Galuhin, Nikolaj Mihailovich, Senior Lieutenant, T-34 Tank Loader, Leningrad Front

[Bill Garvy]

Medal Booklet A218594 was issued to Nikolai Mikhailovich Galukhin on the 25th of February, 1947 and lists Bravery Medal, #2895894, and an unnumbered Combat Service Medal, possibly a long-service award. He was also awarded an Order of the Patriotic War in 1st Class, 1985 Jubilee Issue, and would have been 59 or 60 years old at the time.

[Bill Garvy]

The Bravery Medal citation; he would have been about 18 or 19 years old at the time. . .

Award Sheet

SECRET

Leningrad Front, 44th Guards Tank Regiment Order 03/N dated 24th June, 1945

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the
Bravery Medal to:

5. T-34 Tank Loader Guards Sergeant Nikolai Mikhailovich Galukhin who, while participating in the liberation of the Soviet Baltics was wounded 26.12.44. From his personal interview it was determined that as a member of a tank crew Comrade Galukhin contributed to the destruction of two enemy anti-tank guns and as many as ten soldiers and officer.
b.1926, non-Party member, Russian, student, inducted by Yurevetskii RMC (Ivanov Oblast on 16.11.43). Home of record: [trans: intentionally obscured]

Signed Commander, 44th Guards Tank Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Belokurov and Chief of Staff Guards Major Shind

5 Copies
1,2,3 – Corps HQ
4 – Brigade HQ
5 – Personnel File
26.6.45

[Bill Garvy]

Document for the Medal for Victory over Germany dated October 31st, 1946 and signed by the Commander, 97th Guards T(either unit honorific title or “Heavy”?) Tank Regiment, Guards Colonel Grigorevskii

Document for the Medal for the Capture of Koenigsburg dated October 1st, 1948 by the Commander of the 200th Mechanized Regiment, Guards Colonel Beloglazov, Serial #V406087

Note the additional pencil notations indicating “1926”, a possible reference to his year of birth, the dates “15.5.44-9.5.45,” and the recipient’s apparent address “Gurzurskaya St. 10/6 Apt. 2.” A final notation references “E135912 on 25.5.79,” perhaps referring to a Jubilee Commemorative medal at the age of 53 or 54...

[Bill Garvy]

Document for the Medal for the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy awarded August 10th, 1948 by the 28th Mechanized Division Commander, Guards General-Major of Tank Forces (?)kheichuk

Document for the Medal for the 40th Anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy awarded July 4th, 1958 by the Commander of Unit 19756, Guards General-Major of Tank Forces Pakhomov

Document for the Medal for Development of the Virgin Lands dated September 12th, 1963 by Chairman of Uralsk House of Deputies, Executive Committee, G. Zarogulko, Kazakh SSR, North Kazakhstan, Serial #A580675

My thanks to desantnik for his invaluable assistance. . .

[CtahhR]

Thats one is strangely different. His Medal was awarded by his own word. He must have been well trusted as it would be easy to make up a story and be showered in unearned awards.

[Bill Garvy]

That is strange, and no mention of any corroboration either. . .

[ade stevenson]

Indeed very interesting.

Cheers, Ade.