Paul
White worked
on the East Coast waterfront. A member of the American
Communist Party,
he joined the International Brigades
on the outbreak
of the Spanish
Civil War.
On arriving in Spain White
worked under Robert Merriman organizing
trucks and supplies to transport the Abraham
Lincoln Battalion to the Aragón
front.
In March 1938 White was
sent to get further supplies of ammunition. Instead, he deserted and
drove to the French border. However, on hearing that his wife had
given birth to a son, he began to feel remorse for what he had done.
White wanted his son to be proud of his father and he returned to
the front where he made a full confession of his actions.
White was unlucky that
John Gates had just been appointed battalion
commissar. Gates was a strict disciplinarian and decided to make an
example of White and had him court-martialed. Found guilty, the next
day he was executed by a six-man firing squad.
The news of the execution
caused a great deal of dissent in the Lincoln-Washington
Battalion and it was quickly announced that no further executions
would take place.
(1)
Paul White, confession after returning to the frontline in August
1938.
After Belchite I knew I was afraid to go into action again.
I tried all this time to overcome my feeling of fear. I felt we were
doomed and fighting futilely. I dropped out of line and made up my
mind to desert and try and reach France. As I ran towards the Ebro
and met more deserters and routed troops, my fear grew. If I succeeded
in getting to France, I still would have to face everyone at home
but I had lost all control.
I kept going and debating
whether or not to turn back. I spoke to the mayor at the border town
in which I was arrested and asked where the command post was located.
He told me and I decided to eat and make a final decision. I was arrested
before I had done this. Once I was in custody I decided that I had
been saved from wrecking my life completely.
I realize that "safety"
of the kind I was seeking would never compensate me for the loss of
everything and everyone I
value. I ask for one chance and that is to serve in the lines and
wipe out this stain on my military and Party record.
I am 29 years old and
am certain that I can serve in the ranks for many years as a class
conscious worker. I have had plenty of time to think before making
this statement and sincerely believe I will be stronger in my work
and devotion if given the opportunity to redeem myself. I regard my
position now as the most serious crisis in my life and am ready to
meet it.
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