Biography
Collins, Leroy b. September 2, 1899 (1898), Danbury, Connecticut; African American; College education; Mess Attendant in the US Navy in WWI; Total of 18 years prior military service mostly in the US Army; Married; Journalist; CP 1935; Received Passport# 46681(466818) on July 30, 1937 which listed his address as 272 Manhattan Avenue, NYC; Left his passport in Paris; Sailed August 18, 1937 aboard the President Harding; Arrived in Spain via Massanet on September 24, 1937; Served with the XV BDE; WIA October 17, 1938, Fuentes de Ebro; Murcia and Albacete; After release from hospital assigned to Service Sanitaire, Benicasim, Postmaster; Returned to the US on August 4, 1938 aboard the Manhattan; Suspected of being an agent for the US government and there are two reports in his file outlining suspicious behavior, noted as under observation, political suspect, was suspected of being “stool” in the WPA Union in USA; d. July 14, 1968, Military Graveyard on Long Island.Source: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Figueres List; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 3, Delo 453, ll. 42, “Canad-Amer. Arrivan, 27/9/37”; Opis 6, Delo 849, ll. 1, Special List for Personnel Service, I. Political Susect and Bad Element List, January 16, 1938; Opis 6, Delo 876, ll. 12-21; African Americans; L-W Tree Ancestry, Find-a-Grave# 2640307. Code A
Biography Leroy Collins was born in 1900. He served in the U.S. Army for eighteen years and was college educated. Collins joined the Communist party in 1935 and left for Spain on the SS President Harding on August 18, 1937. On October 17, 1937, Collins was severely wounded at Fuentes de Ebro. After he recovered Collins returned to the United States on the Manhattan on August 4, 1938. ~ Chris Brooks
Photograph: Leroy Collins from a group photograph taken aboard the Manhattan and below Leroy Collins (top right) with other veterans returning to the US aboard the Manhattan, and Collins in Spain RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 876, ll. 12.
