Dave Doran, Brigade Commissar

Dave Dora11, Brigade Political Commissar, is an outstanding exam- ple of the type of youth now in command in the XV Brigade and in the Republican Army as well. Quick in thought, decisive in action, mature in judgement, Doran has bee11 lo11g an organizer and leader of men.

Although only 28 years of age he joined the Young Communist League while still in his teens and has taken an active part ever since in the organization of workers in the United States. His ability brought him quickly to the fore, and he has been a member of the National Exe- cutive Council of the League for many years. Son of a paper-mill work- er of Albany, N.Y., he had to quit school for work at an early age.

Among others, he tried his hand at picking cotton and put in a few years at sea. At one time he spent ninety days o11 the chain—gang in Texas for the heinous crime of distributing leaflet-s that called for the organization of agricultural workers. Undeterred, he undertook to do organizational work in Alabama, a very risky and illegal undertaking. His partner in this work was Angelo Herndon, internationally known Negro youtl1—leader, with Whom Dave Doran worked, campaigning and organizing Negro and White workers in the struggle against the common enemy.

As an organizer in the South, in the Pittsburgh steel a11d coal area, in the East and in the Middle West l)ave Doran had learned how to win the respect of his fellow workers, how to employ the Weapon of political understanding and clarity to overc-ome seemingly unsurmoun- table obstacles.

His record at Belchite — described elsewhere in this book — is not an isolated act. He has been known to volunteer and carry out dan- gerous assignments o11 many occasions where quick results were ca- lled for.

Years of training and experience make Dave Doran examine eve- ry political problem before acting on it. Despite his preoccupation with political matters he has a strong flair for the military sciences. It was this fortunate «combination that enabled him to play a very important role in raising the military efficiency of the Brigade, raising its political level at the same time.

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