Description
Soviet Order of the Red Banner #211486
Awarded to Corporal Joseph Mikhailovich Gorbenko (Иосиф Михайлович Горбенко)
For bridge building in Lithuania. Despite shelling and bombardment from aircraft, comrade Gorbenko set 22 frames at a depth of 2.5 to 3.6 meters and continued building even when blasted from the bride by bomb explosion
Recommended for the order of Lenin
Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 45.12 mm in height, 37.42 mm in width and it weighs 25.8 grams without its suspension. The serial number and curved mint mark are located at the 6 o’clock position of its reverse.
In ‘combat’ condition with medium wear to the higher laying parts like the center wreath and several small dings and scratches to the silver on both sides. The white enamel is fully present without repairs and the red enamel shows loss on the top banner and the 9 o’clock ray of the center star. A fair amount of the original gold plating is still present and covered by a dark layer of patina. Its connection ring has not been cut and the order comes with its old double layer steel suspension and old ribbon.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:
During the construction of a bridge across the river Memel in the area of the village of PEOYUKANY [Lituania], comrade GORBENKO showed himself being a brave, courageous, agile and enterprising squad leader. As soon as they began to install the poles, in the midst of the river, enemy planes started continuously bombing, the bridge was not yet completed and despite shelling and bombardment from aircraft, comrade GORBENKO set 22 frames at a depth of 2.5 to 3.6 meters. He did not leave the bridge, until the vehicles went by. During one raid, a group of frame installers just lowered a frame into the water, failing to fix it, when suddenly 8 enemy planes appeared out of the clouds, diving directly down to the bridge, dropping bombs. The bombs exploded alongside the bridge – 2 people were killed and 4 wounded by splinters; the rest, including comrade GORBENKO, were thrown into the river due to the blast. He quickly got out of the water, began to catch and tie the floating frame, tied the frame and rushed to save the concussed, drowning platoon commander – Senior Lieutenant SITNIKOV. Despising death and not paying attention to the heavy bombardment from the aircraft, he caught up with the man, who was carried away by the water over a distance of 200 meters, and pulled him out of the water.
For selfless devotion to his homeland, for showing heroism, bravery and courage, comrade GORBENKO is worthy of the governmental award, order of Lenin.
More info on Corporal Gorbenko can be found here
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