Rank: Starshina_x000D_ Branch of troops: Ground Forces, Air Force (except for naval aviation), coastal service, NKVD troops, border troops. _x000D_ Talaev Ivan Petrovich from December 9, 1939 to March 1940 was a participant in the Finnish Campaign as a driver in the 884th Motor Transport Battalion. From June 1941 to November 1943, as part of the 9th Guards Separate Anti-Aircraft Division, he fought on the Leningrad Front. In 1941 he walked in the First Column of the "Road of Life" to Leningrad on the ice of Lake Ladoga, driving a lorry, and was later awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree. Then he took part in the battles near Leningrad. He was 2 times surrounded. _x000D_ Grandmother received 2 funerals, but luckily he survived. Leaving the encirclement as part of the unit, according to the order of the commander, everyone buried their military papers. Subsequently on February 11, 1943, my grandfather was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his sentence was changed and sent to a Disciplinary Battalion. There he fought heroically and was seriously wounded on November 7 in the stomach and head. He was in a military hospital for treatment from November 1943 to April 1944. Then he fought in the 61st Separate Automobile Battalion of the Baltic Front as a driver, was a squad leader. _x000D_ He was the member of the East Prussian operation. Somewhere near Konigsberg he was seriously wounded and was sent to a military hospital in Moscow for treatment. He had served until October 15, 1945. They offered to stay to work as a mechanic in the capital, but he decided to return to his native north. He was demobilized. In the depot-war period, he worked as a Senior Mechanic in the military registration and enlistment office in the city of Nyandoma, Arkhangelsk Region. Of the awards he was very dear to the badge "Veteran of the Karelian Front 1941-1945". In 1980 he was awarded the second Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. He lived a happy life, had 5 children! He passed away of a heart attack on September 29, 1985.