Description
Medal for Combat Merit #380763
Awarded to Private Ivan Yakovlevich Baranov (Иван Яковлевич Баранов)
For bravery near Rostov by taking over a gun role after the commander was injured, continuing firing despite crew injuries, and skillfully evacuated the gun and truck under enemy fire
Made of solid silver. Measures 32.02 mm in diameter and 2.18 mm in thickness. The height of the medal measures 37.34 mm (including the eyelet) and it weighs 17.1 grams without its suspension. The silver suspension measures 25.53 mm in width at its narrowest part and 31.43 at its widest point.
The awardee sure was proud wearing his medal as both the eyelet on top of the medal and the one at the bottom of the suspension are worn down intensively. There is no risk of the medal falling off but this would probably have happened if the awardee kept wearing his medal for another year or so. Apart from this, the medal is in a nice, about average condition with several small dings and scratches and medium wear to the raised parts. The silver suspension is original but the rectangular plate is missing. Its connection ring has not been cut.
Short translation of the citation:
In the combat engagement for the village Nizhne-Podpolnoe, comrade BARANOV proved himself as a brave and courageous soldier. In the heat of the battle, a gun commander was severely wounded. Driver private BARANOV assumed his role at the gun and assisted the gun crew. When the rest of the gun crew was wounded and taken out of action, comrade BARANOV and Sgt. MAKAROV kept firing the gun point black at the Fascists. Later, following a direct order of the battery commander, comrade BARANOV skilfully drove both the gun and the truck from under the enemy fire.
Born in 1912, VKP(b) member candidate, Russian, drafted to RKKA on 23.06.1941 by Brasovskij district military commissariat, Orel region.
Signed by the regiment commander /DMITRASCHYUK/
The translation of the register card can be read here
More information on Private Baranov can be found here
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