Dave Smith International Brigades

Lincoln machine gunners

"I was involved in many actions as a machine gunner and later as a lieutenant and company commander.  We were on the offensive and pushed the fascists back each time, but ran out of munitions and we did not have tanks, artillery or airplane support. We were fighting against fascists who had the Luftwafa German aircraft and artillery and tanks plus 40,000 Italian troops."

PICTURE COMMING SOON

"For a while I was in charge of training new volunteers at the US base in Tarazona.  My last action was at the Ebro front in Catalonia where I was wounded in my left shoulder which developed into a osteo infection, and my left shoulder is now one solid piece.  I left Spain on December 29, 1938.     Not in answer to your question, but in case you want to know, back in the US I have spent my whole life active in politics - fighting for peace and justice. [I] Was a machinist and union organizer, and later became a public school teacher (lived in NYC).  As I retired in Vermont, I was elected town moderator (Sandgate) for many years.  And was chairman of the zoning and planning commission, Bennington county, Democratic club member, etc.  I moved to Calif in 1995 since my whole family had settled there.  Currently I'm chairperson of the Vets & Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, SF Bay Area Post.”

Interview done via e-mail in summer of 2005.