Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Ex-Red Army vets to receive medals

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Ex-Red Army vets to receive medals

    Ex-Red Army vets to receive medals
    By ALEX PESHKOV

    The Republican, MA
    May 8 2005

    Sunday, May 08, 2005 -- SPRINGFIELD - A group of ex-Red Army soldiers
    and officers - all members of the local Russian-speaking community -
    will be awarded Russian jubilee medals at a dinner commemorating the
    60th anniversary of victory in World War II.

    The Russian consulate officials will bestow "60 Years of Victory in
    the Great Patriotic War" medals to 24 veterans of World War II and
    thank them for their bravery at the annual dinner that will be held
    Thursday at 193 Worthington St.

    The awards recognize the veterans' role in the fight against fascism,
    said Grigory A. Karamov, 83, of Springfield, vice president of the
    Springfield chapter of All American Association of Veterans of World
    War II, whose members immigrated to America from the former Soviet
    Union and the Soviet Bloc.

    Karamov, one of those who will be receiving the award, enlisted in
    the Army July 13, 1941. He was severely wounded two years later while
    commanding a machine-gun platoon of the 815 Rifle Regiment/the 394th
    Rifle Division that was fighting at Klukhorsky Pass, Caucasus.

    "After the hospital, I went to a military medical school and then
    spent another 33 years with the Army serving as an officer in the
    Army's Medical Service Corps," said Karamov, who retired as a colonel
    and lived in Baku, Azerbaijan, until 1990. He was honored for his
    service with the Medal for Bravery, Order of the Patriotic War,
    Order of the Red Star, and "many other" awards.

    Karamov, an Armenian, left Azerbaijan after violent inter-ethnic
    clashes, where he was severely injured while escaping a group of
    armed thugs who robbed his apartment. He moved to America 11 years ago.

    "(At the dinner) we'll be celebrating Victory Day and commemorating
    those who perished in the war," said Karamov, adding that he also
    remembers the five-year struggle, known in Russia as the Great
    Patriotic War, as a time when people of different nationalities were
    united by the goal of defeating the Nazis.

    "It's a rather informal gathering. ... We'll be having some food.
    We'll be singing our old songs, recalling time in service. ... You
    know, it's 'the holiday with tears in your eyes'," he said, referring
    to the words of the Russian song.

    The Soviet Union's contribution was crucial to an Allied victory over
    the Nazis and cost the country tens of millions of lives. Victory
    Day remains one of the most significant public holidays in Russia,
    where each family has at least one relative who served in the war.

    "The war remains a very emotional thing for us. ... There are few of
    us who are left, but our memories are still vivid," Karamov said.
Working...
X