Red Star,0867101,Squad Leader,310th Separate Signals Company

[Bill Garvy]

Order Book for Master Sergeant Mikhail Rodionovich Pershin

[Bill Garvy]

Unit Award Order

SECRET

[trans: stamped “1st Ukrainian Front 27.4.45” and other administrative data]

329th Rifle Division Order 12/N dated 31st August, 1944

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Order of the Red Star to:

4. Master Sergeant Mikhail Rodionovich Pershin – Squad Leader, 310th Independent Signals Company, 329th Rifle Division

Signed Commander, 329th Rifle Division, Colonel Yaremenko and Division Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Kirimov

Typed in 3 copies
1-2 to 21st Rifle Corps Personnel Section
3 in file

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Pershin, Mikhail Rodionovich
2. Rank: Master Sergeant
3. Duty position: Squad Leader – 310th Independent Signals Company, 329th Rifle Division

Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star

4. Born: 1921
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: yes
7. Previous combat: Did not participate in the Civil War. In Patriotic War on 1st Ukrainian Front since 11th February, 1944
8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
9. In Red Army: since 18th March, 1942
10. Inducted by: Kimeshlievskii Municipal Military Commissariat
11. Previous awards: Combat Service Medal
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

While squad leader in fighting for the population area of Studzyanits, a communication line was put out of order by enemy artillery and mortar fire and the village was saturated by fire, however risking his life under heavy enemy artillery and mortar shelling, he organized the repair of the line and personally negotiating the fire repaired as many as 25 line breaks, saving cable, and thus supporting the Command’s uninterrupted communications with surrounding units. He is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.

Signed Commander, 310th Independent Signals Company, Guards Senior Lieutenant Gu(?) on 27th August, 1944

Endorsed Commander, 329th Rifle Division, Colonel Yaremenko on 31st August, 1944

[Bill Garvy]

Master Sergeant Mikhail Rodionovich Pershin's Order of the Red Star, #867101

My thanks to desantnik for his invaluable assistance.

[Bill Garvy]

Unit Award Order

SECRET

21st Rifle Corps Order 05/N dated 22nd February, 1945

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Order of the Patriotic War II Class to:

19. Master Sergeant Mikhail Radionovich Pershin – Cable-Telephone Squad Leader, 784th Independent Signals Battalion, 329th Rifle Division

Signed Commander, 21st Rifle Corps, General-Major Yamanov and Corps Chief of Staff Guards Colonel Golovin

Typed in 3 copies
1- Presidium, Supreme Soviet, USSR
2- Main Personnel Directorate, Peoples Commissariat of Defense, USSR
3- Personnel Section
20.02.1945 R.A.

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Pershin, Mikhail Rodionovich
2. Rank: Master Sergeant
3. Duty position: Cable-Telephone Squad Leader – 784th Independent Signals Battalion, 329th Rifle Division

Recommendation for the Order of the Patriotic War II Class

4. Born: 1921
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: since 1941
7. Previous combat: Did not participate in the Civil War. In Patriotic War on 1 Ukrainian Front since 11th February, 1944
8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
9. In Red Army: since 19th March, 1942
10. Inducted by: Kineshelskii Regional Municipal Military Commissariat, Ivanov Oblast
11. Previous awards: Combat Service Medal in May, 1944, Red Star 12.II.44
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

As a cable-telephone squad leader Comrade Pershin has set examples of valor and bravery in fighting against the German fascist invaders. Located on the front line during the penetration of the enemy defense from 12-25 January of this year he repaired breaks in a timely manner. He personally repaired 58 damaged lines on 19th January of this year during fighting for the population area of Vong(?)yani he boldly assumed command of a group of 28 soldiers and repelled six German counterattacks, personally killing three fascists. His personal example motivated the soldiers and the Germans were unable to penetrate our ranks. The mission was accomplished excellently. Accomplishing the duties of an unofficial battalion party organizer, he mobilized the communists to accomplish the command’s missions. The communists were the (?) core in strengthening military discipline in the unit and accomplishment of combat missions.

He is deserving of the Order of the Patriotic War II Class.

Signed Commander, 784th Independent Signals Battalion, Major Koi(?) on 4th February, 1945

Endorsed Commander, 329th Rifle Division, Colonel Abashev on 10th February, 1945

Endorsed Commander, 21 Rifle Corps, General-Major Yamanov on 23rd February, 1945

Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II Class by 21st Rifle Corps Order 05/N dated 22nd February, 1945. Signed Deputy Chief of Personnel, 21st Rifle Corps, Senior Lieutenant Quartermaster Malakhov on 27th February, 1945.

[Bill Garvy]

Unit Award Order

SECRET

[trans: handwritten “1st Ukrainian Front 13.3.45” and administrative data]

329th Rifle Division Order 02/N dated 31st May, 1944

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Combat Service Medal to:

21. Master Sergeant Mikhail Radionovich Pershin – Squad Leader, Cable-Telephone Platoon, 310th Independent Signals Company

Signed Commander, 329th Rifle Division, General-Major Yamanov and Division Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Kerimov

Typed in 3 copies
1- Presidium, Supreme Soviet, USSR
2- Main Personnel Directorate, Peoples Commissariat of Defense, USSR
3- Personnel Section 329th Rifle Division
31.5.44

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Pershin, Mikhail Rodionovich
2. Rank: Master Sergeant
3. Duty position: Squad Leader – Telephone-Cable Platoon, 310th Independent Signals Company, 329th Rifle Division
Recommendation for the Combat Service Medal
4. Born: 1921
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: yes
7. Previous combat: 1st Ukrainian Front Korsun-Shevchenko Region, village of Torchin 7th-16th January, 1944
8. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
9. In Red Army: since 22nd March, 1942
10. Inducted by: Kineshelskii Municipal Municipal Military Commissariat, Ivanov Oblast
11. Previous awards: n/a
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

As squad leader and company party organizer during fighting to eliminate the Korsun-Shevchenko pocket 19th-25th February and near the village of Torchin 7th-16th April, 1944, his organizational work and personal participation in laying telephone-cable lines and repairing damage under machinegun-mortar fire and aerial bombardment provided uninterrupted communications to the regional district’s command.

He is deserving of the Combat Service Medal.

Signed Commander, 310th Independent Signals Company, Captain (?) on 17th May, 1944

Endorsed Commander, 329th Rifle Division, General-Major Yamanov on 22nd May, 1944

Awarded the Combat Service Medal by 329th Rifle Division Order 02/N dated 31.5.44. Signed Chief of Personnel Senior Lieutenant Eripov.

[Al-muell]

Originally Posted by Bill Garvy

fighting for the population area of Studzyanits

I think it will be the village of Studzianki - the place is now called Studzianki Pancerne ("Armored" Studzianki), because it was the place of the first major battle of the Polish 1st Armored Brigade named after "Heroes of Westerplatte".
The Soviet 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front fought there. The battle took place in August 9th until 16th 1944. It fits well the date of the motion.

The battle of Studzianki was portrayed in a Polish book and TV series "Four tank troopers and dog". The author of the book also wrote a book "Studzianki" - monumental two-volume work about the battle with a lot of it's participants portrayed in there. He mentions a lot of simple soldiers - Soviet as well, but I don't think Pershin was mentionned (the book has no names index unfortunately).

[Al-muell]

From wikipedia:
Battle of Studzianki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia