ANTONOV Vasily Petrovich

Born in the village of Rasskazany, now in the Balashovsky District of the Saratov Region. During the famine of 1927, his parents died, and Vasily and his sister were taken in by his aunt in Ivanovo. She then placed him in an orphanage. From 1933 to 1937, he worked as a shepherd on a suburban state farm in the Ivanovo District and as a blacksmith for the Santekhmontazh organization. In 1938, he completed three years of literacy classes. He joined the army in October 1938, serving in the border troops on the border with Finland. During his service, he apprehended five border violators. He fought in the Great Patriotic War from the very first days, taking part in defensive battles in the Far North and was wounded twice. In November 1942, along with other border guards, he was seconded to the 10th NKVD Division, which was being formed in Chelyabinsk, later becoming the 181st Rifle Division. He served with this division until the end of the war. In February 1943, he returned to the front, participating in battles near Sevsk and the Battle of Kursk. At a critical moment in the battle, he replaced a seriously wounded crew commander and continued firing. He particularly distinguished himself during the crossing of the Dnieper River near the village of Komarin (Braginsky District, Gomel Region).

13.03.1917 - 18.12.1988