Soviet Junior Sergeant Ivan Nikolaevich Shokopko

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card, page 1

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Award card, page 2

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Award Citation top. . .

[Bill Garvy]

Award Citation bottom. . .

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Award Citation reverse. . .

[Bill Garvy]

The Junior Sergeant's Order of the Red Star, Nr. 3836254, awarded in 1992. . .

[Bill Garvy]

Reverse. . .

[Bill Garvy]

Translation of the above documents reveals an upgrade from an Order of the Patriotic War in 2nd Class to a Red Star. . .

Award Sheet

1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Shokopko, Ivan Nikolaevich

2. Rank: Junior Sergeant

3. Duty position: Squad Leader – Anti-Tank Rifle Platoon, 649 Rifle Regiment, 165 Sedvets Red Banner Rifle Division

Recommendation for the Order of the Patriotic War II Class

4. Born: 1926

5. Nationality: Ukrainian

6. Party membership: no

7. Previous combat: 2 Belorussian Front since 25.11.1944

8. Wounds or shell-shock: none

9. Time in Red Army: since 9.6.1944

10. Inducted by: Nikopol Regional Military Commissariat, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast

11. Previous awards: n/a

12. Home of record: Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Nikopol Region, village of Nikolai Moisenko. Mother – Shokotko, Tatyana Vasilevna

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

During the penetration of the German defense near Hill 109,0 at the village of Lortsin on 14 January 1945, the Germans attempted to resist our units’ attack with self-propelled guns’ artillery fire. Commanding a squad of “armor-busters,” Junior Sergeant Shokotko personally suppressed one enemy self-propelled gun with his anti-tank rifle, thus weakening the Germans’ firepower and permitting the infantry to rush into the German trenches.

For displaying military skill and bravery, Comrade Shokotko is deserving of the Order of the Patriotic War II Class.

Signed Regimental Commander, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Yurev on 2(?) February 1945

Endorsed 165 Rifle Division Commander, Guards Colonel N. Ko(?) on 28 February 1945

Awarded the Order of the Red Star by Order 32/N of the 96 Brest Rifle Corps dated 12.4.1945. Verified Chief of Personnel, 96 Rifle Corps, Administrative Services Major Burakov

Award Card

3.12.1992, Zhovtnev Region, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine

1. Last name: Shokotko

2. Name and patrionymic: Ivan Nikolaevich

3. Nationality: Ukrainian

4. Gender: Male

5. Birthyear: 1926

6. Birthplace: Kiev

7. Education: mid-level

8. Party membership: n/a

9. Place of service at awarding: Squad Leader (Sergeant) – 641 Rifle Regiment, 165 Rifle Division

10. Place of work at present: Dnepropetrovsk, Victory Riverside #80, Apt. 134

11. Awards:

Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 3.836.254 96 Rifle Corps dated 12.4.1945

Verified by Zhovtnev Regional Military Commissariat Colonel Mikhailov on 3 December 1992

[Bryan]

Wow December 1992! That's only 1 year after the end of teh Soviet Union. That is a really late Red Star. Is it me or the enamel looks really different than on earlier awards?

[Guest Rick Research]

Good Lord! Makes you wonder what took SO long?

The scan does make the enamel look odd, but surely these were made years earlier and sat around in boxes waiting to be handed out.

Just goes to show what research provides-- from the number, would have expected this to be for Afghanistan!!!!

:cheers: