Biography
Shaker, Kenneth Roger. (Rubin), b. January 19, 1916, Springfield, Massachusetts; Father Barney Shaker, mother Rose Shaker Shanberg; Graduated from Weaver High School and attended Hartford Federal College for 1 year; Single; Student; Received Passport# 448273 on June 28, 1937 which listed his address as 32 Winchester Street, Hartford, Connecticut; Sailed April 18, 1937 aboard the Paris; Arrived in Spain via Massanet on August 31, 1937; Training base Tarazona until October 5, 1937; Served with the XV Brigade, Lincoln-Washington Battalion, Section Leader; Last unit Lincoln-Washington Battalion, MG Co.; Rank Cabo December 1937 and Sargento September 1938; Served at Fuentes de Ebro, Teruel, Segura de los Baños, Retreats (Belchite, Caspe, Gandes, and Mora de Ebro) and the Ebro Offensive (Crossing through Sierra Pandols); WIA August 24, 1937 at Sierra Pandols by shrapnel, hit in the ear, in hospital Tarazona 1 week, Caldes de Mallvella 2 weeks, and Santo Coloma 2 weeks; Captured during Retreats but escaped; Returned to the US on December 15, 1938 aboard the Paris; WWII US Army, commissioned through officer candidate school (OCS) and joined the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Company Commander; Fought at Anzio, Southern France, and the Bulge, Rank Captain, received the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart; Member of the San Diego Post of VALB; d. May 3, 2001 San Diego County, California, buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
Siblings: sisters Mildred Blumenthal and Shirley La Bonte, Brother Theodore.
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; Pay; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 986, ll.16-20; USSDA 2:0922, 60:0188; POW; Good Fight C, Harriman; Find-a- Grave# 49312339; (obituary notice) The Volunteer, Volume 24, No. 1, p. 21, Sue Garson, “For Whom the Bell Tolled, San Diego Veterans of the Spanish Civil War, San Diego Reader, July 17, 1980.
Photographs: Ken Shaker, from Paris return photo, 1938, Family identification.
Siblings: sisters Mildred Blumenthal and Shirley La Bonte, Brother Theodore.
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; Pay; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 986, ll.16-20; USSDA 2:0922, 60:0188; POW; Good Fight C, Harriman; Find-a- Grave# 49312339; (obituary notice) The Volunteer, Volume 24, No. 1, p. 21, Sue Garson, “For Whom the Bell Tolled, San Diego Veterans of the Spanish Civil War, San Diego Reader, July 17, 1980.
Photographs: Ken Shaker, from Paris return photo, 1938, Family identification.