Red Star,0259490,T-34 Driver/Mechanic,6th Guards Tank Brigade,Ekaterinovka

[Bill Garvy]

Order

Secret
Copy nr. 2

Order

Of the 6th Guards Red Banner Tank Brigade

April 13, 1944 – Nr. 2/N – Active Army

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for exemplary accomplishment of the command’s combat missions in the struggle with the German invaders and the hereby displayed bravery and courage, I award:

The Order of the Red Star to:

[…]

6. Guards Senior Sergeant Vasily Savelyevich Ivchenko, mechanic-driver of a T34 tank in a tank battalion of the 6th Guards Red Banner Tank Brigade

[…]

Commander of the 6th Guards Red Banner Tank Brigade
Guards Colonel /Zhidkov/

My thanks to Auke for the speedy research and translation!

[Bill Garvy]

The citation for his Patriotic War in 1st Class, #33993, which is missing from the group. Thanks again to Auke for the speedy research and translation.

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Ivchenko, Vasily Savelyevich
2. Rank: Guards Senior Sergeant
3. Duty position, unit: Mechanic-driver of a T-34 tank in the 1st Tank Battalion of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade
Recommended for: Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class
4. Year of birth: 1922
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: Candidate member of the Communist Party since 1943
7. Participation in the Civil War, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR and the Patriotic War (where, when): Has been participating in the Patriotic War since 1942
8. Suffered wounds and contusions: No
9. Since when in the Red Army: Since 1941
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military commissariat of the Roslavl Raion, Smolensk Oblast
11. Which earlier awards (for which merits): Order of the Red Star
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: ______________


Short, concrete description of personal combat feat or merits:

On October 21, 1943, during the offensive fighting for Tashenak Station in the Melitopol Raion of the Zaporozhe Oblast, he and his crew destroyed 1 tank, 3 guns, 6 mounted machine guns, 4 mortar positions and a platoon of enemy infantry. He bravery drove the tank, attacking enemy firing positions and tanks. He skilfully manoeuvred on the battlefield and corrected the fire of the tank commander. His vehicle is permanently ready to move.

Conclusion: he deserves to be awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.

Commander of the 1st Tank Battalion
Guards Captain [signed] /Konnov/
October 22, 1943

Deserves the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.

Commander of the 6th Guards Tank Brigade
Guards Colonel [signed] /Zhidkov/
October 24, 1943

By Order of the commander of the armored and mechanized troops of the 51st Army nr. 6/N of November 3, 1943 awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.

Chief of staff of the armored and mechanized troops of the 51st Army
Guards Major [signed] /Bezvidny/
November 3, 1943