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Old 10-30-2014, 08:24 PM   #211
slava1stclass
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OGIII Awarded to U.S. Army Technical Sergeant

Gents,

I just happened upon this image (it dates to November 10th, 2004) of WW II veteran Walter R. Bieder who was then 83. He passed away in July, 2008 at age 87. He finished the war with the rank of Technical Sergeant. He was a platoon sergeant in E Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division - the Big Red One.

He was awarded two Silver Stars; two Bronze Stars with "V" device for valor; three Distinguished (later Presidential) Unit Citations; the Combat Infantryman's Badge; seven campaign credits (with credit for two assault landings - Sicily and Normandy); the French and Belgian fourragerres; and the Soviet Order of Glory Third Class - "a medal from the Russians apparently for not missing a day in combat from Sicily to the war's end."

Here is TSgt Bieder's recollection of the circumstances surrounding his OGIII award: "When the fighting was over, I got decorated by the Russians. I didn’t even know it was coming. I didn’t know a thing about it. But one day I was told I was going to Pilsen (Czechoslovakia) to receive a decoration from the Russians. My Lt. heard that I was going to get a decoration and he couldn’t understand. He told the other sergeants, “What the hell did he do to deserve that? He don’t deserve it. I deserve it.” The guys told me all this when I come back from the decoration the next morning and at chowline for breakfast. He was standing up with the other officers and I had that medal on my shirt. I walked up to him and I took the medal, “I understand you deserve this medal more than me. Here, goddammit.” I stuck it on his shirt, and walked. Hutch was standing up there trying to keep from laughing. The Lt. took the medal and he was so mad he threw it on the ground. Him and I, we just didn’t get along. I wouldn’t have minded so much if the man knew what he was doing. I mean, you get some arrogant guys but they know what they’re doing. This guy didn’t know nothing."

A really great story.

Regards,

slava1stclass
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Old 10-30-2014, 08:45 PM   #212
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Re: Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

Read his story in his own words here - Bieder interview WWII

Here he is looking at the frame as it hung.

Photographs by Chuck Solomon.
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Old 01-16-2015, 06:11 PM   #213
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Re: Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

Not covered so far is Sheffield lass Doctor Helen Sharman, The Yorkshire Cosmonaut. Awarded the Order Of Friendship Of Nations on 26th May 1991.

Nice to see a local lass (I was born in South Yorkshire too) do well....

Unfortunately no photographs of her with the Soviet award are available at this time.
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Old 06-12-2015, 11:32 AM   #214
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Re: Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

Wing Commander John Dickson DFC RAF (Although Australian), Spitfire Mark IV Reconnaissance Pilot who flew recon missions locating the Tirpitz was awarded a Medal "For Combat Merits". It was featured on BBC's Antique's Roadshow but completely overlooked by the "expert".

Most likely awarded for doing recon for the convoys.

It's rare that I watch the programme after being on it and seeing behind the scenes....
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Old 04-28-2017, 02:12 PM   #215
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Re: Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

Although not "Non-Soviet Personnel" this Medal "For Bravery" was awarded to a US born recipient.

He was in the almost forgotten to history group of US (economic) migrants to the USSR during the Great Depression. There were at no time more than 11,000 US citizens in the USSR prior to the Great Patriotic War. Most of which were under constant suspicion and many ended up in GULAGS or simply vanished, even before the Cold War.

An ethnic Ukrainian that moved to the USSR from New Hampshire and was not only allowed to serve in the Red Army but also in a position of trust (where you really wouldn't want a spy).

Hopefully more of his story will present itself in time. I have various avenues of research to travel yet.
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Old 05-05-2017, 02:49 AM   #216
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Re: Soviet Awards to non-Soviet personnel.

As I said, he probably returned to Poland, as the area wasn't part of the Soviet Union before 1939.

That actually makes this Ukrainian man a foreigner - born in the USA - so USA citizen at birth. Returned to Poland - became a Polish citizen. In 1939 the area is (after a short episode of Ukrainian rule) incorporated into Ukrainian SSR, which indicates that he was a soviet citizen for only a few years when awarded the medal.

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