Biography

k-Arion, Irving Ernest (Arlon, Ernest); b. April 16, 1912, New York, New York; Russian American; father Myer Arion (1878 Plinsk, Russia (Poland)-1947), mother Eva Eisenberg (1881-1921); Single; Director and Composer; CP 1934; Received Passport# 366551 on February 11, 1937 which listed his address as 51 ½ Horado Street, NYC; 26 years old; Sailed February 20, 1937 aboard the Ile de France; Arrived in Spain on March 17, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Washington BN, Co. 1, Section 1; Killed in action July 9, 1937, Brunete.

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Siblings: brother Jacob (1904-?), sister Rose (1908-?).

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Source: Scope of Soviet Activity; Americans; Americans and Canadians Killed in Spain Complete list to November 15, 1937; Washington; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 858, ll. 34; ALBA 192 Miriam Sigel Friedlander Papers. Code A

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Biography: Ernest Arion grew up in the Midwest. He lived in New York in the early 1930s where he was a member of the Young Communist League and was involved in an International Workers Order theater group called the Convulsionaries. In Spain, Arion fought with the Washington Battalion and continued to perform, providing entertainment to troops and the inhabitants of towns that hosted Loyalist training camps. Arion was a Group Leader before he was killed on July 9, 1937. - Courtest of Tamiment Library, NYU.

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Photograph: Irving Ernest Arion, passport photograph, 1937.