Biography

Gavin, Eugene Victor (Victoriano, Eugenio Gavin); b. June 1, 1909 (1910), McCloud, Oklahoma; African American; Father Owen Gavin (1861-1912), mother Bertha Julia Connor (1880-1947); Single; Journalist and Seaman; CP 1937, YCL 1936, Spanish CP, and UGT; Received Passport# 368846 on February 23, 1937 which listed his address as 962 West Federal Street, Youngstown, Ohio (11512 Oakland Avenue, Detroit, Michigan); Sailed March 10, 1937 aboard the Washington; Arrived in Spain on April 2, 1937; Served with the XV BDE, Lincoln BN; Served at Jarama and Brunete; 46th Division "Campesinos" Special MG Co. attached to Division Headquarters; July 1937 was in the 8th Division; Later transferred to 6th Division, 43rd BDE, 172nd BN Headquarters; WIA; Severe wound to the right eye and would have a glass right eye in later life; Returned to the US on July 22, 1938 aboard the Washington; Brother of Robert Owen Gavin; WWII Merchant Marine; Continued as a Seaman after the war; d. May 15, 1988 in Los Angeles, CA.
Siblings: brothers John Henry (1905-1925), Robert Owen (1908-1970), Logan Shoemaker (1904-1981); sisters Minnie L (1887-?), Alberta (1889-?), Bobelink (1891-?), Anna Mae (1892-1968), Catherine (1893-1971); Nellie (1895-1961).
Sources: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Cadre; Lincoln; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 894; ll. 147-148; (under Victor); Opis 6, Delo 1006, ll. 24 (under Eugenio Garvin Victoriano); USSDA 2:0571, 54:0717 (mother states that he was American Indian); African Americans, L-W Tree Ancestry (his return record is marked VL 567/956 indicating that the volunteers had reentry numbers). Code A
Biography: Eugene Victor Gavin was the younger brother of Robert Owen Gavin. Born in Oklahoma in 1910, he later moved to Youngstown, Ohio. Gavin joined the Young Communist League in 1936. Gavin was an early volunteer and departed for Europe aboard the Washington on March 10, 1937. Initially attached to the 172nd Battalion of the 43rd Mixed Brigade, Gavin was one of a small number of Americans assigned to Spanish formations. Later he served in a special machine gun company attached to the Headquarters of the 46th Division. At Teruel, he was severely wounded losing an eye and was repatriated. He returned to Ohio at the end of July 1938. ~ Chris Brooks