had to be carried in for the autoclaves, etc. Dur autoclaves are heated by prima stoves which run on kerosene, and you can't imagine how much work there is attached to sterilizing and keeping things clean. We spend hours trying to figure out a way in which to sterilize our goods so that things come out dry."

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Born in Chicago, Illinois.

He attended Harvard University before going to Spain as a journalist to write about the war and then saw how bad it was and thought he needed to fight.

He was not part of any party

Killed in action in Ebro offensive September 22, 1938

He wrote in one of his letters

Darling Mother,

I don't know whether you are aware of the sad fact that I was wounded six days ago

and am taking it easy at a popular Mediterranean hospital. I didn't have the money or facilities to cable. Anyway, it is nothing serious, just enough to keep me out of action for a couple of weeks

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Mary Rolfe was a nurse who volunteered in the Medical System of Spain. She at one point managed 3 hospitals. She joined the fight to defend a cause she believed in, She stayed in the fight because she saw the vigor at which others did too.

"We got up then and started walking to the hotel, the people in the streets came to life, continuing to walk to wherever they had been going when the alarm sounded; we reached the next corner to see a crowd of people pointing up at the sky and then a shout arose, and cheering as our guns got one plane-it came down hurtling through the air head over heels. We were excited, forgetting completely the bombs falling a minute before and we hurried to the hotel to find Ed. "

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Leon was born on November 20, 1912 in Hartford, Connecticut. He married his wife, Lee Brohinsky on December 21, 1935. Lee is the person who he sent the letter that I read to. Sadly, Leon was killed in action on the Extremadura Front in February of 1938, just a year after he joined the Lincoln Brigade.
“And so, darling-we part until the next letter. Be sweet, honey, don't worry about me-and be patient-when you have your citizenship and if the war is not over by then-we'll see what can be done to bring you here-but you must wait until then” (168).

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Harold Smith was a Jewish American solider, born in New York City in 1910. He was educated at the City College of New York. After he sailed to Spain in February of 1937, he was appointed Union Organizer and Clerk in the Washington Battalion. He was wounded in action twice, and returned to the US in 1938. He returned to the US and married his wife Jeanette. He died in 1970.

He wrote in one of his letters to his wife (at the time, his girlfriend):
“No matter what kind of job you get or don’t get – keep your chin up and give ‘em hell.”

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Geiser was born in Ohio in 1910 and he is the oldest of six siblings. In college, he studied electrical engineering in Cleveland.  After college, he joined the first National Student Federation and visited the Soviet Union after the US established relations with them. He was struck by the Soviet ideology and joined the YCL shortly after. He met Sylvia, the recipient of his letters and his future wife, and they moved to New York to be involved in communist politics.
On April 13, 1937 he joined the International Brigades to defend the Spanish Republic. He quickly advanced to Lietuenant, and then organized a training school. He was captured in April of 1938 by fascists and remained a prisoner for a year. Upon returning to the US, he worked as an engineer for aeronautical equipment. Later, he produced works of writing about American prisoners in the Spanish war.

"As you know, our offensive has been victorious and is still continuing. But, believe me, Imp, war means suffering, horrible and nerve wracking. I have never been so exhausted in all my life."

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Jack Freeman was born in January, 1918 in New York City. Both of his parents were left-wing activists. He left for Spain in May, 1937 and was originally assigned to work as a translator at International Brigades rather than fighting in battle. Later, he was promoted to the role of sergeant during the Ebro campaign. He was killed in action at Sierra Cabals in 1938. After his death, his father raised money to support the FALB and to obtain information about his son.

“We are in danger continually and it is not pleasant. But there is a gamble, a risk, a probability. However when there is no probability, when it's a certainty it’s coming at you and you know it-then you've got something…"Ordinary" trench life is just a series of miracles coming so fast one after another that your mind refuses to recognize them as miracles anymore.”

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Sandor was born in Hungary at the very beginning of the 20th C. He served in the Hungarian Army from 1919-1920, fighting in the Hungarian Revolution which brought communism upon Hungary. He moved to Canada in 1921 and then to the US in 1930. He arrived in Spain in 1937 at the age of 37. He documented the XV Brigade with photos and articles while also fighting on the front lines. He later married the woman to whom he wrote many letters to during the war.  He died in 1971 and was survived by his wife Myrtle.

"As to the last I have a fatalistic attitude-if you're bound to get it you'll get it no matter where you are, so this part is easily discarded. My main consideration is that here I am doing useful and important work, I haven't missed an action ever since I joined the Brigade and I wouldn't want to work in the rear guard unless the job is more important and necessary than the one I am doing here. If I could get away for a while I'd infinitely prefer to work on the photo-album of our Brigade which is a pet project of mine."

-THS

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Harry Fischer was born March 12th of 1911 in Brooklyn, New York. He spent the first part of his childhood in a Hebrew orphan home. Later, he would spend a part of his youth as a labor activist, working a hodge-podge of jobs. He volunteered to serve in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade to fight fascism in the Spanish civil war. Later, he returned in WWII to serve as a B-26 bomber turret gunner. After the war he worked for the Soviet News Agency. He died March 22, 2003.

“Above all, the spirit and courage of our American comrades gives me joy. I thought that such courage existed only in books. But I’ve seen acts of bravery I’ll never forget. I’ve seen comrades killed protecting others. I’ve seen comrades die charging over the top. I’ve seen our wounded smile confidence into our comrades still fighting. It’s these things that give you confidence in a final victory. It’s these things that make you fight on in spite of the horror and brutality. It’s these things that give you courage.”

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Sandor Voros was born July 31, 1900, Czegled, Hungary. He moved to the US in 1921 and left behind his father and three sisters. Yet before he left he took part in the Hungarian Revolution.

After arriving in the US, he began military training, wrote a book on his brigade the (XVth Brigade), and become an editor for "The Volunteer for Liberty". He was considered a journalist. This was in part thanks to the 3 years of university education he had.

He died in 1971.

Letter Quote “When moving into action—used as one may be to it—there is always a momentary sinking feeling, a certain sort of apprehension which, try as you may dismiss it, stays with you until the action begins.”

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Barney was born on March 20th, 1910, in Cleveland, Ohio, and he died on May 4th, 1959, in Multnomah, Oregon.
He studied medicine at Rush Medical College, and he got his degree at the University of Chicago.
Barney got married and then served as a flight surgeon during WWII.
During his time in Spain, Barney was put in charge of handling the typhoid epidemic that broke out soon after the bombing of Granoller.
When the epidemic was under control, he was commissioned to Spain to work with evacuated wounded internationals.

"So it is no wonder that with this going on and with the great example of the Spanish
people, we are all stepped up and working the best and hardest we know how. "

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"I guess I'm still one of the luckiest fellows over here. A shell landed about ten feet from me and all I got was a very small piece of shrapnel in my foot. However, my foot became infected and I had a very unpleasant 16 days in the hospital. I've been up and about with the aid of a cane for the past six days. My foot is improving daily and I should be ready for action within a very short time."

Cecil was born on February 10, 1913, in Oakland CA. After graduating from UC, he spent 4 years in US Navy. He went to Spain on April 29, 1937, at the age of 24. He served in the XV BDE, Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion. He was killed on the field in July of 1938, at the age of 25. At the time he was the Chief of Scouts

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Jack Freeman was born January 1918 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up and attended high school and college in New York. His parents here active in left-wing politics. He sailed out to Europe on May 1, 1937, on the ship Britanica. He then sailed to Spain and survived the sinking of the City of Barcelona after it was torpedoed by an Italian submarine. During his time in Spain, he was trained as a mapmaker and scout, but served as a translator for a time due to his age and skill in French. He eventually got his wish of going to the front and rose to the rank of sergeant. In September of 1938 he was struck in the head by shrapnel and killed in action at Sierra Cabals.

"You know that I'm not the kind of guy who flies off the handle easily or who is swayed into foolish actions by his emotions. I've tried to be level-headed, and what I decided I think I could not help deciding… and altho I've felt pretty uncomfortable at times and will probably feel more so soon, I think I was right in coming. I'm experiencing things I never could have otherwise and I'm doing work that was otherwise impossible for me. Those are sufficient reasons."

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Alfred Amery was born January 6, 1906 in Newton Massuchusets. He served briefly in the American infantry, navy and then cavalry before going to Spain. He fled Spain through France, went back to America and then died January 5 2004.
"Life has gone on here in the conventional, traditional rut for centuries; people using the same old wells, the same narrow streets, and the same stone and mortar houses. It is only lately-as you know-that the spark has brought fire-and such fire!"

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Canute Frankson was born in the Parish of St. Catherine, Old Harbor, Jamaica on April 13, 1890. In 1917, he emigrated to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a machinist. Frankson eventually settled in Detroit, where he worked in the auto industry. Frankson joined the Communist Party in 1934. He sailed for Europe aboard the Queen Mary on April 21, 1937. He was appointed Head Mechanic at the International Garage in Albacete. Frankson's fluency in Spanish was a great asset and that many hours of his free time were spent teaching engine repair classes to young Spaniards.
“So far as we are concerned money will never be permitted to accumulate in the hands of a chosen few. No human who saw the results of these bombardments could ever be a supporter of Fascism."

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Geiser was born in the year 1910, in Orville, Ohio. Both his father and mother died when he was around the age of ten, his father succumbing to the flu, and then his mother to tuberculosis. This left him and his five younger siblings to the care of his grandparents.
As he grew up, he juggled farming and school, performing particularly well at the latter.  He studied electrical engineering in college and soon became part of a student group which brought him to the soviet union where he was initially dragged into socialist beliefs which would lead him to join a communist group back home.
Geiser then went on to serve in defense of the Spanish Republic in 1937. He advanced in rank to commissar and even trained other commissars. He eventually found himself a war prisoner of the fascists, which he remained for about a year, but was then released in 1939.
He made it back to the states and pursued, with success, his interests in engineering. It wasn't until the 1970s that he really started to write about what had happened in Spain. With the help of another former prisoner, he was able to make biographical accounts of 120 men who had been imprisoned there. He continued to share more stories from other veterans, compiling a document which would be called, "Prisoners of the Good Fight," until his death in 2009.

"The fascists also held us up a while by forcing the civilian population to withdraw to several buildings along with them so that we wouldn't blow those buildings to pieces. And civilians who tried to escape to us were shot. I myself saw the fascists firing on a crowd of old men, women and children who were trying to get out of town into our ranks."

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Harry Fischer was born on March 12, 1911, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from High School of Commerce and attended Commonwealth College in 1932. Before volunteering, he worked in department stores, he was a busboy, and also spent time as a farmer. He sailed to Spain in 1937 as a merchant marine. He also served in WWII. He married Ruth Goldstein in 1939 and the two of them worked at the Soviet News Agency. They dedicated their lives to each other and their children, before she died, Ruth encouraged Harry to write a book abut his experiences in the Spanish Civil war. It was published in 1998, his second book is in motion to come out despite his death in 2002. He was a soldier, pacifist, writer, and life-long activist.
In one of his letters home, he wrote about one of the bombings he witnessed :
“But what shook me up was the effect of the bombing on the women and children. As soon as the bombs began falling, women and children began crying and yelling and ran about aimlessly. Irv, I and the other fellows tried to calm them down and get them to lie where they were. The planes came back a second time, seven of them. This time Irv and I were with a seven-year-oldy and a middle-aged. The boy was trembling and sobbing. He couldn’t understand what it was all about. I tried to calm him down by saying, “es nada”- its nothing. But I noticed I was nervous myself.”

Entry by: Sophia Campillo

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"My needs?-nothing in the way of clothes or supplies-all I want is to lick the fascists & come home."

Leon Rosenthal was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 20th, 1912. He was killed in action in February, 1938 in  Extremadura Front.

Leon Rosenthal was the second youngest of five siblings. Rosenthal married his wife, Lee Brohinsky, in 1935. Rosenthal worked as a mechanic and salesman before he went to war.

~ Written by Claire Cameron-Smith

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Jack Friedman

Jack Freidman was born January 27, 1913 in New York City. He was originally a farmer until he served with the first Regiments, “de Tren, Squadron Commissar.” He sailed to Spain in 1937 where he served for one year. He returned to the US the following year and died May 19, 1957 in New York City.

“I appeal you to do more. If you have been working 15 hours a day in interest of the Spanish cause, do not be content, increase it to 20 hours a day. You and I must help these people win their fight. They are writing the most glorious page in this history of the working class you must hold the candle for them."

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Rose Freed was born on June 11, 1911, in New York City. She completed Greenpoint Hospital Nursing Training and took classes from Columbia night school. She was a Laboratory Technician and a Microbiologist. She arrived in Spain in 1937 and served with the Medical Services as a Laboratory Technician. She evacuated after she became pregnant and returned to the US in 1938. Rose died in August of 1968.

“We need 1,000 more beds, 14,000 more sheets, 3,000 more pillow cases, 7,000 blankets and 2,000 mattresses. A hospital that has 120 beds and all beds occupied may receive 400 more patients in one evening. The boys suffer so much-there is no reason why we cannot have a bed for each one instead of using the floor or a narrow stretcher when they are in excruciating pain.”

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Mildred Rackley was an unmarried artist born in New Mexico in 1906. She was extremely educated, attending three universities including a doctorate program. Though English was her primary language, she was also fluent in French, German, Spanish. These skills served her well in helping the Communist Party. When she was 31, she left America to serve in the Spanish Civil War, working for the Medical Services as an administrator. After a year, she returned home in 1938 on board the "Aquitania".

During WWII, Rackley worked in a California shipyard. She died years later in 1992.

As an artist, she valued the service of her coworkers at the hospital with wonder and awe. "Every operation Dr. Barsky performed was really a work of art."

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This letter was sent from Madrid, Spain on June 16, '37

About Frederick Lutz: Born: December 9, 1904. Lutz was an electrician for the US Department of Agriculture before traveling to Spain and worked as a Commissar and was in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade general staff as a paymaster. He was not apart of any communist party or union.

About the Letter: Lutz was a citizen who was writing to a friend during the time of the war. In his letter, he explained a bit about the war and what was going on. The war had just left his town and he talked of the beauty that was bestowed upon it such as children playing outside and the birds chirping.

Quote from Letter: "Kids are playing around everywhere. Swallows are soaring round the towers of the large church which faces the square and many other birds are filling the air with song. A bright warm sun shines on all"

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Avelino (Ave) Bruzzichesi was born January 3, 1913 in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Raised in a devout, Italian Catholic family, she was inspired to volunteer in the Spanish Civil War by Fr. Michael O’Flanagan, and Irish, socialist priest who advocated for the Spanish Republic. Though she had no prior experience with political activism, Ave then joined the West Coast Medical Unit and served as both a nurse and secretary with fellow Americans. She died on January 23, 1999.

“Weisfield saw hirn in the hospital at La Vega last night, whistling and having a great time, shot through the elbow. ''What's so funny," he asked, "you there, shot through the elbow!" So the boy told hirn. "Gee, it's great," he said, "you'd have thought so too if you'd been there!"

To see them come into the hospital, frozen, bellies shot through, wrapped up in a dozen of shirts and clothes, trying to keep warm; to get off their frozen, blood- drenched, muddy clothes and see their mangled bodies, poor people, that's not so funny.”

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"Speaking seriously, Sally is a very fine kid, a girl I always respected for her serious approach, for her maturity despite her youth and for her dependability. I am sure you made a good choice. Wish you both lots of luck. "

Sandor was born July 31, 1900, in Szeged, Hungary. He moved to the US in 1921 and lived in Canada from January through November 1930. He attended 3 years of college, from 1918-1919. He was in the Hungarian Army, 141 Artillery, Republican Army, and Soviet Army. As well as taking part in the Hungarian Revolution. Upon his arrival in Spain, he Trained at Almansa then transferred to the Historical Commission and worked on the Book of the XVth Brigade. He returned to the US on December 15, 1938. He married  Myrtle Wrought on September 1971.

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Leo Eloesser was born July 29th in 1881 in San Fransisco California. He was actively involved as a surgeon in military efforts, serving with the Austrian and U.S. army in World War 1. In 1937 he sailed over to Spain and aided Republican Medical Services as a surgeon for the remainder of the war, until he returned home on July 4th, 1938. He passed away October 4th, 1976.

"It seems so impossible, sitting in this little sunny rocky canyon with ants crawling around busily and a couple of partridges whirring out of the bush and butterflies flying futilely about, that so close to here men are killing each other and making life unbearable for each other. One wishes it would end."

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Evan Shipman was born October 23, 1904 in Plainfield, NH. He graduated from the University of Lorraine in Belgium with a study in journalism. Evan originally went to France to deliver ambulances because his friend Ernest Hemingway asked him to. Eventually he ended up going to Spain in 1937 and wanted to join the republic army which he did. Evan's job was to report on the war and be on the radio for the republic people to receive news of what is happening. Evan had no political affiliation either so it was better for him to report so there would be no bias in the reports he gave. He died June 24, 1957.

Madrid is very beautiful now. It is real Spring and all the fruit trees are in blossom. It's fun to walk on the Prado, or down where the book stalls are. I am learning to read Spanish, and I've picked up three books on Spanish horses, but I haven't had the time to read them. When I have the time to think of it, I'm homesick. I didn't put in for repatriation.

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Harry Meloff, also known as Harold Melofsky, was born in 1915 in New York. He was born into a Russian-Jewish family, he was an actor, composer, and musician. He left for Spain in February of 1937, but he would not make it to the end of the year as he was killed in September of the same year in Bilchete. He served in XV BDE, Washington BN, Co. 1, Section 1; Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 1.

"You ask me, what does it feel like? I'll tell you as simply as I can. I never tried to be
silly romantic about the heroic fight we were going into and I'm glad of that. I knew what to expect and so instead of filling my letters with political slogans, as many of the
other fellows did, I minimized that part of it, and wrote mainly of our daily personal life,
scattering anecdotes and kibitzes here and there as much as possible. I hated fascism,
and with a cool head. I gradually prepared for the task I came to do."