Rank: Senior Sergeant Branch of troops: Ground Forces. Subdivision: 338th Infantry Neman Red Banner Division. My grandfather's name was Ivan Vasilievich Sibirev. He was born in 1921 in the village of Zhukovo, Brodokalmaksky District, Chelyabinsk Region. Grandfather was drafted into the army in September 1940. He fought with the rank of Sergeant. On June 22, 1941, when the war started, his troops were in the area of the city of Brest. My grandfather began his combat path as part of the 173 Air-Fighter Battalion, then he was the Commander of the machine-gun crew of the 1136 Rifle Regiment of the 338 Rifle Division of the 33rd army of the Western Front. He fought with the rank of Sergeant, and in 1942 he was awarded the rank of Senior Sergeant. Grandfather took part in battles near the cities of Kaluga, Minsk, Mogilev, Roslavl, Baranovichi, Belgorod, Orel, Przemysl, etc. He was wounded three times. The most severe head wound was in March 1943 during the liberation of the city of Yelnya. Then he was awarded the Medal for Military Merit. He had awards "For Courage", the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, a medal "For the Defense of Moscow". _x000D_ All his life my grandfather lived with a shell fragment in his head. Grandfather died on January 24, 1997. Unfortunately, he did not like to talk about the war and we know little about his combat path. Two of his siblings, Aleksey and Alexander, were killed in the war. I am proud of my grandfather and I consider him a true hero! Thanks to my grandfather and all the participants of the Great Patriotic War for the Victory, for the peaceful sky overhead! We will never forget him!