Paul R

Stunning detail in the facial features. I am glad that you are feeling better.

Thanks! I have been struggling with the wording on this one. I think that you could be right. A sound theory is better than no clue at all. I hope that someone publishes a book on the labor awards, which will include the known decrees and etc.

Here is my only example... a double ORBL. There are no other medals I am aware of.

Not much emphasis is given to Labor groupings, perhaps due to the difficulty in researching them? Anyway, I want to see any labor groups with duplicate orders or medals!!! Regards Paul

I would like to see some pics of the catch with the pin uphooked and away.

I know of this award. Coast Guard members are still eligible to receive this award every time a life is saved on board of a helicopter. The younger kids normally get them. Regardless, I would be willing to bet that an early award like this would have an original signature on it. There were not too many helicopter rescues at sea back then. Although.... quite a few lives were saved in Korea by helicopters.

Record card Record card Order booklet nr. 882176 1. Last name: Fidonyan 2. First name and patronymic: Sergo Arutyunovich 3. Military rank: Junior Sergeant 4. Sex: Male 5. Year of birth: April 11, 1922 6. Place of birth: Village of Diliska, city of Akhalkalaki, Georgian SSR 7. Party membership (since which year): Member of the Communist Party since January 3, 1944 8. Education: Elementary 9. Nationality: Armenian 10. Since which year in the Red Army: Since December 20, 1941 11. Place of service (name of the unit) and position occupied at the time of the award: Senior telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division 12. Current place of service and position: Chief of the Signal Center of the Signal Company of the 400th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division 13. Home address of the awardee: Village of Diliska, city of Akhalkalaki, Georgian SSR 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 2557357 067111 Order of the 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division nr. 018/N of April 8, 1945 Order of the Red Star 502795 596062 Order of the 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division nr. 08/N of March 9, 1944 Order of Glory, 3rd Class 103080 827130 Order of the Independent Coastal Army nr. 0450/N of June 26, 1944 Medal for Courage* 558295 241166 Order of the 400th Rifle Regiment nr. 010/N of October 9, 1943 * In Order nr. 010 his first name is given as Sako THANK YOU AUKE!! Hopefully some day I will find that Bravery Medal.

I just received his award card. It seems as if he was discharged as a Junior Sergeant. But even with all of those awards, that is a really low ranking.

You think you have more information on this man?

Order [for his MC] Secret Copy nr. 2 [Pencil note: Independent Coastal Army] Order nr. 010/N Of the 400th Rifle Regiment, 89th Rifle Division, North Caucasian Front October 9, 1943 – Active Army On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, I award: The Medal for Courage to: […] 9. Private Sako Arutyunovich Fedonyan, telephone operator in the regiment’s Signal Company, for enabling uninterrupted communications between battalion headquarters and the units, for serving with shock groups, for providing these groups with communications, and for laying a telephone line under enemy fire during the fighting between September 11 and September 15, 1943. Born in 1922, Armenian, member of the Komsomol, drafted into the Red Army by the Military Commissariat of the city of Akhalkalaki. He hasn’t been decorated and hasn’t been wounded. Home address: _______________. […] Commander of the 400th Rifle Regiment Major [signed] /Peschansky/ Chief of staff of the 400th Rifle Regiment Major [signed] /Sardaryan/ Verified by the chief of the Personnel Section of the 89th Taman Rifle Division Captain of the Administrative Service [signed] August 8, 1944 Chief of the Personnel Section of the Independent Coastal Army Colonel [signed] /Zhdanov/ August 17, 1944 Order [for his 1st ORS] Secret Copy nr. 2 [Pencil note: Independent Coastal Army; June 26, 1944] Order Of the 89th Taman Rifle Division March 9, 1944 – Nr. 08/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: […] 19. Private Sergo Arutyunovich Fedonyan, telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Rifle Division […] Commander of the 89th Taman Rifle Division Major General [signed] /Safaryan/ Chief of staff of the 89th Taman Rifle Division Colonel [signed] /Sokolsky/ Chief of the Personnel Section of the Independent Coastal Army Colonel [signed] /Zhdanov/ April 5, 1944 Award sheet [for his 1st ORS] [Pencil note: Red Star] Award sheet 1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Fedonyan, Sergo Arutyunovich 2. Rank: Private 3. Position and unit: Telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Rifle Division Nominated for: Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class 4. Year of birth: 1922 5. Nationality: Armenian 6. Party affiliation: Member of the Komsomol 7. Participation in the Patriotic War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): Since August 7, 1942 on the North Caucasian Front 8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No 9. Since when in the Red Army: Since December 1941 10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Akhaltsikhe Raion, Georgian SSR 11. Awards received previously (for which merits): Medal for Courage by Order of the 400th Rifle Regiment nr. 010/N of October 9, 1943 12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: _______________ Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits: On September 19, 1943, during the fighting for the village of Verkhne-Bakanskaya, he risked his life under heavy artillery, mortar, and sniper fire to repair ten breaks in the communications line. He provided the regimental headquarters with uninterrupted communications so it could lead the battalion’s combat operations. Conclusion: Comrade Fedonyan deserves the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class. Commander of the 400th Rifle Regiment Major [signed] /Peschansky/ I award the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the 89th Taman Rifle Division Major General [signed] /Safaryan/ March 8, 1944 By Order of the 89th Taman Rifle Division nr. 08/N of March 9, 1944 awarded the Order of the Red Star. Chief of the 4th Section Captain of the Administrative Service [signed] /Allakhverdov/ Order [for his OG3] Secret Copy nr. 2 [Pencil note: Independent Coastal Army; April 2, 1945] Order Of the Independent Coastal Army June 26, 1944 – Nr. 0450/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 Glory, 3rd Class to: […] 3. Private Sergo Arutyunovich Fedonyan, senior telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Rifle Division Commander of the Independent Coastal Army Guards Lieutenant General [signed] /K. Melnik/ Member of the Military Council of the Independent Coastal Army Major General of the Quartermaster Service [signed] /Bayukov/ Army chief of staff Lieutenant General [signed] /Lyubarsky/ Chief of the Personnel Section Colonel [signed] /Zhdanov/ Award sheet [for his OG3] [Pencil note: Red Star] Award sheet 1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Fedonyan, Sergo Arutyunovich 2. Rank: Private 3. Position and unit: Senior telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Order of the Red Star Rifle Division Nominated for: Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class 4. Year of birth: 1922 5. Nationality: Armenian 6. Party affiliation: Member of the Komsomol 7. Participation in the Patriotic War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): On the North Caucasian Front and with the Independent Coastal Army since August 7, 1942 8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No 9. Since when in the Red Army: Since December 23, 1943 10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Akhalkalaki Raion, Georgian SSR 11. Awards received previously: Medal for Courage by Order of the 400th Rifle Regiment nr. 012/N of October 9, 1943 and Order of the Red Star by Order of the 89th Taman Rifle Division nr. 08/N of March 9, 1944 12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: _______________ Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits: During the assault on an enemy pocket of resistance at the Gornaya heights on the Sevastopol bridgehead, he repaired a damaged communications line under heavy enemy fire. After comrade Fedonyan had repaired 9 breaks, the line was once again hit by massive enemy fire. After he had quickly gathered a trophy cable, he laid a line at a new location, thus establishing stable communications with battalion headquarters. During the offensive he remained with his unit even though he had received a wound. During complex combat situations he supported the uninterrupted communications with the battalions, which were engaged in battle. This contributed to the regiment’s overall success. Conclusion: Comrade Fedonyan deserves the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class. Commander of the 400th Rifle Regiment Lieutenant Colonel [signed] /Glukhodedov/ June 12, 1944 [Pencil note: Glory 3rd Class] He deserves the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class. Temporary commander of the 89th Taman Rifle Division Colonel [signed] /Bulbulyan/ June 12, 1944 By Order of the Independent Coastal Army nr. 0450/N of June 26, 1944 awarded the Order of Glory, 3rd Class. Order [for his 2nd ORS] Secret Copy nr. 2 Order Of the 89th Taman Red Banner Order of the Red Star Rifle Division, 33rd Army, 1st Belorussian Front April 8, 1945 – Nr. 018/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: In the 400th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment: The Order of the Red Star to: […] 44. Private Sergo Arutyunovich Fidonyan, telephone operator in the regiment’s Signal Company […] Commander of the 89th Taman Red Banner Order of the Red Star Rifle Division Major General [signed] /Safaryan/ Division chief of staff Colonel [signed] /Belousov/ Verified by the chief of the Personnel Section Captain of the Administrative Service [signed] /Mkrtychev/ Award sheet [for his 2nd ORS] All fields to be filled out fully Award sheet 1. Last name, first name and patronymic: Fidonyan, Sergo Arutyunovich 2. Rank: Private 3. Position and unit: Telephone operator in the Signal Company of the 400th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment, 89th Taman Red Banner Order of the Red Star Rifle Division, 33rd Army, 1st Belorussian Front Nominated for: Order of the Red Star 4. Year of birth: 1922 5. Nationality: Armenian 6. Party affiliation: Member of the Communist Party since 1944, nr. 6430932 7. Participation in the Patriotic War, the subsequent combat actions to defend the USSR, and the Patriotic War (where and when): Since August 7, 1942 on the North Caucasian Front, with the Independent Coastal Army, and on the 1st Belorussian Front 8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No 9. Since when in the Red Army: Since December 22, 1941 10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Akhalkalaki Raion, Georgian SSR 11. Awards received previously: Medal for Courage by Order of the 400th Rifle Regiment nr. 010/N of November 17, 1943; Order of the Red Star by Order of the 89th Rifle Division nr. 08/N of March 9, 1944; and Order of Glory, 3rd Class by Order of the Independent Coastal Army nr. 450/N of June 16, 1944 12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: _______________ Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits: On February 16, 1945, during a German attack on our bridgehead (on the western bank of the Oder River), comrade Fidonyan, who was serving as a telephone line supervisor, made his way to the line 9 times under enemy fire to repair breaks. The regimental communications were stable and reliable thanks to comrade Fidonyan’s selfless efforts. Conclusion: Comrade Fidonyan deserves the Order of the Red Star. Commander of the 400th Sevastopol Rifle Regiment Guards Lieutenant Colonel [signed] /Shapovalov/ February 27, 1945 I award the Order of the Red Star. Temporary commander of the 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division Major General [signed] /Safaryan/ March …, 1945 By Order of the 89th Taman Red Banner Rifle Division nr. 018/N of April 8, 1945 awarded the Order of the Red Star. Chief of the Personnel Section Captain of the Administrative Service [signed] /Mkrtychev/

It all belongs together. I am glad that you are the one who has the set now, Chris.

That is a super grouping Chris! I have never before seen a NC EK2 document before. The WW2 era photo is interesting. IT does not look like any LS insignia configuration I have seen before. I will have to break out the Littlejohn book tonight. It reminds me of a prison service tunic. You did really well. Thanks for sharing.

Are both helmets made from the same militaria?

Sailmaster First Class?! When did that rate go away? I imagine that this one was merged into the Boatswain Mate field.

Tell us more... What unit was he with? What did he teach in school?

Does it still burn?

That is a very impressive piece Mervyn!! I sent you a PM.

I wonder where all of his WW2 medals went? They should be between the GCM and the Occ Medal.

Please make the image sharper and larger, so that we can make out the details.

I have always wanted one of these. Very nice.

Those are beyond amazing. I am sure that the first one got a little frustrated that he could not break the ORS ceiling.

That is another great bar Captain!

Bottom row, second from the right is the Nationalist Chinese medal for "Medal of Victory of Resistance Against Agression". Many were awarded to Americans who were in the Burma front in the Pacific War. Most likely, he "Flew the Hump" or assisted the Chinese Nationalist Air Force in some manner. It was awarded for contributions to China against the Japanese.

Those are beyond amazing.

Why would there be maker marks on the backs of props made only to be seen from the obverse? I think that some of these are unfinished(missing hand engraved SNs) fakes meant to be sold as real?