Alexander Nikolaevich Ragushin_x000D_ _x000D_ Rank: Lieutenant Colonel. Type of troops: Artillery. Subdivision: 1st artillery division RGK. Alexander Nikolaevich Ragushin Guard Lieutenant Colonel 06.20.1913 – 05.21.1986 _x000D_ _x000D_ My grandfather of my mother's side was born in the hero-city of Leningrad. He spent all his childhood in his hometown, where he graduated from school, received a higher technical education. In 1939 he was called up for special. recruiting into the Red Army to participate in the Soviet-Finnish war. _x000D_ _x000D_ During the Great Patriotic War, he fought as part of the troops of the Leningrad, Stalingrad, Central and 1st Ukrainian frontlines. As part of the artillery troops, as well as as part of the 3rd Guards Light Artillery Brigade of the 1st Guards Artillery Division of the “RGK” 60 Army, 316 Guards Kiev Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment of the 50 Infantry Division of the 52 Army, he took a direct part in the defense of Leningrad, for which he was awarded with a Medal "For the Defense of Leningrad", took a direct part in the defense of Stalingrad, for which he was awarded with the Medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad", was a direct participant in the heroic assault and liberation of Warsaw from 14-17 January 1945, for which he was awarded with the Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw". _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ He had two wounds. For his display of valor, courage and bravery in battles, he was awarded with two Orders of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd grade, and was awarded with the Medal "For Military Merit". _x000D_ After the end of the war, he continued his military service in the ranks of the Soviet army in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ He was married and had two children: daughter Irina (my grandmother) and son – Yuri. In 1954, for length of service in the ranks of the Red Army, he was awarded with the next The Red Star Order, and in 1985, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, he was awarded with another Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd grade for military service in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. In besieged Leningrad, his grandfather lost his entire family, so after retiring, he under no circumstances wanted to return to his hometown of Leningrad, where everything would remind him of his dead relatives. _x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Together with my great-grandmother Maria Alekseevna Ragushina (also a native of Leningrad who survived the blockade of the City), they chose the Belgorod for their further living in 1959, having traveled around many cities. So my ancestors got to the Belgorod region. Grandfather worked as a chief mechanic in the Belgorod regional executive committee until his retirement.