Order of the Red Star, nr. 1895345

[Frayer]

If anyone may be interested ....

The spelling/hand-writing on the "Учетная карточка" being, as noted above, perhaps challenging, it appears that he was born in село Арапи / celo Arapi / Arap'i village on the Akhuyan river, which was part of Дузкендский район / Duzkendskiy rayon 1940-1945. This region was renamed Ахурянский район / Akhuryanskiy rayon in 1945.

The village Arap'i / Арапи / Առափի is now in Shirak / Ширак / Շիրակ province in north-west Armenia. Until 1946, the village was called Odzhakhkuli.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arapi,_Armenia
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

This village is now a suburb just west of the location shown as the Junior Lieutenant's address just after the war, then the regional "capital":

город Ленинакан, улица № 39, дом № 204
Leninakan city, 39th Street, House 204
The place is now known as Gyumri / Гюмри / Գյումրի :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyumri
Here is an aerial photo from before the 1988 earthquake:
http://pics.livejournal.com/dabavog/pic/000b7sx2.jpg

Here is some info on his often-decorated unit:
105-я гаубичная артиллерийская Сивашская Краснознамённая ордена Кутузова бригада большой мощности
105th Sivash Red Banner Kutuzov Order Heavy Howitzer Artillery Brigade
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/105-я_г...ти

- Frayer

[Bill Garvy]

Yes, thank you, Frayer, I am most interested!

[booboo252]

Great info!

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet
1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Minosyan, Rafael Karlovich
2. Rank: Junior Lieutenant
3. Duty position: HQ Platoon Leader – 1 Battery, 105 Red Banner Sivash Order of Kutuzov High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade
Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star
4. Born: 1920
5. Nationality: Armenian
6. Party membership: Comsomol member
7. Previous combat: Patriotic War since 1941
8. Wounds or shell-shock: lightly wounded 1942
9. Time in Red Army: since 1939
10. Inducted by: Dnzkaidskii Regional Military Commissariat, Armenian SSR
11. Previous awards: n/a
12. Home of record: Armenian SSR, Dnzkaidskii Region, village of Aralip
13. Birthplace: same
Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment
In fighting near Rzhev on the Western Front on 2.12.41 Comrade Minosyan displayed exemplary bravery. As a HQ platoon leader, he was ordered to maintain continuous communications with the commander of the attacking company. Under heavy artillery and machinegun fire during the advance, he provided the battery fire correction data against enemy resistance which resulted in the attacking company to accomplish its combat mission.
On 28 April 1944 in fighting near Vitebsk, again as a HQ platoon leader, he and a group of scouts were ordered to conduct a reconnaissance of the enemy on a hilltop. While under heavy enemy fire the brave scouts reached the hill, obtained target data and returned with no losses.
For bravery and courage displayed in combat with the German invaders he is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.
Signed Commander, 105 Sivash Red Banner Order of Kutuzov High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade, Colonel Solovev on 8 May 1945
Awarded the Order of the Red Star by Order #4/N of the 105 High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade dated 8 May 1945. Verified by Brigade Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Prokofev

Award Card
Order Booklet 337534
1. Last name: Minasyan
2. Name and patrionymic: Rafael Karlovich
3. Rank: Junior Lieutenant
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1920
6. Birthplace: village of Aralkh, Akuryanskii Region, Armenian SSR
7. Party membership: Comsomol member since 1937
8. Education: mid-level
9. Nationality: Armenian
10. Time in Red Army: October 1939 – April 1946
11. Place of service at awarding: HQ Platoon Leader – 105 Sivash High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade, 1 Battalion
12. Place of work at present: Armenian SSR, Leninakan, Accountant Course at the Glukho(?) Combine - Student
13. Home address: Armenian SSR, Leninakan, #39 Street, Bldg. 204

14. Awards:
Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization
- Red Star 1.895.345 105 Gds High-Power Howitzer Arty Bde dated 8.5.45
- Victory over Germany Medal Edict dated 9.5.45

Verified by Leninabad Military Commissariat, Lieutenant Colonel Martirosyan on 3 October 1946

105 Sivash Red Banner Order of Kutuzov High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade Order 04/N dated 8 May 1945

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary mission accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for displaying valor and courage:
The Order of the Red Star
7. Junior Lieutenant Rafael Karlovich Minosyan – HQ Platoon Leader, 1 Battery, 1 Battalion
Signed Commander, 105 High-Power Howitzer Artillery Brigade, Colonel Solovev

[meyerse]

Is it unusual that there is a lag from April 1944 to the awarding in May of 1945?

[Bill Garvy]

Not at all; I know of an example of a Red Star, #3836254, awarded April, 1945, but not received until December, 1992!

[booboo252]

Many soviet awards were not issued until years later, sometimes for decades because of the shear numbers involved. I am summising that because alot of the Red Army was made from quickly conscripted men, during and after Barbarossa, it made I.D difficult in some cases.