Sure enough, one of the crowd soon asked just what was it that struck 
Steve as being so fine about that guy. 
Steve explained to them the importance of the plan without for a 
moment taking his eye off the fellow with the sl1ovel. He interrupted 
his explanations time and time again with exclamations of genuine adm- 
iration. Now, that digger had never intended to take out more than 
a couple of shovelfuls of earth. But under the admiring gaze of Steve, 
he had to work in real earnest, stripping to the task, the dirt flying under 
his powerful stroke. 
The others looked, too, and thought hard. What’s so wonderful about 
that guy? They can dig as well as he, anytime. Hell, they can do much 
better than that. They’ll show Steve who is the fine comrade. In no 
time they were all digging. The Johnson plan was a success. 
Steve took exceptional care to provide the boys with everything that 
was possible to get — as every Political Commissar should. He was 
ruthless with those who through lack of forethought or indifference neg- 
lected to provide for a regular flow of supplies. The boys knew Steve 
was looking out for them. As a result they made the best of it when 
there was an actual shortage. They were confident that had supplies 
been available, Steve would have gotten them. 
In the Brunete offensive, after Oliver Law, Battalion Commander 
was killed and two Company Commanders were wounded, Steve Nelson 
took over command of the Battalion on July 9. The situation was grave. 
The Fascists were hammering at the flanks and their fire was taking a 
steady toll. Continually under fire from an unseen foe, nerves were 
strained to the limit. 
Always at the most dangerous points, cool and collected, Steve set 
an example that stiffened the morale of the troops and enabled them to 
withstand the most intense fire the Fascists ever concentrated on any 
front up to that time. He would come up to the boys in the front lines, 
calm and assured, call out: “Hallo fellows! How are things going?” 
He would smile, crack a joke, and then with a confident “‘We’ll hold 
them all right” he would be off to another part of the line. His quiet, 
cheerful confidence had its effect on the spirits of the men. When men 
heard Steve Nelson say “We’ll hold them” they usually were convinc- 
ed — and hold them they did. 
“Don’t let’em get Steve!” was the word that travelled up and down 
the Lincoln-Washington line during the Quinto-Belchite offensive. 
When Steve Nelson was wounded at Belchite — he was Brigade Com- 
missar by that time – every man was tremendously shocked by the 
news. Greatly relieved when the wound didn't turn out to be very ser- 
ious, they were cursing him roundly, insisting that a guy like Steve

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