Biography
Rusciano, Ricco Joseph. (birth name Rocco; Rosciano, Richard); b. November 28, 1909, Corona, Queens, New York; Italian American, formaly changed his name to Robert V. Rusciano in 1931; Father Patrick Rusciano; No prior military service; 2 years High School education, Cooper Union 1925-1929; Single; Journalist and Printer; CP November 1936, section organizer and YCL 1935; Received Passport# 367155 on February 13, 1937 which listed his address as Apartment 2-F, 35-28 99th Street, Corona, New York (94-19 35th Avenue, Corona, New York); Sailed February 20, 1937 aboard the Ile de France; Arrived in Spain on March 7, 1937; Trained with the 2nd BN of Instruction, Tarazona; Served with the XV BDE, Washington BN, Co. 1, Section 1; and with the Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 1, Section political commissar, Section Leader later Company Commander; October 1937 to March 1938 at Tarazona working as a small arms instructor, later adjutant at NCO school; Last unit Lincoln-Washington, Plaza Mayor; Rank Teniente; Served at Brunete, Aragon, and the Ebro Offensive; WIA July 20, 1937 at Brunete, received shrapnel in the knee, in hospital Palace in Madrid 7 days, Passionaria and Radio Hospitals in Murcia about 45 days, Benisa 2 weeks; Returned to the US on December 20, 1938 aboard the Ausonia; WWII US Army enlisted October 21, 1942, discharged September 8, 1943; d. June 7, 1981, buried under Richard Rusciano in Binghamton, New York.
Siblings: brothers James Rusciano (1897-?), Amilio Rusciano (1901-?), Micheal Rusciano (1904-?), Joseph Rusciano (1912-?), sisters Mary Rusciano (1903-?), Minnie Rusciano (1908-?), and Anna Damelio (1924-?).
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Pay; Washington; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 567, ll. 25 (fiche); Opis 6, Delo 978, ll. 1-17; (obituary) Press and Sun Bulletin, June 8, 1981, Binghampton, NY; L-W Tree Ancestry.
Photograph: Lieutenant Richard Rusciano, Lincoln-Washington activist, April 1938. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11-0179. 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 978.
Siblings: brothers James Rusciano (1897-?), Amilio Rusciano (1901-?), Micheal Rusciano (1904-?), Joseph Rusciano (1912-?), sisters Mary Rusciano (1903-?), Minnie Rusciano (1908-?), and Anna Damelio (1924-?).
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Pay; Washington; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 567, ll. 25 (fiche); Opis 6, Delo 978, ll. 1-17; (obituary) Press and Sun Bulletin, June 8, 1981, Binghampton, NY; L-W Tree Ancestry.
Photograph: Lieutenant Richard Rusciano, Lincoln-Washington activist, April 1938. The 15th International Brigade Photographic Unit Photograph Collection; ALBA Photo 11; ALBA Photo number 11-0179. 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 978.