Thwing, Robert Neil. (Ralph); b. June 26, 1911, Bijou Hills, South Dakota; Father Wayland Angelo Thwing, Mother Annie M. Bigham Thwing, High School education; Single; CP 1935 (or no political affiliation); Received Passport# 31403, San Francisco series, on September 2, 1937 which listed his address as Murdo, South Dakota; Left his passport in Paris; Sailed September 11, 1937 aboard the Berengaria; Arrived in Spain via Setcases on September 24, 1937; Served with an Engineer Company; Last unit XV BDE, Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 2; Rank Soldado; Served at the Ebro Offensive; Noted as being continually sick and having attempted to desert, served two jail sentences one of 30 days and a second of 21 days; Considered a useless element; Returned to the US on October 25, 1938 aboard the Ile de France; WWII US Army, Corps Area Service Command, HQ Co., PFC; Captured, died as a POW, drowned when the prison ship Enoura Maru was sunk on January 9, 1945 in Takao Harbor, Formosa, the ship was transporting prisoners to Japan; Buried in Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota. 

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Siblings: Julian Bingham Thwing, Leslie Dale Thwing, and Elizabeth Katherine Thwing Drury.

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Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; Pay; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 3, Delo 453, ll. 42, “Canad-Amer. Arrivan, 27/9/37” ; Opis 6, Delo 849, ll. 6, Special List for Personnel Service, Deserters Who Are Now in Spain, January 16, 1938; Opis 6, Delo 1001, ll. 34-37; USSDA 2:0983, 61:0041; L-W Tree Ancestry; Find-a-Grave# 59694828. Code A

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Photograph: Robert Thwing. Photograph from newspaper clipping.