Biography
Hecht, Leo b. May 31, 1917, NYC; 2 years of High School; Prior military service with the US Army for 20 months; Father Abraham Hecht (1890-?), mother Ida Hecht (1893- 1958); Single; Seaman; YCL 1935 and CP 1936; Received Passport# 404004 on May 4, 1937 which listed his address 317 Rodney Street, Brooklyn, New York (2120 64th Street, Brooklyn, New York); Sailed May 12, 1937 aboard the Aquitania; Arrived in Spain on June 6, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Mackenzie-Papineau BN; Lincoln-Washington BN; Rank Soldado; Reported MIA Retreats with note "rumores en hospital. Definitivamente en hospital"; Deserted March 19, 1938, during the Retreats along with Stephen Humrick and Albert Davis (British), left from the village of Botea and followed the Ebro river until they reached mora la Nueva, caught a train to Barcelona where they stayed for a day and a half then got on a train to Port Bou via Figueras on March 27, they jumped off the train between Figueras and Port Bou and attempted to make their way across the border into France, they were arrested at Vilamanisle and brought to Figueres; Held in a SIM prison; Returned to the US on February 4, 1939 aboard the President Harding; WWII Joined military on December 7, 1941 and released December 15, 1941, enlisted again January 1, 1942 and was again released on March 29, 1942, he tried one additional time enlisting on April 27, 1942 and again he was released this time on May 21, 1942; Married Dessie O. Hecht (1911-1985) in 1939; d. January 10, 1995, Wilmington, Delaware, buried in the Delaware Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Bear, Delaware.
Sibling: sister Sylvia Hecht (1919-1992).
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Mac-Paps; BN 58 Retreats; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 2, Delo 304, ll. 212 “T. T. 408” March 28, 1938; USSDA 2:0636, 55:0646. Code A
Sibling: sister Sylvia Hecht (1919-1992).
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Mac-Paps; BN 58 Retreats; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 2, Delo 304, ll. 212 “T. T. 408” March 28, 1938; USSDA 2:0636, 55:0646. Code A