Meshcheryakov Vasily Petrovich_x000D_ _x000D_ Guards Senior Sergeant Meshcheryakov Vasily Petrovich was born in 1924, in the village of Tatanovo, Tambov region. He began the war in August 1942. In regular units of the active army he had been since March 1943 in 854th Rifle Regiment of 277th Rifle Division. _x000D_ He was twice wounded: September 9, 1943 and August 26, 1944. After recovery he continued to serve in 612th Rifle Regiment of 144th Rifle Division. He took part in the liberation of Belarus and Lithuania, as well as in the combat on the territory of East Prussia. He was awarded three orders of the Red Star and the order of the Patriotic war I degree, medals "for Military Merit", "for Capture of Konigsberg", "For Victory over Japan", various commemorative medals and awards. _x000D_ Letters from the front or stories about the war in the family did not survive, my grandfather did not like to remember those terrible events. _x000D_ After 75 years, according to archival documents, I partially restored the combat path of my ancestor. Dedicated to my grandfather... (a poem in Russian by Dmitry Klyuchevsky, grandson).