For Bravery,U/N 1981,Deputy Platoon Commander,328th Separate Penal Company

[desantnik]

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Rudenko, Vasilii Ivanovich
2. Rank: Private
3. Duty position: Deputy Platoon Leader – 328 Independent Penal Company, 1 Guards Army
Recommendation for the Order of Glory III Class
4. Born: 1910
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party membership: n/a
7. Previous combat: Patriotic War since 1941 on the Northern Caucasus and 4 Ukrainian Fronts
8. Wounds or shell-shock: wounded November 1942 near Novorossissk and October 1943 at Taman
9. In Red Army: since 1931
10. Inducted by: Krenatkinskii Regional Military Commissariat, Krasnodar Krai
11. Previous awards: n/a
12. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

As deputy platoon leader, Comrade Rudenko has proven himself disciplined, self-possessed, and efficient. In fighting for the settlement of Kozamu he was the first to raise his platoon to the attack against the enemy defense and overcoming a wire obstacle under enemy fire, he suppressed an enemy firing position and captured a machinegun. Repelling repeated enemy infantry counterattacks. In fighting for the settlement of Bystre he killed four German soldiers; in combat he is bold and decisive.

He is deserving of the Order of Glory III Class.

Signed Commander, 328 Independent Penal Company, Guards Captain Litvinov

Recommended downgrade to Bravery Medal by Commander, 161 Stanislav Rifle Division, Colonel Pershevich on 8 February 1945

Awarded the Bravery Medal by 161 Stanislav Rifle Division 03/N dated 12.2.45. Signed Division Chief of Personnel Captain Buzhik on 14.2.45.

*Geographic place name is an approximation based off of transliterated Russian from German translated into English

[CtahhR]

Nice to see more catching up after the pair I posted the other day. Just a bit of a shame Bystre is a common name.

[desantnik]

I'm fairly certain this is it:

Bystré, Vranov nad Topľou District - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now I have to look for "Kozamu" or something similar.

[Eryk]

Might be reading more into this than is warranted, but the clarity and conciseness of the write up and descriptions stand out: "disciplined, self-possessed, efficient, bold, decisive". I think the penal unit commander was trying to make a point on Rudenko's "rehabilitation". I dare say leading an attack through wire, breaking into and capturing a position and repelling a counterattack is a classic case for a Glory; can't help but think the downgrade was because he was in a penal unit.

Remarkable catch up award! Happy ending that he made it out of the unit and war.

[Tommy]

Indeed.Brilliant award.

Good to read that he "paid his dues"

Definitely one that would fill a hole in the collection :)

Tom