Bill Garvy

Reverse. . .

His full medal bar. . .

Victory over Germany Medal. . .

Awarded May 9th, 1945, but no document. . .

Reverse. . .

His Bravery Medal. . .

Awarded February 9th, 1944. . .

Reverse. . .

His Order of the Red Star. . .

Awarded November 6th, 1947. . .

Turning the page. . .

Award Book. . .

Signatures. . .

Detail. . .

Citation for Bravery Medal upgraded to a Red Star. . .

Turning the page. . .

Award Card. . .

As initially suspected, the entry in her Order Book for the Order of the Patriotic War in 2nd Class, Nr. 253442, was not legitimate, but artificially added to enhance its value. Regardless, this remains a remarkable grouping. Her story is compelling. Presented here, then, are the translations of the posted documents.

Award Card

Order Booklet A 055488

1. Last name: Bugaenko

2. Name and patrionymic: Feodosiya Efimovna

3. Rank: Medical Service Lieutenant

4. Gender: Female

5. Birthyear: 1921

6. Birthplace: Kiev Oblast, village of D(?)ivka

7. Party membership: n/a

8. Education: mid-level

9. Nationality: Ukrainian

10. Time in Red Army: since 1941

11. Place of service at awarding: 705 Independent Cable-Wire Company, 6 Guards Tank Army - Medic

12. Place of work at present: Unemployed invalid

13. Home address: Kiev Oblast, Lysyanskii Region, village of Dashukivka

14. Awards:

Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 2.662.993 6 Guards Tank Army dated 14.2.45

CSM 686.450 Coastal Army dated 16.5.44

Defense of Caucasus Medal Edict dated 1.5.44

Victory over Germany Medal Edit dated 9.5.45

Verified by Lysyanskii Regional Military Commissariat Captain Porubaev on 15 June 1946

Award Sheet

Medical Service Lieutenant Fedosiya Efimovna Bugaenko

Medic, 705 Independent Cable-Wire Company

Recommendation for the Combat Service Medal

1. Born: 1921

2. Nationality: Ukrainian

3. Social position: office worker

4. Party membership: Comsomol member since 1938

5. Combat in Great Patriotic War: since 23 June 1941

6. Wounds or shell-shock: none

7. Time in Red Army: since 23 June 1941

8. Earlier recommended for award, when, for what?: n/a

9. Previous awards: n/a

10. Earlier service in White or Bourgeois Armies or encircled?:

11. Home of record: Kiev Oblast, Lysinskii Region, village of Dashukovka

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

On the Kerch peninsula during enemy artillery fire and aerial bombing, Comrade Bugaenko daily conducted numerous medical rounds, rendering assistance to wounded and applying medical treatment to the ill on site, not immediately resorting to medical evacuation.

During the quick advance of our forces through Crimea the unit?s personnel restored line communications to the fighting units.

Moving with a platoon, Comrade Bugaenko provided medical care to the soldiers, enabling the personnel?s work in providing communications.

I am submitting Medical Lieutenant F.E. Bugaenko for the Combat Service Medal.

Signed, Commander, 705 Independent Line-Wire Company, Captain Pivovarun on 30 April 1944

Awarded the Combat Service Medal by Order 072/N of the Coastal Army dated 16 May 1944

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Medical Lieutenant Feodosiya Efimovna Bugaenko

2. Duty position: Medic, 705 Independent Cable-Wire Company

Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star

3. Born: 1921

4. Nationality: Ukrainian

5. Social position: office worker

6. Party membership: Comsomol since 1938

7. In Red Army: since 1941

8. Previous combat: since 23.6.1941

9. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a

10. Earlier recommended for award: yes

11. Previous awards: Combat Service Medal by Order 072/N of the Coastal Army dated 16.5.44 for rendering medical aid

12. Previous service in White or Bourgeouis Armies: n/a

13. Home of record: Kiev Oblast, Lisyanskii Region, village of Dashukovka

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

During the 6 Guards Tank Army?s advance through Romania and Czechoslovakia the company?s platoon supplied communications to the army and always deployed along the lines of communication up to 300km away, however Comrade Bugaenko was always presented where needed by the soldiers and continuously provided them medical assistance.

As a result of an engagement with German submachinegunners near the Litsil-Urze(?) Station, five of 3 Platoon?s soldiers were wounded. Comrade Bugaenko returned them to fighting order without evacuating them to a hospital.

Near Winz-Desus-Bedel(?), three soldiers received wounds from aerial bombardment and Comrade Bugaenko quickly returned them to the ranks. Near Erde-Torcha-Acha-Kosyag(sp?) an entire squad of soldiers likewise suffered wounds from enemy aerial bombing and in a timely manner she rendered assistance, permitting them to be returned to duty in the shortest period.

Due to her employment of preventive medicine, there were no epidemic or other infectious outbreaks in the unit. Despite occasional medicinal shortages, Comrade Bugaenko employed captured medicines on the unit?s personnel and always had everything necessary.

I am recommending Medical Lieutenant Bugaenko for the Order of the Red Star.

Signed Commander, 705 Line-Wire Company, Captain Pivovarun on (?) 1944

Endorsed Chief of Communications, 6 Guards Tank Army, Guards Colonel Sherwood signed 31 December 1944

Awarded the Order of the Red Star by Order 025/N of the 6 Guards Tank Army dated 14.2.1945

Biography Sheet

1. Last Name, Name, and Patrionymic: Bugaenko, Feodosiya Efimovna

2. Born: 1921

3. Nationality: Ukrainian

4. Knowledge of Foreign Languages:

5. Birthplace: Kiev Oblast, Lysyanskii Region

6. Social position: office worker

7. Party membership: n/a

8. Education

General: Bogulav. Medical Technical School

Military:

Political:

9. Service in the Old Army:

10. Service in the White Army:

11. Encircled or prisoner:

12. Promotion:

Medical Service Lieutenant

13. Participation in the Patriotic War: since 1941

14. Wounds:

15. Awards:

16. Family status and home of record:

17. Entered into Red Army:

18. Service

Medic 705 Independent Cable-Wire Company, Crimean Army

In reserves on file at Lysyanskii Regional Military Commissariat, Kiev Military District as of Order 01615 dated 1.9.46

19. Released into the reserves with the rank of:

My reaction was the same, too good to be true. I don't care for the "brushed stainless steel" appearance/finish on the obverse of the badges, but I wanted to be sure. Thank you very much for your feedback!

Reverse. . .

Your comments, thoughts and observations are most welcome!

The last is an Imperial Submariner's Badge. . .

Reverse. . .

The next is a Naval Aviator's Badge. . .

Reverse. . .

I have three Imperial Russian Badges and I need to determine their authenticity.

The first is an Imperial Aviator's Badge. . .

For example. . .

I suspect it might be a Deschler & S?hne, "1", given the incused hump as indicated below. Is it a bit larger than other 2nd Class crosses in your collection?

Thank you, Doc, for honoring the memory of Dr. Bugaenko. In the meantime, a research request is being made on Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, nr. 253442, and the results, if any, will be posted along with translations. Please stay tuned!