Biography

Owen, Bob (birth name Borice Jules Israel; Blaine Owen was used only on his passport and ship record; Israel, Boris; Caldwell, Peter); b. February 8, 1910, McKeesport, Pennsylvania; College 2 years; ROTC 2 years; Married; Journalist; CP 1932, member org. dept.; Received Passport# 424314 on May 25, 1937 which listed his address as 131 East 18th Street, NYC; Sailed May 29, 1937 aboard the Britannic; Arrived in Spain via Massanet on June 13, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Mackenzie-Papineau BN in training; Transferred to Lincoln-Washington BN, Secretary Co. 1; Rank Soldado; Was responsible for putting out Nuestro Combate and later wrote for the Volunteer for Liberty; Served at Quinto and Belchite; Reported MIA Retreats with note “al hosp. enfermo cerca Barcelona;” Was in hospital at Benicasim; After release from Hospital worked in Barcelona as a journalist for the Federated Press and was living in the Hotel Majestic; Returned to the US on March 3, 1939 aboard the Aquitania; d. December 12, 1943, Duarte, Los Angeles, California.

Siblings: brother Marion Israel

Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Figueres List (under Blain, Owen); Mac-Paps; BN 58 Retreats; RGASPI (under Owen, Blaine) Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 958, ll. 61-66; Find-a-Grave# 160472739. Code A

Photograph: Bob Owen (Borice Israel) and his brother Marion Isreal circa 1920; L-W Tree Ancestry.