Stogieman Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 A very interesting documented group to Bulgarian Air Force Colonel Dechev. Service from WW2 through the late 1980's. While a very complete group (still no way to research and find out if anything is missing....) there's a couple of interesting questions.... if he was in WW2, why does he not receive his 10-Year Long Service Medal until 1961? He then receives his 15-Year LSM in 1966. He was clearly still "employed" through the late 1980's..... but no 20-Year LSM in the group? (I have all of his medals & orders as well as the documents)Another interesting question.... His rank on the Soviet Victory medal lists him as "gednik" (or something close??)... what the heck is that?Meet our Colonel:
Stogieman Posted July 10, 2009 Author Posted July 10, 2009 Just to reinforce the time element here..... His Victory over Fascist Germany Medal from the Soviets in 1945 and the Forty year Jubilee of Victory Medal from the Soviets in 1985:
Stogieman Posted July 10, 2009 Author Posted July 10, 2009 Interior of the documents showing (then) "Gednik" Dechev. Document issued by "Soviet Group of Southern Forces". The 1985 Jubilee medal is interesting by virtue of the issuing authority: "USSR Deputy Minister of Defense for Cadres"
Stogieman Posted July 10, 2009 Author Posted July 10, 2009 More tomorrow... I just looked at the clock!
Theodor Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) The rank is Rednik. So he was just an ordinary soldier in the WW2. It looks like /probably shortly postwar/ he pursued military career and became an officer in 1951, hence the 10 years in 1961 and the 15 years in 1966. Both medals point the year 1951.Why no 20 years medal? Who knows... Maybe just missing from the group. Or maybe some scenario, like he quit after 15 - 16 years and was called back at some later point, missing the moment for a 20 years medal? Please show the rest, the other awards and the documents may give some idea.BTW his name is Todor Denchev Dechev. On the 1985 document the second name is wrong /I believe that the 1985 is the document with wrong name, because that Dochkov is a name very unlikely, unheard so far by me, while Denchev is popular/. Edited July 10, 2009 by Theodor
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 Early GTO Book, but the stamps are covering the date:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 Inside of the booklet for the Merit Medal:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1964 he received the Armed Forces Jubilee Medal:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1969: 25 Years of Communist (People's?) Power Medal:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 Also 1969, 25 Years of The Armed Forces Jubilee Medal:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1974. Thirty Years Armed Forces Jubilee Medal:
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1978, Liberation from Ottoman Empire Medal
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1984, People's Republic of Bulgaria, Third Class
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1984, Warsaw Pact Union 84 Manouvers/War Games Pass. Came in the original slip cover too!
Stogieman Posted July 11, 2009 Author Posted July 11, 2009 1988, Order for Military Valor & Merit, First Class
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