Biography

k-Pierce, James Arthur. 37 years old; Prior military service in the Russian Army; Married; Seaman; CP 1927 and CP of Russia; Arrived in Spain via Massanet on May 29, 1938; Served with the XV BDE, Lincoln-Washington BN, MG Co., Later Co. 3, (June and September 1938) during the Ebro Offensive; Previously listed as Killed in action April 4, 1938, Caspe, during the Retreats; USDDA includes sworn statement by Gerald Cook, William G. Wheeler, and Herman Klein:

“We. The undersigned certify that the men named below were members of the third company of the Lincoln Battalion in Spain and were captured by the Franco forces on the 7th day of September, 1938, on the sector of Corbera. We know these facts to be true as we witnessed the entire affair, having been members of the same unit and barely escaping ourselves after having been completely surrounded. These men are: Irving Rifkin, James Pearce, Jack Arnold, Pat Garafalo, Wilbur Wheeler, Thomas Hardy, Sam Grossner, William Miller, Leonard Holtzclaw.”

---

Sources: Figueres List; Pay; RGASPI; (sworn statement) USSDA 2:0865, 59:0211.