“...and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ABRAHAM LINCOLN TheThe VVolunteerolunteer JOURNAL OF THE VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE Vol. XXI, No. 3 Summer 1999 From War Hero to Blacklist THE LONELY ODYSSEY OF A LINCOLN VET By Peter Carroll ver since Bill Clinton awarded posthumous ECongressional Medals of Honor to seven African American heroes of World War II, including Staff Sergeant Edward Carter, Jr., the administration could take credit for correcting the racial injustice that had deprived black sol- diers of equal treatment in the war against fascism. But what the public—and the president—did not know was that the celebrated Sgt. Carter had been twice victimized: Once because of racial discrimination in the Army and a second time because of the color of his politics. Carter had dared to fight in the Spanish Civil War. Last year, Carter’s family allowed me to examine a suitcase full of documents that tell the story of his long, lonely, and ultimately futile effort to overcome the stigma of having served in Spain. Then, this past Memorial Day, the release of Carter’s FBI and military intelligence files prompted U.S. News and World Report to put Carter’s pic- ture on the cover with the caption: “Sgt. Eddie Carter was a hero. But when he came home, the Army accused him of treachery. It was a lie—one that took 50 years to expose.” Carter’s problems began in September 1949, when he learned that that the Army had rejected his application for reenlistment. He then journeyed to Washington, D.C. to Continued on page 11 Chicago Friends of VALB-ALBA The Annual NY Reunion Ariel Dorfman: Sweet Circles News from the Basque Country Consul General of Spain Emilio Cassinello Fraser Ottanelli: A Plaque on a Wall in Florence Hannah Creighton Clinic George Watt Awards INSIDE An Exercise in Letters to ALBA Democracy From: Kol Ze'ev Jerusalem My uncle-Henech Blankrot was a Jewish volun- by Abe Smorodin for the staff VALB teer of the Polish Brigade during the Spanish Civil War. He was born in Kalisz, Poland in 1907. I know fter much discussion, the staff of VALB decid- that he was killed in Zaragoza, Spain. Does anyone ed to submit a resolution on the A know if there is a Jewish cemetery there? Or, even if NATO/Clinton bombings in Yugoslavia to its there was one main cemetery of fallen soldiers that membership. We had previously agreed in the may have included Jewish soldiers? I was just told interest of unity to take no position on this issue, that he may have been killed in a military vehicle but the long and proud history of our organization accident. on matters of war and peace made it an impossible Leon Blankrot position to maintain. [email protected] Maale Adumim, Israel Therefore the following resolution was adopted and forwarded to our membership: Be it resolved that VALB consistent with its record of Dear Sir, support for peace through the years hereby resolves that: I had an uncle who was a volunteer in Spain dur- We call upon our government to stop the bombing of ing the Civil War. His name was Maximilian Yugoslavia now being conducted by NATO/U.S. forces Friedmann and he came from Rumania. We think that and call on all parties to begin negotiations. he died in a concentration camp in France. Would you know how I could find out what happened to Here are the results: him? 140 Vets received the resolution Thank you! 60 voted yes 14 voted no Carin Negoianu 1 checked both boxes [email protected] With the Pros and Cons came many com- ments reflecting how deeply our comrades had thought about the complexity of the sit- uation in the Balkans. Despite the cessation The Volunteer of the bombing, we urge all Vets, particular- Journal of the ly those who did not respond to write to us Veterans of the and in general stay in touch with our office. Abraham Lincoln Brigade an ALBA publication A Salud to all our supporters! 799 Broadway, Rm 227 New York, NY 10003 (212) 674-5552 Marv Gettleman is no longer a member of The Volunteer’s editorial board. He wishes to thank the vet- Editorial Board erans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade for the opportunity to assist them during the last two and a half Richard Bermack • Peter Carroll years in upholding the ideals of antifascist international- Leonard Levenson • Fraser Ottanelli ism they exemplified not only when they bravely Abe Smorodin and Bill Susman volunteered to fight in Spain against Hitler, Mussolini Submission of Manuscripts and Franco, but also in their ongoing struggles over the Please send manuscripts by E-mail last six decades. Salud! to them and to their indelible or typewritten and double-spaced, if possible. If you wish your legacy. manuscripts returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. E-mail at: [email protected] or [email protected] 2 THE VOLUNTEER, Summer1999 Chicago Madison Shouts Plans From the Monument Wall incoln Vet Clarence Kailin Reception Lhas succeeded in gaining approval from the Madison City Parks Commission for the con- Featuring struction of a monument to honor Wisconsinites who served Studs in the International Brigades. “When I heard that Seattle had erected a memorial,” Kailin told Terkel a local reporter, “I thought, it’s he Chicago opening of the time to do something in TShouts From the Wall Madison. This is a progressive poster show featured a star- city. It only seemed right.” studded reception on Kailin and the Parks Saturday, August 14 at the Commission have agreed to a Chicago Public Library's site near the city’s old Gates of Harold Washington Library, Heaven synagogue in James 400 South State Street. The Madison Park. The project has opening reception was co-sponsored Roosevelt University and the Mary won endorsement from numer- by the Chicago Public Library, and Leigh Block Museum. ous local and state leaders, Chicago Friends of the Lincoln Studs Terkel highlighted the pro- including Madison’s U.S. Rep. Brigade, the Instituto Cervantes, the gram. Other speakers included Tammy Baldwin and Madison Center for New Deal Studies, Congressman Danny Davis, 7th C.D.; Mayor Sue Bauman. Jamie O’Reilly and Michael Smith Supporters of the memorial with music from their acclaimed still need to raise about $10,000 Grave Marker revue, Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish to complete construction that Civil War; and Peter Glazer who pre- will include a flagstone walkway sented Spain in the Heart, poetry and an inscribed monument. Sought for readings from the war. Contributors should mail checks to Veterans of the Abraham Eddie Upcoming Chicago Events Lincoln Brigade (VALB), c/o Pasiones: Songs of Spanish Civil War, Clarence Kailin, 501 Evergreen Balchowsky Sept 16, 5;30 p.m. Ave., Madison WI 53704. Polly Connelly, retired UAW Film: The Good Fight, Sept 22, 7 p.m. “I’ve waited a long time to organizer, discovered that Painting and Writing While Bombs Are see some recognition for all the Lincoln vet Eddie Balchowsky is Falling: Art and Literature During the vets from Wisconsin,” Kailin buried in a markerless grave in Spanish Civil War, by Prof. Cary Nelson, added. “But, more than that, I Forest Home Cemetery. Connelly Sept 25, 2 p.m. want to see a monument to the is working with Chicago Friends Film series Sept 28- Nov 30 struggle for economic and social of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade including The Good Fight, and You are justice that our fight was part of. member Jeff Bech, a relative of History You are Legend. I want to see a monument Balchowsky’s, to get a proper For Information: because that’s a struggle just as grave marker. Chicago Friends of the Lincoln Brigade important today as it was in 1937 Any one wishing to donate or 5320 N. Sheridan Road, #1902 and 1938.” help with this cause can contact Jeff Chicago, IL 60640 Bech through CFLB. 773-769-2665 THE VOLUNTEER, Summer 1999 3 ALBA in Chicago Lincoln Brigade Commander Milt Wolff and Ernest Hemingway, 1938 Milt Wolff Speaks at Hemingway Centennial Oak Park, a near-west suburb of Chicago, was a beehive of activity in mid-July during a week long celebra- tion of the Centennial of the birth of Ernest Hemingway. Milt Wolff, last Commander of the Abraham Lincoln The cast of Peter Glazer’s Heart of Spain with Lincoln vets (seated, left to right) Battalion addressed a standing room John Rossen, Carl Geiser, Charles Hall, Max Shufer, and Bob Steck. only gathering at the Oak Park Library. Other speakers included Brian Peterlinz, Chicago teacher and San Pedro Prison Vets Reunion Co-chair of the Chicago Friends of the Lincoln Brigade, and Lincoln veteran a Big Success Charles Hall. The audience was com- posed of all ages, which indicated the Sixty years ago, on April 22, 1939, combines original text with poetry, intense interest in the legacy of the 71 American prisoners of war music and stories of the Spanish Civil International Brigades and for the role marched across the International War. Glazer is interested in continuing of Hemingway and other journalists. Bridge from Spain to freedom in to develop Heart of Spain and eventual- Joe Powers Sr, an Oak Park resident, France, after having been held as pris- ly would like to put on a full-scale told the story of Thane Summers, a oners of war in the concentration production. But for now he said he is family friend of the Hemingway's, camp of San Pedro Cardena for over a happy with the students' work and and a graduate of Oak Park River- year.