Biography
k-Shenkir, Joseph A. (Davis, Ben; Johnson, Lloyd C.; Shenkir, Joseph Adolph “Red”); b. February 11, 1903, Rogers, Texas; Father John Shenkir, mother Francis Shenkir, Farmers; Prior military service in the Washington State National Guard, joined 1923, served for 9 months with Co. A.; Primary school education; Single; Logger; CP November 1932, literature agent and unit organizer, Spanish CP; Lumbrer Union, AFL; Domicile Seattle, Washington and Aberdeen, Washington; Left for Spain May 19, 1937; Arrived in Spain via Espolla on June 2, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Mackenzie- Papineau BN; Later to Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 1; Served at Fuentes de Ebro, WIA in foot; Killed in action July 27, 1938, Gandesa, Ebro Offensive.
Red Shenkir:
A Tall man from the land of tall timber who has done a lot to popularize the Spanish fight for democracy among the lumberjacks back home, He helped to make union history in Aberdeen before he came to Spain. You’d better not be caught out late when Red is Sergeant of the Guard. R [ll. 29]
Sources: Figueres List; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 2, Delo 127, ll. 53; Opis 3, Delo 51, ll. 86; Opis 6, Delo 987, ll. 22-30.
Photographs: Ernest Kozlowski and Lloyd “Red” Johnson, Lincoln-Washington, Darmos, April 1938. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11- 0406. Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries; and RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 987 (under Shenker).
Photographs: Ernest Kozlowski and Lloyd “Red” Johnson, Lincoln-Washington, Darmos, April 1938. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11- 0406. Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries; and RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 987 (under Shenker).