Red Star,2155674,120mm Mortar Fuse Setter,1227th Rifle Regiment

[Tommy]

Award issue record Record nr. 9306

First name, patronymic and last name of the awardee; name of the order or medal and date of issue Serial number of the order or medal Number of the temporary certificate Awarded by Number of the Order or Decree

[…]

Order of the Red Star

[…]

Private Grigory Yefremovich Melerashvili; December 21, 1945 2155674 Z-788153 Divisional Order Nr. 073/N of May 16, 1945


[…]


IMG_0073.jpg

IMG_0074.jpg

[Tommy]

Order

Secret

Copy nr. 2

Order

Of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division

On decorating personnel

May 16, 1945 - Nr. 073/N - 2nd Belorussian Front




On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for the exemplary accomplishment of combat missions in the struggle with the German invaders and the valor and bravery displayed in the process, I award: The Order of the Red Star to:

[…]

85. Private Grigory Yefremovich Meprashvili, fuze setter for a 120-mm mortar in the 1227th Rifle Regiment

[…]

Commander of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division Guards Colonel

[signed] /Golubev/

001-427.jpg

005-427.jpg

011-427.jpg

[Tommy]

Award sheet

All fields to be filled out fully

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Meproshvili, Grigory Yefremovich
2. Rank: Private
3. Position and unit: Fuze setter for a 120-mm mortar in the 1227th Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Rifle Regiment, 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division Nominated for: Order of the Red Star
4. Year of birth: 1917
5. Nationality: Georgian
6. Party affiliation: Member of the Communist Party
7. Participation in the Civil War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): In the Patriotic War since December 1942 on the 2nd Belorussian Front
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: Wounded in October 1943
9. Since when in the Red Army: December 1942
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Semditsky Raion, Georgian SSR
11. Awards received previously (for which merits): Medal for Courage by Order nr. 048/N of June 3, 1944 and Medal for Courage by Order nr. 059/N of July 6, 1944
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: ______________

Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits:

During the crossing of the Eastern and Western Oder Rivers on April 21, 1945 comrade Meproshvili, who was serving with the 4th mortar crew as a fuze setter, quickly and accurately set the mortar fuzes in accordance with submitted fire adjustments. His mortar crew destroyed 3 machine-gun positions, an anti-aircraft gun using direct lay, and no less than 15 Hitlerites, which enabled the successful crossing of the rivers. While beating off enemy counterattacks near the city of Hardt his mortar killed up to 15 German soldiers and officers.

He deserves the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the 1227th Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Rifle Regiment Guards Lieutenant Colonel

[signed] /Morozov/ May 8, 1945

He deserves the Order of the Red Star.
Commander of the Artillery of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division Lieutenant Colonel

[signed] /Druzhinin/ May 10, 1945

He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division Guards Colonel

[signed] /Golubev/ May 11, 1945

By Order of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division nr. 073/N of May 16, 1945 awarded the Order of the Red Star.

Assistant chief of staff of the Artillery of the 369th Karachev Red Banner Rifle Division Guards Senior Lieutenant

[signed] /Filippov/ May 25, 1945

182-427.jpg

183-427.jpg

[Tommy]

Here it is, a nice MZPP example.

Screenshot_2013-04-21-15-29-11-1.jpg

Screenshot_2013-04-21-15-28-57-1.jpg

Pics used with permission.

Tom

[CtahhR]

"While beating off enemy counterattacks" may want to be "whilst repelling enemy counterattacks". I don't think "beating off" the enemy sounds that appropriate!

Being a fuse setter on a mortar is quite a skilled speciality. I have a story about someone who got it very wrong that I'll share another time.

30 kills for a Red Star is quite a high toll but a 120mm round can neutralise quite a few enemies with one good strike.

[Bill Garvy]

I know this Red Star and I am happy to see it going to an appreciative custodian. . .