Hero Of The Soviet Union,U/N,Commander,Sniper Company,81st Guards Rifle Regiment

[Auke]

Especially for the cabbage man! :thumbsup

The word "hunting" was also within quotation marks in the original citation.

(Unfortunately the award isn't mine!)


Award sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Golosov, Vasily Ivanovich
2. Military rank: Guards Lieutenant
3. Duty position, unit: Commander of a sniper company in the 81st Guards Rifle Regiment, 25th Guards Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division
Recommended for: Hero of the Soviet Union title
4. Year of birth: 1911
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: Member of the VKP(b)
7. Participation in the Civil War,, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where, when): In the Patriotic War with the Western and Voronezh Front since 28 June 1941
8. Suffered wounds and contusions in the Patriotic War: 4 wounds
9. Since which year in the Red Army: Since June 1941
10. Drafted by which military commissariat of a raion: City of Moscow, military commissariat of the Kiev Raion
11. Which earlier awards: Order of the Red Banner on 16 April 1943, Order of the Red Star on 6 December 1942
12. Permanent home address of the recommendee or the address of his family: Tula Oblast, city of Belyov, 11 Oranzhereinaya Street

Short, concrete description of personal combat feat or merits:

Guards Lieutenant Golosov has been serving with the 25th Guards Order of the Red Banner Division since its formation in 1942 as a Private. Having mastered the sniper's job, comrade Golosov personally killed 422 Germans, including up to 70 enemy snipers. In combat with the Germans he was promoted to Lieutenant and commander of a sniper company. He practically instructed and trained up to 170 men to snipers, taking them "hunting" in all types of combat. During the period of combat, his pupils added 3,765 killed fascists to the tally.

The entire division known and looks up to Guards Lieutenant Golosov, and even neighboring units that he visits to observe the enemy order of battle. During the period of combat, he repeatedly displayed personal heroism and was wounded 4 times.

He absolutely deserves to be awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title.

Commander of the 81st Guards Rifle Regiment
Guards Major [signature] /Kovalev/
26 June 1943



Deserves to be awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Commander of the 25th Guards Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division
Guards Major General [signature] /Shafarenko/
26 June 1943



Deserves to be awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Commander of the 6th Army
Lieutenant General [signature] /I. Shlemin/

Member of the Military Counsil of the army
Major General of Aviation [signature] /V. Klokov/
June 1943



Deserves to be awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Commander of the Southwestern Front
Army General [signature] /Malinovsky/

Member of the Military Counsil of the Southwestern Front
Lieutenant General [signature] /Zheltov/
5 July 1943



Awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title and bestowed the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal by Decree of 26 October 1943.

[CtahhR]

This Sniper was a very proficient, accurate and brave soldier and very worthy of the title of which he was awarded. He was very lucky to have survived the four wounds but unfortunately he was not alive to receive the title he was recommended for two months before being fatally wounded in the chest. This Vasilij may not be as famous as other snipers with the same name but that may just be because he didn't survive to tell the tale.

[Auke]

You're right; he died on 16 August 1943, having been hit by shrapnel in the chest during an aerial attack and artillery bombardment on a village near Izyum.

[Komsomol]

Here is a few photo's of this sniper,Greetings

[UQWozza]

Anyone know what his award number was?

Simon

[Lapa]

Simon,

Most likely, since he was killed before receiving it, no gold star was issued; relatives would be given the large and small diplomas "in rememberance".

Marc

[UQWozza]

Hi Marc,

Thanks for that - I was aware that it was a posthumous issue but did not know that a star was not issued in those circumstances. Does that mean he didn't get a bust in his home town as well?

Simon

[desantnik]

Plenty here can check, but I don't think the bust came until the second awarding.

[CtahhR]

Does this mean somewhere in the Soviet Union there were statues of Stalin and Brezhnev? We learn a little more every day! I've certainly seen statues of many single time "Heroes" who were killed in their Heroic actions, be in a suicide attack on the enemy or giving their own life to save others, such as throwing themselves over an MG to disable it. Situations like this however don't really give an opportunity to have multiple awards. Many HSU are also honoured in medal form either through the Federal Government, it's Ministries/Agencies or Public Award Committees. Just yesterday I got the Medal Of A. I. Marinesko.

[UQWozza]

After Desantnik's remarks I did a bit of Googling. It seems officially that only a second award entitled the recipient to have a bronze bust of his/her likeness with a commemorative inscription erected in his home town.

Perhaps these other statues were done by local subscription?

Simon