Searl, Herbert Hunt. (Robert H. Searl); b. May 7, 1912 (1913), San Francisco, California; Father Edward L. Searl (1891-?), mother Dorethy F. Searl (1896-?); Graduated from High School in 1934; US Army 1934-36; Single; Lieutenant Instructor with the Army Air Corps; Pilot and Seaman; No political affiliation; Received Passport#12, Philippines Island series, on November 20, 1935 which listed his address as 900 Haight Street, San Francisco, California, and San Diego, California; Sailed September 11, 1937 aboard the Berengaria; Arrived in Spain via Setcases on September 28, 1937; Served in Tarazona as a rifle instructor until October 23, 1937; December 24, 1937 transferred to Almansa for artillery training until January 24, 1938; Given permission to go to Barcelona to see if he could transfer to Airforce or Tanks (may have overstayed his time and was treated as having deserted the camp of instruction); Arrested in Barcelona on January 28, 1938 and sent to jail in Gardia National; Recommendation was to expel him from Spain, on the same memo a hand-written note indicates “He is in 15 brid Front;” Likely deserted front; Arrived in Gibraltar on May 12, 1938 as a stowaway aboard the Celtic Star, jailed for four days for illegal arrival; Returned to US on the Brynymor as a "workaway" with letters from the American Consul allowing entry into US; Arrived in Philadelphia on May 29, 1938 along with Henry Rudolph Maier and William Henry Howe (Jamieson); WWII Coast Guard, enlisted May 14, 1945 and was discharged on November 4, 1949; Wife Janet Frances Miles (1917-1989), daughter Dorthy Janet Searl (1942-1983), son Frank Miles “Mickey” Searl (1946-1983); d. January 29, 2001 in Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, Hawaii; Suspected of being a spy for the US government.

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Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 984, ll. 36-38; L-W Tree Ancestry. Code A

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Photographs: Herbert Searl in Spain (thumbnail only), RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 984; and from Oakland Tribune, 1938.

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