Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives
Volunteers
Edward Balchowsky
ALB Archival Materials
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Ed Balchowsky with his paintings in the 1980's. Photo by Marc Harris.
Full Database Record
| Last Name | Balchowsky |
| First/Middle Name | Edward |
| Ethnicity | |
| Ethnicity Note | |
| Immigration Status | |
| Religion | |
| POW | |
| AKA Last Name 1 | |
| AKA First / Middle 1 | |
| AKA Last Name 2 | |
| AKA First / Middle 2 | |
| DOB | 1916-01-01 |
| City | Frankfort |
| State | Illinois |
| Foreign Nation | |
| Foreign Nation City | |
| Alt Pob State, City | |
| Family: Name | |
| Family: Relationship | |
| Family: Begin Date | |
| Family: End Date | |
| Family: Comments | |
| Education HS | |
| Education College / Univ 1 | |
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| Education College/Univ 2 | |
| Graduate or Doctoral Work | |
| Graduate or Doctoral Work Notes | |
| Prior Military Service | |
| Passport # | |
| Passport Series | |
| Passport Reported Lost in Spain | |
| Passport Age | |
| Passport Date | |
| PP or Known Address Street | |
| PP or Known Address City | |
| PP or Known Address State | |
| ALT City | |
| Alt State | |
| Sail Date | |
| Ship | |
| Marital Status | |
| Marital Notes | |
| Vocation 1 | |
| Vocation 2 | |
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| Party Affiliation | |
| Date Affiliation | |
| ALT Affiliation | |
| ALT date | |
| ALT affiliation 2 | |
| Arrival (in Spain) Date | |
| Units served with | |
| Battle action | |
| Rank | |
| Returned Date | |
| Returned other | |
| WWII Service | |
| DOD | 1989 |
| Cause | |
| Place Died City | |
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| KIA/MIA/Died other Date | |
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| Additional Notes |
Biography
Born in 1916 in Frankfort, Illinois, Ed Balchowsky said he joined the Lincoln Brigade because he "knew oppression as a kid," having grown up in the town's only Jewish family. As a result of wounds suffered in during the Ebro offensive, Ed's right arm had to be amputated. Before joining the Lincolns he had trained to become a concert pianist; amazingly, in the latter half of his life he made a name for himself playing left-handed piano at various Chicago clubs.
Ed also was a talented poet and artist, with paintings displayed at the Chicago Art Institute and even at Oprah Winfrey's restaurant. He held true to his progressive political ideals in later years, remaining active in the labor and civil rights movements. Ed died in 1989. He is buried at the Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois. (Jeff Balch)