Branch of troops: Engineering troops_x000D_ _x000D_ Tishalovich Semyon Fadeevich (04.06.1923 – 25.09.2015) was drafted into the army in June 1944, when Soviet troops liberated Belarus. At that time, my great-grandfather was 21 years old. Grandfather Semyon carried out an extremely dangerous service: he was a sapper in the 196th Lezny engineer-sapper Battalion of the 29th engineer-sapper brigade of the 6th Guards Army of the 1st Baltic Front. The front was commanded by General of the Army I. Kh. Bagramyan. _x000D_ Grandpa Semyon was a part of many crucial battles. He took part in the liberation of Belarus and the Baltic states (in the defeat of the German Army Group Center). Supporting the offensive of the 1st Baltic Front, the engineering troops were engaged in the Construction of bridges and crossings, and cleared minefields. During my grandfather's service, the Germans more than once organized counterattacks in different sectors of the front. And his sapper brigade always arrived at the forefront when there were messages about the intention of the enemy to attack. They planted mines in the fields, warning the actions of the fascists. _x000D_ Once, during a German offensive with the use of heavy tanks "Tiger" on the mines of grandfather Semyon, two enemy tanks were blown up at once. For this efforts he was awarded the medal "For Courage". He has many other medals and orders. _x000D_ Grandfather celebrated Victory Day in Latvia. After the end of the war, he continued to serve. The sappers had enough work - they cleared the places of past battles. And only in the spring of 1947 he returned to his native village Katilovo, Vitebsk region, where he lived until the end of his days. Together with his grandfather Semyon, his brother Fadey and two brothers-in-law, brothers Peter and Vladimir Petrovsky, fought. After the war, grandfather Semyon worked for 30 years on a tractor, growing grains. For these efforts, he was awarded the medal "For Valiant Labor" in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin. _x000D_ Grandfather Semyon lived a long, eventful life. However, his memories of the war have always remained clear and accurate. He remembered everything that happened to him during the war, down to the last detail, and loved to share his memories with us: children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. At the end of September 2015, Semyon's grandfather passed away. However, the memory of his efforts, contribution to history, to the defense of our Motherland is forever alive with us.