Chebdaev, Mihail Petrovich, Topographical Calculator, 456th Light Artillery Regiment

[Bill Garvy]

Order Book (#B721619) documenting a Bravery Medal (#961470) and Combat Service Medal (#1308420).

[Bill Garvy]

Bravery Medal 961.470

Unit Award Order

456th Light Artillery Regiment, 9th Zaporozhe Artillery Breakthrough Division, Supreme Command Reserve, Order 2/N dated 16th February, 1944

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

12. Regimental Calculation Topographic Platoon Squad Leader Senior Sergeant Mikhail Petrovich Chebdaev. On 12.02.44 near Novo-Semenovka (Apostolovskii Region, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast) the enemy switched to the attack and while subjected to an onslaught of numerically superior enemy, our infantry withdrew and the enemy approached a railroad bed. At this critical moment Comrade Chebdaev led the topographic platoon in a counterattack. The enemy began to withdraw and Comrade Chebdaev and his platoon pursued the enemy to our open observation posts subsequently occupied by the enemy, and organized the delivery of shells to the remaining guns and supported the initiation of fire upon the retreating enemy.

b. 1919, non-Party member, inducted by the Kuibyshev Regional Military Commissariat, Tashkent, in Red Army since 28.12.39. Address: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Signed 456th Light Artillery Regiment Commander Lieutenant Colonel Milkovskii and Chief of Staff Captain Petrov

[Bill Garvy]

Combat Service Medal 1.308.420

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Chebdaev, Mikhail Petrovich
2. Rank: Senior Sergeant
3. Duty position: Deputy Platoon Leader – Calculation Topographic Platoon, 456th Light Artillery Regiment, Supreme Commander Reserve
Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star
4. Born: 1919
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: candidate member since May, 1944
7. Previous combat: since 15.07.41 on the SW and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts
8. Wounds or shell-shock: lightly wounded 9.near Lozovenka (Kharkov Oblast) 25.5.42 and shell-shocked near same placed on 25.08.1942
9. In Red Army: since 28.12.1939
10. Inducted by: Kuldyshevskii Regional Military Commissariat, Tashkent
11. Previous awards: Bravery Medal by 456th Light Artillery Regiment Order 02/N dated 16th February, 1944
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Comrade Chebdaev displayed valor and bravery during the penetration of the enemy’s defense, raid deep into the enemy rear area, and encirclement and reduction of an enemy pocket near Lapushna. He commanding a group of soldiers sliced to liquidate enemy submachinegunners and pursue into nearby (woods?). Comrade Chebdaev and his group killed 15 enemy soldiers and captured 20 soldiers and officers. On 25.08.44 when the enemy attempted to break out of encirclement north of Lapushna and partially escaped on the northern edge of Lapushna, Comrade Chebdaev was ordered to threaten the marauding submachinegunners. Chebdaev’s group of soldiers destroyed 20 and captured 18 soldiers and officers near the church. Chebdaev personally killed ten and captured six. His exceptional bravery and courage motivated our soldiers and Chebdaev cut off all attacks, thus supporting the HQ’s work and security of our rear area.

Signed Commander, 456th Light Artillery Regiment, Supreme Command Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Milkovskii

Endorsed Commander, 26th Novobugskaya Light Artillery Brigade RGK, Colonel Goncharov on 17th September, 1944


Upon reading this citation, I, and others, think he was worthy of a much more substantial award. Your thoughts?

[Bill Garvy]

Unit Award Order

26th Novobuskaya Light Artillery Brigade, Supreme Command Reserve, Order 011/N dated 17th September, 1944

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions on the front in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Combat Service Medal to:

12. Senior Sergeant Mikhail Petrovich Chebdaev – Deputy Platoon Leader, Calculating Topographical Platoon, 456th Light Artillery Regiment

Signed 26th Novobugskaya Light Artillery Brigade Commander Colonel Goncharev and Chief of Staff Guards Major Garbuz

4 Copies
1,2,3 – 9 Artillery Division
4 – in file
Compiled 17.09.1944

[Bill Garvy]

Document for the Medal for the 20th Anniversary of Victory dated April 8th, 1975 (!)

He was also award a 1985 Jubilee Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class.

My thanks to desantnik for his invaluable assistance.