Biography

Hovan, John George b. May 19, 1916, Callahan, Florida; Attended Kirby Smith High School in Jacksonville, Florida; Father John Martin Hovan (1882-1958), mother Tessie Dudac (1890-1980); Single; Cigar maker, Driver, and Shoe repairman; CP October 1934, district burea; Trained with the 2nd BN of Instruction, Tarazona; Received Passport# 434838 on June 7, 1937 which listed his address as Route 3, Box 234, 1066 Dyel Street, Jacksonville, Florida, and Ybor City, Florida; Sailed July 21, 1937 aboard the Berengaria; Arrived in Spain on August 4, 1937; Served with the Auto Park, Albacete, Driver; Later Driver at BDE Headquarters; Returned to the US on December 20, 1938 aboard the Ausonia; WWII US Navy, Construction BN, “Sea Bees,” enlisted January 31, 1944; Rank Seaman, PTO; Married Mildred “Cherry” Christmas (19105-2005) on December 22, 1941, daughters Laurie M. Martin and Georgi A. Johnson; d. March 27, 2014, North Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island.

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Siblings: brothers Mitchell Andrew Hovan (1917-2001), Peter Victor Hovan (1917- 1996), Steve Hovan (1925-?), Joe Hovan (1928-?), sisters Helen Hovan (1912-1982), Margaret Hovan (1914-2004), Mary Hovan 1927-?).

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Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 552, ll. 76 (fiche); L-W Tree Ancestry; Find-a-Grave #1311622226. Code A

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John Hovan Interview, ALBA V 48-088 , September 4, 1986, Manny Harriman Video Oral History Collection; ALBA VIDEO 048; box number 8; folder number 24; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

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Photographs: John Hovan in WWII, from the family; and Hovan in Spain, RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 912.; John Hovan, by Richard Bermack.

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