Rank: Sergeant Major Branch of Service: Land Forces, Air Force (except for Naval Aviation), Coast Guard, NKVD troops, Border Guard Sergey Barkov was born on September 23, 1924 in the village of Baranchik (now Dolzhansky District, Oryol Region) in a peasant family. He graduated from incomplete secondary school. He was called up to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army in 1942 by the Dolzhansky District Military Commissariat. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War - since July 1942. Participated in the battles on the Bryansk, Central, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. He was wounded in battles three times. Distinguished himself during the liberation of Ukraine. By February 1944 - Sergeant Major Barkov commanded a section of the 11th Separate Reconnaissance Company of the 74th Rifle Division of the 40th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. Barkov made 12 raids to the enemy's rear together with his intelligence detachment during February-March 1944. During raids they destroyed about 100 and captured more than 70 enemy soldiers and officers. Barkov, who led a reconnaissance group of four people, crossed the Prut River into Romania on April 2, 1944 and penetrated the location of enemy units near the village of Trestiana near the city of Dorohoi. The group managed to gather information about the enemy and capture a German staff officer, which allowed the division to successfully cross the Prut River. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 13, 1944, for" courage and heroism shown in the Uman-Botoshan operation", Sergeant Major Sergey Barkov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal #5440. He was also awarded the Orders of the Red Banner, the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Red Star, as well as a number of medals, including one For Bravery. He demobilized in 1947. Lived and worked in Oryol. He worked in the locomotive depot as an electrical fitter, a foreman of motorists. He was awarded the badge Honorary Railway Worker of the Ministry of Railways of the USSR. He died on April 20, 2007. He was buried in the military section of the Troitsky Cemetery in Oryol.