The ultimate sacrifice - Master Sgt. Plaksin

[Auke]

One of my most cherished pieces is this nice, salty Bravery Medal. It was awarded on 20 May 1944 to the 23 or 24 year old Master Sergeant Mikhail Moiseyevich Plaksin, a mortar commander in the 3rd Rifle Battalion, 1382nd Rifle Regiment, 87th Rifle Division, 55th Rifle Corps, 2nd Guards Army, 4th Ukrainian Front.

[Auke]

His wartime record card doesn't contain much information:

Last name: Plaksin
First name: Mikhail
Patronymic: Moiseyevich
Military rank: Master Sergeant
Functie en onderdeel: Mortar commander in the 1382nd Rifle Regiment of the 87th Rifle Division
Year of birth: 1920
Party affiliation and period: Member of the VLKSM

Awarded:
- Bravery Medal nr. 1290486, temporary certificate nr. B-684754, awarded by Order nr. 20/N of 20 May 1944

Home address: 1382nd Rifle Regiment, 4th Ukrainian Front.

Novosibirsk Oblast, Ubinskoye Raion

[Auke]

His entry in the 1382nd Rifle Regiment's Order of 20 May 1944 is just as concise:

13. Mortar commander in the 3rd Rifle Battalion Master Sergeant Mikhail Moiseyevich Plaksin, who on 8 May 1944, on the approaches to the city of Sevastopol, destroyed an enemy firing position.

Born in 1920, Russian, member of the VLKSM, attended 8 classes, in the Red Army since 1940, drafted by the Military Commissariat of the Ubinskoye Raion, Novosibirsk Oblast. Home address: Novosibirsk Oblast, Ubinskoye Raion, village of Ubinskoye. Mother: Fyokla Petrovna Plaksina.

[Auke]

At the end of May Plaksin's division was transferred to the 51st Army and in June this army left the Crimea for the Baltic States. In August 1944 the 87th Rifle Division was fighting near the border between Latvia and Lithuania. The fighting here was fierce, since the 1382nd Rifle Regiment alone lost 238 soldiers and NCOs in three days time (18-20 August). One of the men who were killed in action on 18 August in southern Latvia was Master Sergeant Plaksin. The Bravery Medal above was his only award.

I found this list of losses for the 1382nd RR on the Memorial website (??? ????????), mentioning Plaksin:

[Isle of Wighter]

Stunning piece of historical investigation. And a sobering reminder of the sacrifices so many men on all sides made during the most horrific conflict man has ever known. Many thanks for posting this.

[crazy horse]

so young & still made master sgt. sadly he sacrificed all he could, a very brave young man, may he R.I.P.

[AKbear]

Great piece of history and great job at compiling the story. A sad time during which many lost their lives.

[Soljenitsyne]

Great research Auke!

[Adrian Stevenson]

Wonderfull research and a medal with a lot of character. Thanks for posting this thread.

Cheers, Ade.

[David]

His entry in the 1382nd Rifle Regiment's Order of 20 May 1944 is just as concise:

13. Mortar commander in the 3rd Rifle Battalion Master Sergeant Mikhail Moiseyevich Plaksin, who on 8 May 1944, on the approaches to the city of Sevastopol, destroyed an enemy firing position.

Fantastic, a Valor medal won at the battle of Sevastopol, that gives a great historical value.
Congrats.