Title: Sergeant _x000D_ Subdivision: 205th Infantry Division of the Gdynia Order of Suvorov _x000D_ Grigory Tarasovich Platonenkov was born on October 21, 1907 in the village of Shkoreki, Porechsky District, Smolensk province (now the Demidovsky District of the Smolensk Region) in the peasant family of Taras Efimovich and Stepanida Ilyinichna Platonenkovs. He was the second child of six children. He graduated from the 3rd grade of primary school and started working early as a shepherd. Upon reaching the age of 18, he was sent to serve in the Red Army. After finishing his service he moved to Smolensk and got a job in the militia. After the death of his parents in the mid-30s, together with his younger sister Maria, he moved to Siberia, where he continued to serve in the militia. _x000D_ From the very beginning of the war, he requested to be sent to the front, since he had an exemption from active duty as a good worker. He enters the Karelian Front in February 1942. He fought as Squad Commander of 1st platoon of 293rd Separate Reconnaissance Company of 205th Rifle Division. He was wounded four times in battles: on August 5, 1942, July 2, 1943, August 31, 1943, December 27, 1943. _x000D_ He went out on reconnaissance sorties behind enemy lines many times. By November 1943, he had made 25 night patrol sweeps. In February-April 1943, Platonenkov entered the German trenches several times and fought a grenade combat. On July 2, 1943 he joined combat with an enemy ambush and defeated it, but was wounded at the same time. On March 17, 1945, Platonenkov was one of the first in the company to rise to the attack and burst into the enemy's location, helping to eliminate the threat of a breakthrough of the Soviet defensive lines. _x000D_ He ended the war on Bornholm Island, Denmark, in May 1945. Upon returning to Smolensk, he continued to work in the Soviet Militia. He worked as a sentry, precinct, and also guarded important state facilities. _x000D_ After retirement, he was engaged in raising grandchildren (3 grandchildren and 1 granddaughter). He saw the birth of his great-grandson. He passed away on November 27, 2003 at the age of 96. He was buried at the New, or Novodevichy cemetery in the city of Smolensk, located at 7 km of the Roslavl shosse.