Red Star,0346822,Lineman,653rd Separate Line Communications Battalion

[Al-muell]

The order looks like ground-dug. Almost certainly a tragic story behind that...
The optimistic version would be that he lost it somewhere in a battle, but that is not very probable.

[Tommy]

The "site" is back running again and i found this gentleman there, sadly there is only the document which i currently have which helps us not.

I checked the Memorial site again and there is an Ivan Vorochenko listed, hailing from the same place as Andrei, but with a date of birth 2 years before.

He went missing in November 1943.

Perhaps a brother?

Perhaps a case of mistaken identity.

Who knows...

There's no record of an Ivan Vorocheno on Podvig.

[CtahhR]

He doesn't have his Medal's citation on "the site" which is somewhat surprising but he also doesn't have a OPW '85 listed but that isn't surprising.
There is a Medal citation to a Воронченко, Андрей Герасимович (which is not outside the margin of bureaucratic error) but that is a different chap all together.

Given the fatality rate of Ukrainians (often due to the fact that they were sent in at the deep end as well as geographic location) and the fact that his home town of Nizhyn isn't a giant metropolis it is highly likely that Ivan is his brother.

[Tommy]

I'm pretty sure it is on Podvig?



Ah well, i think this will remain a mystery for the foreseeable future.

Shame!

Tom

[CtahhR]

That is not a citation for a Medal "For Combat Merits". A 1942 award mentioned on his citation for the Order "Red Star".

[Tommy]

Ah, sorry, cross purposes! His CSM citation is indeed not present unfortunately.