Glory III,435096,Scout,31st Motorised Topographic Detachment,East Prussia

[patricko]

Record Card

Order booklet nr G-005724

1. Last name: Tsurkan
2. First name and patronymic: Vasilii Prokopevich
3. Military rank: Private
4. Sex: Male
5. Birthyear: 1919
6. Place of birth: Chernovits Oblast, Zastavnovskii Region, village of Azhavintsi
7. Party membership (since which year): n/a
8. Education: elementary
9. Nationality: Ukrainian
10. Since which year in the Soviet Army: 5.1944-11.1945
11. Place of service (name of the unit) and duty position at the time of the award: 1162 Rifle Regiment – Machinegunner
12. Current place of service and duty position: Chernovits Oblast, Zastavnovskii Region, Lenin Collective Farm – Collective Farm Worker
13. Home address of the awardee: Chernovits Oblast, Zastavnovskii Region, village of Azhavintsi
14. Record of all awards presented::

Bravery Medal 3.526.023 1162 Rifle Regiment dated 10.2.45

Glory III 435.096 3 Belorussian Front dated 29.6.45

Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.45

Capture of Koenigsberg Medal Edict dated 2.6.45


Verified 29 July 1953 by Zastanovskii Regional Military Commissariat Lieutenant Colonel Voloshenko

[patricko]

Award Sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Tsurkan, Vasilii Prokonevich
2. Rank: Private
3. Duty position and unit: Scout – 31 Motorized Order of the Red Banner Topographic Detachment
Nominated for: Order of Glory III Class
4. Year of birth: 1919
5. Nationality: Ukrainian
6. Party affiliation: n/a
7. Participation in the Civil War, the following combat actions for the defense of the USSR and the Patriotic War (where and when): since 10 November 1944
8. How many wounds received during the Patriotic War: wounded 3 times
9. Since when in the Red Army: since 20 May 1944
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Zastavnetskii Regional Military Commissariat, Chernovits Oblast, Ukrainian SSR
11. Which earlier awards (for which merits): None
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee, the address of his family and the last name, first name and patronymic of one of his family members: Chernovits Oblast, Zastavnetskii Region, Arzhaveshcha village. Wife – Tsurkan, Elena Vasilevna


Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Prior to his induction into the Red Army Comrade Tsurkan lived on territory temporarily occupied by the Germans. After training in a reserve regiment as a machinegunner he was assigned to the 162 Rifle Regiment, 133 Division, 5 Army, where he was wounded in an offensive for the city of Instenburg on 7 February 1945.

Upon returning from the hospital he participated in the liquidation of the Gdynsk enemy pocket as a member of the 297 Rifle Regiment, 184 Rifle Division as a machinegunner and on 18 March 1945 he was wounded by shrapnel from an enemy shell.

A week later Comrade Tsurkan was assigned to the 1229 Rifle Regiment as a company commander’s messenger. While fighting for Koenigsberg and accomplishing a combat mission delivering a message, he was wounded 7 April 1945 for a third time.

He has served in the 31 Motorized Red Banner Topographical Detachment since 6 July 1945.
For his participation in fighting for the Soviet motherland, for displaying bravery and valor, and for spilling his blood three times, I am recommending Comrade Tsurkan for the Order of Glory III Class.


Signed Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Makarovskii on 9 July 1945
Endorsed Chief of Topographical Services, 3 Belorussian Front, Colonel Vasilev on 12 July 1945

[patricko]

Цуркан, Василий Прокопьевич ' OGIII

[EricFG]

Three wounds gets you an OG3???? CSM is more like, IMHO.

[PaulR]

Based upon the earilier citations I have seen on the OGIII, it seems as if the criteria for the award became looser toward the end of the war.

Still, a really nice researched Order. Congratuations!