It is said that the Abraham Lincoln Bridgade was the first racially intergrated unit in US history. The "volunteers" came from all walks of life, all regions of the country, and included seamen, students, the unemployed, miners, fur workers, lumberjacks, teachers, salesmen, athletes, dancers, and artists and were commanded by a Black Man. 60 percent of this units members were of the young communist party. Inadequately equipment the unit suffered an astoundingly high casualty rate, losing 750 men. The rate of loss was higher than American units would suffer in combat during WW2.

This unit fought from 1937 to 1938.