In 1942, the front came to the Don and Katerina Kondratyevna decided to go into the active army. She became a medical instructor for a company of machine gunners, a favorite of the unit. Katya remembered her first battle to the smallest detail. In Ukraine, a company of machine gunners received a replenishment. Under the enemy's counterattack, the unfired soldiers began to retreat. Katerina Kondratyevna noticed that the commander had been killed, stood up to her full height and said: “The guards are not retreating! Forward!". And the first rushed to the enemy. Inspired by her fearlessness, the submachine gunners rushed forward and overthrew the Nazis.