Biography

Olson, Leonard Evan (Olsen); b. January 7, 1902, Virginia, Minnesota; Mother Hannah Olson; No prior military service; Attended Virginia High School through the 9th grade, later apprenticed with a carpenter; Single; Seaman and Automobile Worker; CP 1936; Received Passport# 32975, San Francisco series on January 5, 1938 which listed his address as 101 1st Street, South Virginia, Minnesota, and New Occidental Hotel, San Francisco, California; Sailed January 19, 1938 aboard the President Roosevelt; Arrived in Spain via Espolla on January 31, 1938; Served with the XV BDE, Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 3, light machine-gunner; Transferred to Mackenzie-Papineau BN, MG Co. during second half of the Retreats; Rank Cabo; Served at Retreats and Ebro Offensive; WIA Ebro?, was still in hospital at Vich in September 1938; Returned to the US on December 20, 1938 aboard the Ausonia; WWII Shipyard Worker and Merchant Marine; d. May 1998.

---

Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 957, ll. 88-91; Harriman; "Dead Labor: What Lincoln Vet Len Olson Taught His Daughter" in The Volunteer; (obituary) The Volunteer, Volume 20, No. 2, Spring 1998, p. 19. Code A

---

Photograph: Leonard Olson in Spain, RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 957.; Leonard Olson and Martha Jarocki Olson, by Richard Bermack.

---