Soviet Guards Pvt. Nikolai Antonovich Vasetsky

[Ferdinand]

Here's a small group of awards, awarded to Guards Private Nikolai Antonovich Vasetsky. The Red Star (replaced enamel on 5 o'clock) arm has been researched. The OPWII has a copper (?) hammer & sickle.

Close-up of the Red Star, nr. 398067:

Edited January 11, 2008 by Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

The OPWII type 2, nr. 913181:

The OPWI type 3, nr. 1017990:

[Ferdinand]

The Order Booklet, nr. A-858239, with entries for the Red Star and the OPWII. Privileges started in November 1943, booklet filled in on 14 May 1947.

[Ferdinand]

Order Booklet, nr. V-793714, for the 1985-issue OPWI.

[Ferdinand]

The Award Record Card, obverse:

Reverse:

[Ferdinand]

Citation for the Red Star, obverse:

Reverse:

[Ferdinand]

Translation of the Award Record Card:

1. Last name: Vasetsky

2. First name and patronymic: Nikolai Antonovich

3. Military rank: Private

4. Sex: Male

5. Year of birth: 1922

6. Place of birth: Altaisk Krai, Rodino Region, Stepnoi Kuchuk Village

7. Dedication to the Party (since which year): Member of the VKP(b) since 1943

8. Education: Elementary

9. Nationality: Ukrainian

10. Since which year in the Red Army: From September 1941 to April 1945

11. Place of service and duty position at the time of the awarding: 1st Guards Artillery Brigade - Scout

12. Current Place of service and duty position: Michailovsk PMS, Sinelnikovsk Region - Mowing Machine Operator

13. Home address of recipient: Lenin Kolchoz, Garsky Rural District, Sinelnikovsk Region

14. Received awards:

Order of the Red Star nr. 398067, Order Booklet nr. A-858239, Prikaz of 21 October 1943

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class nr. 913181, Order Booklet nr. A-858239, Prikaz of 12 March 1945

Medal for Victory over Germany, Certificate nr. 0361779, Ukaz of 9 May 1945

[signed Vasetsky]

Sinelnikovsk Regional Military Commissar

Lieutenant-Colonel [signed] /Savelyev/

24 October 1956

[Ferdinand]

Translation of the citation:

1. Last name, patronymic and first name: Vasetsky, Nikolai Antonovich

2. Rank: Guards Private

3. Position, unit: Scout in 4th Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade, 1st Guards Red Banner Ridkhovsk Artillery Division

Recommended for: Order of the Red Star

4. Year of birth: 1922

5. Nationality: Ukrainian

6. Dedication to the party: Not a member

7. Participation in the Civil War and other military actions aimed at the defense of the USSR and the Patriotic War (where, when): From 20 November 1941 to 12 February 1942 Western Front. From 15 March 1943 Central Front.

8. Wounds or contusions received during the Patriotic War: Serious wound on 12 February 1942, Western Front

9. In the Red Army since: Since 19 September 1941

10. Drafted by which Regional Military Commissariat: Rodino Regional Military Commissariat

11. Which previous awards (for which merits): None

12. Permanent home address of the awardee and the address of his family: Altaisk Krai, Rodino Region, Rodino Village

I. Brief description of personal feat or merits:

During defensive and offensive fighting, he has proven himself a fearless, bold, and courageous scout.

In defensive fighting he has displayed heroism and bravery. While in the regimental observation point, he discovered two enemy artillery batteries, one mortar battery and a column of enemy infantry moving to the front lines.

On 26.8.43 near Yaroslavka while situated with the infantry, he discovered two enemy mortar batteries, determined their position, and transmitted their location to the battery and the enemy batteries were destroyed.

On 28.9.43 near Strakholese while in the infantry formations he revealed an enemy infantry concentration preparing for a counterattack.

Having transmitted this location to the battery, it then scattered and destroyed as much as a company of enemy infantry.

He is deserving of the Order of the Red Star.

Commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade

Guards Captain [signed] /Kavmin/

10 October 1943

II. Conclusion of the Higher Command

Will be decorated with the order of the Red Star

Commander of the 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade

Guards Colonel [signed] /Kerp/

21 October 1943

[Ed_Haynes]

Nice one!

Thanks for posting it!!

[Guest Rick Research]

The 1956 date on the ARC suggest to me that THAT is when he actually received his very high numbered OPW2-- which should make for some very interesting research.

I'm also impressed that he was obviously a daring (and highly successful) forward artillery spotter-- never a "long term" career in any army-- and yet was never advanced from ordinary Private!

Very interesting group!

[Ferdinand]

Yes, the OPW2 is probably from 1956. Although awarded to him per decree of 12 March 1945 it probably didn't get to him in time, as he left the army in April.

Rick, Why do you think the OPW2 citation would be interesting? I guess it was awarded for his serious wound from 12 February 1942. Weren't most late OPW2's awarded for GPW wounds?

[Guest Rick Research]

Exactly. His 1985 OPW 1st Class also would indicate that he was a war invalid.

[Ferdinand]

As it turned out, the OPWII is not an award for wounds, but for similar actions as his Red Star. Here's the citation for Vasetsky's OPWII:

First the upper part of the citation. Much information is already known, but there are some additions. Vasetsky is still a private in the 4th Battery of the 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Kiev Brigade, 1st Guards Artillery Glukhovsky Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Breakthrough Division of the Supreme Command Reserve. VLKSM member since 1942 and at the front since 1942, subsequently in the Kalinin, Central, Voronezh and 1st Ukrainian Front. In addition to his heavy wound, he was lightly wounded on 30 October 1942 near Rzhev. He was recommended for a OPWI.

Edited November 2, 2008 by Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

Citation, lower half:

"During the offensive fighting he proved himself a brave, courageous and valorous soldier in the Red Army.

On 2 February 1945, near Gugelwitz on the western bank of the Oder he discovered an enemy 105 mm artillery battery, which fired continuously at our side of the front. Comrade Vasetsky transmitted the coordinates of the enemy battery, which was silenced.

On 3 February 1945, near Mulredlitz Comrade Vasetsky discovered two enemy artillery batteries, which were silenced by battery fire.

On 4 February 1945 Comrade Vasetsky discovered a concentration of enemy infantry and tanks, preparing for a counterattack. He transmitted the coordinates to the battery, by whose fire the concentration was shattered.

He is deserving of the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.

Commander 1st Guards Cannon Artillery Kiev Brigade

Guards Colonel [signed] (Semak)

10 February 1945"

[Ferdinand]

Lowered to an OPWII om 20 February 1945 by the Division Commander, a Guards Major General of Artillery, and confirmed on 3 March 1945 by the Artillery Commander of the 13th Army, Lieutenant General of Artillery Kubeyev:

[Guest Rick Research]

Quite impressive especially for such a low ranking soldier. It seems odd that somebody as brave and in a job requiring constant initiative was not promoted.

Some headquarters cigarette lighter probably got the OPW 1st that SHOULD have been his.