Pokusov, Vladimir Sidorovich, Platoon Commander, 606th Separate Communication Company

[medals73]

I now have (thanks, Auke!) the translation of the Red Star recommendation.

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Pokusov, Vladimir Sidorovich
2. Rank: Lieutenant
3. Position and unit: Leader of a telephone-line platoon, 606th Independent Signal Company, 233rd Kremenchug Znamenka Rifle Division
Nominated for: Order of the Red Star
4. Year of birth: 1917
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party affiliation: Member of the Communist Party since 1942
7. Participation in the Civil War, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR and the Patriotic War (where and when): At Khalkhin-Gol in 1939; during the Patriotic War from March 5, 1942 to August 10, 1943 on the Leningrad Front and from August 20, 1943 up to the present time on the 2nd Ukrainian Front
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: One light wound in 1942
9. Since when in the Red Army: September 13, 1937
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Sorochinsk Raion, Chkalov Oblast
11. Awards received previously (for which merits): Medal for Courage in 1939
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: ______________

Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits:

Throughout the entire period of combat actions Lieutenant Pokusov showed himself a bold, brave, and courageous commanding officer, possessing a thorough understanding of military communications. Officer Pokusov participated in the crossing of the Dnieper River. During the fighting at the village of Khirovka officer Pokusov was in charge of laying a telephone line to the command post of the commander of the 703rd Rifle Regiment. The telephone line that was installed worked without interruptions, despite heavy enemy artillery, mortar, machine-gun, and submachine-gun fire. Thanks to officer Pokusov’s skillful leadership, terrific knowledge of military communications, bravery, and courage, his platoon’s communications were always realized on schedule. Under heavy enemy fire, Pokusov laid a telephone line to the command post of the commander of the 703rd Rifle Regiment near the villages of Kopani and Topilo ahead of schedule. The communications worked smoothly, and when the enemy had brought up a large number of tanks and infantrymen and launched several fierce counterattacks between December 27 and 30, 1943, supported by heavy artillery, mortar, machine-gun, and submachine-gun fire, keeping the telephone lines in operations during this critical time required strenuous efforts from the telephone operators. Pokusov personally watched over the functioning of the telephone line.

The communications enabled the command to control the fighting. Possessing a superior number of tanks, the enemy drove a wedge into our combat positions. At the same time it became necessary here to look after the functioning of the telephone line, temporarily move to the other riverbank, and provide the command with communications. Subsequently the telephone line had to be removed urgently. Pokusov accomplished this crucial task during the situation at hand in an excellent manner. The communications worked smoothly up to the very last moment and when the telephone line was removed, not a single yard of it was left behind for the enemy, despite the heavy enemy fire. Seven signallers from his platoon were awarded decorations. He is dedicated to the cause of the Party of Lenin and Stalin and the socialist motherland.

For skillfully educating his soldiers and for his bravery, courage, and personal initiatives, officer Pokusov deserves to be nominated for the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the 606th Independent Signal Company
Senior Lieutenant [signed] /Pavlov/
June 27, 1944

I award the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the 233rd Kremenchug Znamenka Rifle Division
Colonel [signed] /Sidorenko/
July 5, 1944

By Order of the 233rd Kremenchug Znamenka Rifle Division nr. 025/N of July 18, 1944 awarded the Order of the Red Star.

Chief of the Personnel Section of the division
Captain of the Administrative Service [signed] /Ivanov/

So . . . the (missing!) bravery medal was probably for Khalkin Gol?! :D