International Brigades
Dave Smith: “This question requires a long discussion concerning my political development as a young man. But briefly, I was born in Massachusetts and left Chelsea High School in 1931 to attend the University of Michigan. My family was basically apolitical. At Michigan in my sophomore year, there was a large demonstration outside the Ford Motor Plant in Ipsilanti (30 miles away) concerning union organizing. The Ford security guards came out and shot and killed 3 of the young men in the demonstration. This was a catalyst for the students at Michigan to voice their support for the workers. A tremendous demonstration took place at the university and the university was shut down. At this time throughout the country students were organizing into the National student League which then united with the American Students Union, a larger organization. You have to read about the depression years to get a full picture of what was happening on our country. I suggest you read Prof. Howard Zinn's, People's History of the United States, the chapter on self-help in hard times. I became politically involved and eventually my thinking leaned left of center as I left Michigan in 1935 and I did substitute teaching and various jobs in the Boston area"
“The U. S. volunteers formed the Lincoln Battalion and later it became the 15th Brigade when more volunteers arrived. You must remember the majority of the Americans had not received any military training at home and I was at the front line on Feb. 24th – quite a fast trip - after receiving a rifle and 3 bullets to shoot which completed my military training! So the early volunteers didn't receive much training. The Republican government didn't have an army and had to develop one as the war took place, any many of the young men from the agriculture areas in Spain couldn't even read - but they did a remarkable job. Later on a training base at Albacete was set up where all English speaking volunteers received training.”
