Rakov Stepan Nikolaevich_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Lieutenant-colonel. Type of troops: Armored and mechanized troops. Stepan Rakov was born on August 18, 1926 in the village of Dubrava in the Kotovskaya rural administration of the Ardatovsky district, located 14 km Northwest of the Ardatov river. The locality was classified as unpromising and has now been removed from the administrative register. Dubrava is connected by dirt country roads in the North-West with the village of Yuzhilin (3 km), in the East with the village of Izmailovka (6 km), in the South-East with the village of Novola (5 km). In the area of the village originates R. Melava. The village is surrounded by deciduous forests. The settlement was founded presumably after 1917, during a campaign to organize agricultural communes. In 1925, the Dubrava commune consisted of 92 inhabitants. She was part of Cavallasca rural parish Council Ardatov, Arzamas district. Stepan Nikolaevich was born in a large family of a paramedic Nikolay Sepanovich Rakov and a peasant woman Evdokia Pavlovna Shmeleva. He had three brothers: the elder Alexey, the middle Ivan, the younger Mikhail and 2 sisters Nyura (Anna) and Varvara (16.12.1933). On January 2, 1944, as a 17-year-old boy, Stepan joined the red army as a tank driver. In April 1944 the 1514th light self-propelled artillery regiment was created on the basis of the 1514th fighter-anti-tank artillery regiment. Stepan Rakov also got into it. And at home, his girlfriend Lida (my grandmother Lydia Vasilyevna) was waiting for him. From the award lists it is known that from 16.12.1944 he participated in the battles as part of the III-th Belorussian front, and from 15.02.1945 as part of the I-th Baltic front. Stepan Nikolaevich said little about the war. Every time he was asked about it, tears came to his eyes, his speech faltered, and he refused to remember it - he had seen too many deaths. From his stories, it is known that during the war, he operated a SU-76 self-propelled artillery unit and a T-34 tank. From order 12/n of 20.04.1945 on awarding the Order of the red Star of the 1st degree, it follows that Stepan Rakov was slightly wounded on 21.01.1945. And at the beginning of February 45, he received his first Order of the red Star, " working as a gun commander (gunner) in offensive battles in the area of the village of Hussenen (East Prussia). On 12.02.1945 he destroyed 3 machine-gun points, 2 mortars, 22 carts with military cargo and up to 70 German soldiers and officers of the enemy. On March 5, 1945, Junior Sergeant S. N. Rakov, the gun commander (Adjuster) of the SU-76, was awarded the medal "for Bravery". From the order: "When repelling an enemy counterattack near the village of Kaitsenblik, direct fire from his gun destroyed 7 machine-gun points and up to 35 enemy soldiers and officers." Presumably, the battle for which Stepan Rakov was awarded the medal "for Bravery" took place on February 15-20, 1945 in the suburbs of Konigsberg. By decree of the Presidium of the USSR armed forces of 19.02.1945, the 1514th light self-propelled artillery regiment was awarded the order of Kutuzov III degree for exemplary performance of command tasks in battles with the German invaders, for the capture of the cities of Tilsit, gross, Skaisgirren, Aulovenen, Gillen, Kuakemen and for showing valor and courage. Later, on April 20, 1945, Stepan Rakov was awarded the second award of the Order of the red Star. From premium sheet Order 012/n 28th Separate Guards Tank Brigade Liozno known that "in the battles for the Soviet Motherland during the breakthrough of defense in the area Registan 6.04.1945 and subsequent battles, ARL of Leiderer, and repelling enemy counterattacks from the station Saaranen, fire his machine gun he killed up to 10 soldiers and officers. As part of the crew, he destroyed 2 guns, a machine gun, 3 bunkers and up to 15 soldiers and officers. This time Stepan Rakov's fighting vehicle was a T-34 tank. Stepan Nikolaevich told that when taking Konigsberg on one of the narrow streets of the suburb, his crew was blown up by an enemy gun and caught fire. He was able to get out of the tank, and the rest of the crew were killed. Stepan received a shrapnel wound in the neck and numerous burns, and was taken to a military hospital in a shell-shocked state. That's how my grandfather, like thousands of our other soldiers, fought heroically for Victory. Thank you to my Grandfather for Winning! Subsequently, Stepan Nikolaevich very much regretted that his injury did not allow him to reach Berlin in 1945. Stepan Nikolaevich decided to devote himself to military service and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died in 1995 at the age of 70.