Biography
Kasinap, Benjamin (Kasimap; Kasinof; Karter, Ben; Kasimir); b. March 19, 1914, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Single; Electrician, Paper Hanger; YCL 1936 and CP 1934; Received Passport# 411529 on May 13, 1937 which listed his address as 1711 North Monroe Street, Baltimore, Maryland (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Arrived in Spain on May 30, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Washington BN, Co. 3, Section 3; First Aid at Brunete; Noted as having deserted after Belchite, went to Barcelona and was there for 10 days before turning himself in to the IB Delegation, was returned to Brigade under guard; December 1937 in Transmissions as aid man; Was in 2nd stage of Retreats; Last unit XV BDE, Estado Mayor, Sanidad; Rank Soldado; Returned to the US on December 15, 1938 aboard the Paris; WWII Armed forces; d. May 19, 1972.Source: Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre (under Kasimir); Pay; Washington; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 849, ll. 4, Special List for Personnel Service, Deserters List of Those Now in Spain,, January 16, 1938; (obituary note) The Volunteer, April 1973.
Photograph: Ben Kasinap, first aid man in Transmiciones, December 1937. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11-0668. Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.