Private Aleksandr Mikhailovich Chursin, Scout-Observer, 76th Rifle Corps

[Bill Garvy]

A preview of what is to come. . .

[Bill Garvy]

Record card

Order booklet nr. 846211

1. Last name: Chursin
2. First name and patronymic: Aleksandr Mikhailovich
3. Military rank: Guards Private
4. Sex: Male
5. Year of birth: June 1923
6. Place of birth: Village of Pervokrasnoye, Sorochinsk Raion, Chkalov Oblast
7. Party membership (since which year): Not a member
8. Education: Elementary
9. Nationality: Russian
10. Since which year in the Red Army: Since April 1942
11. Place of service (name of the unit) and position occupied at the time of the award: Guards Private and scout-observer in the 76th Rifle Corps
12. Current place of service and position: Guards Private and senior scout in the Independent Battery of the commander of the Artillery of the 32nd Guards Oder Rifle Corps
13. Home address of the awardee: Village of Ivanovka, Vtoroi Mikhailovsky Rural District, Sorochinsk Raion, Chkalov Oblast

14. Record of all awards received:

Name of the order or medal/Serial number/Number of the document/Ground of award

Order of the Red Star 1282542 Temporary certificate nr. Ye-270014 Order of the 76th Rifle Corps nr. 1/N of February 22, 1945

Medal for the Victory over Germany Permanent certificate nr. S-066369 Decree of May 9, 1945

Medal for the Capture of Berlin Permanent certificate nr. A-214273 Decree of June 9, 1945

Medal for the Liberation of Prague Permanent certificate nr. A-061308 Decree of June 9, 1945

Signature of the awardee: [signed]

I confirm the correctness of the data and the signature of the awardee (position and signature):

Chief of the Personnel Section of the 32nd Guards Oder Rifle Corps
Guards Major [signed] /Plets/
June 27, 1946

Order

[Stamp: 1st Ukrainian Front]

Order

Of the commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps, 3rd Guards Army

February 22, 1945 – Nr. 1/N – Active Army

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for the exemplary accomplishment of combat missions in the struggle with the German invaders and the valor and bravery displayed in the process, I award:

The Order of the Red Star to:

[…]

10. Private Aleksandr Mikhailovich Chursin, Scout-Observer in the Headquarters Battery of the Commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps

[…]

Commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps
Colonel [signed] /Uskov/

Chief of staff of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps
Lieutenant Colonel [signed] /Kryukov/

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Chursin, Aleksandr Mikhailovich
2. Rank: Private
3. Position and unit: Scout-observer in the Headquarters Battery of the commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps
Nominated for: Order of the Red Star
4. Year of birth: 1923
5. Nationality: Russian
6. Party affiliation: Not a member
7. Participation in the Civil War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): On the Central Front from July 17, 1942 through September 12, 1942 and on the 1st Ukrainian Front since August 10, 1943
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: Received a light wound on September 12, 1942 near the city of Rzhev
9. Since when in the Red Army: Since April 1942
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Sorochinsk Raion, Chkalov Oblast
11. Awards received previously: None
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: Village of Pervokrasnoye, Sorochinsk Raion, Chkalov Oblast

Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits:

During the breakthrough of the permanent German line of defense Raków he showed himself a courageous defender of the motherland.

Posted at the observation point during the preparatory period prior to the offensive, he discovered and determined the location of two enemy bunkers through his conscientious efforts and meticulous observations, contributing to the success of the breakthrough.

While being part of a unit on foot, he engaged several small groups of enemy forces, displaying boldness and courage in the process.

During an attack of a group of Germans near the village of Milicz he alone killed 3 Germans and knocked a weapon out of the hands of a fourth, thus saving the wounded scout Private Sviridov.

He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the Headquarters Battery of the commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps
Senior Lieutenant [signed] /Yegorov/
February 17, 1945

I award the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the Artillery of the 76th Rifle Corps
Colonel [signed] /Uskov/
February 19, 1945

Private Aleksandr Mikhailovich Chursin's Order of the Red Star, #1282542, photographs/scans used with permission.

[Bill Garvy]

Document for the Medal for the Capture of Berlin dated May 1st, 1946, and signed by the commander of the Artillery of the 32nd Guards Oder Rifle Corps, Guards Colonel Tsipilev[?].

Document for the Medal for Victory over Germany dated May 1st, 1946, and signed by the Commander of the Artillery of the 32nd Guards Rifle Corps, Guards Colonel Burov.

Capture of Berlin Medal with what appears to be a "beefed-up" suspension ring and hand engraving on the reverse.

Victory over Germany Medal with hand engraving on the reverse of the suspension, and updated suspension ring.

[Bill Garvy]

- Document for the Medal for 20th Anniversary of Victory dated November 1st, 1967, and signed by the Regional Military Commissar of the city of Sorochinsk, Lieutenant Colonel Litvinenko [pencil note: 99 Zaozernaya Street].

- Document for the Badge for 25th Anniversary of Victory.

- Document for the Medal and Medal for 40th Anniversary of Victory dated May 7th, 1985 and signed by the Regional Military Commissar of the city of Sorochinsk, Major Maksimov.

Document for the Medal for 50th Anniversary of Victory dated March 22nd, 1995.

Document for the Medal for 60th Anniversary of Victory dated April 14th, 2005 and signed by the Governor of the Orenburg Oblast, A. Chernyshev.

Document for the Zhukov Medal dated February 19th, 1996.

Document for the Medal for 50 Years of Armed Forces dated February 20th, 1969, and signed by the Regional Military Commissar of the city of Sorochinsk, Lieutenant Colonel Litvinenko.

Document for the Medal for 70 Years of Armed Forces dated February 22nd, 1989, and signed by the Regional Military Commissar of the city of Sorochinsk, a Lieutenant Colonel.

Order Book for the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class, Jubilee Issue (1985), #2200535.

Document for Frontovik Badge & post-war issued Guards Badge.

My thanks to Auke for his invaluable assistance in obtaining this grouping. Sadly missing are the Liberation of Prague Medal and document, the 30th Anniversary of Victory Medal & document, although he may not have been awarded one, and the 60th Anniversary of the Armed Forces Medal & document, although, again, he may not have been awarded one, inasmuch as they would have been issued in 1975 and 1979, respectively.