Rank: Sergeant. Branch of Service: Artillery. Unit: 413th Brest Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov Rifle Division. My great-grandfather, Vasily Balandin was born on August 6, 1909, in the family of Fedor Balandin, a peasant, and his legal wife Agafya Isavina (Iivina?). In 1939, he served In the Department of correctional labor colonies of the NKVD Directorate of the Moscow Region, as a platoon commander. As a conscript, he was called up to the front on February 19, 1942. Tagansky District Military Commisariat (Moscow, Tagansky District). Sent to the assembly point of Moscow City Military Commisariat #3 with the rank of Sergeant (minor commanding staff) from the police Department #36. He served in the 982nd Artillery Regiment of the 413th Rifle Division, the 50th Army. He took part in the Orel operation (August 16, 1943) and liberated the city of Zhizdra, participated in the Bryansk operation (October 1, 1943). Units of the division, which was a part of the 50th Army of the Bryansk Front liberated the city of Cherikov. The last letter from him was sent on October 2, 1943 (field post office #66507-n). He was seriously wounded and sent to the Evacuation hospital #2781 (p / p 65502-n) on November 12, 1943. It was located in Zlynka, Bryansk Region. From there he was redirected to the evacuation hospital #2966 in Klimovichi (Balarus). He was admitted to the hospital without documents and in an unconscious state on 14.11.1943. Two weeks later, December 2, 1943 Vasily died and was buried in the city cemetery of Klimovichi, due to the loss of documents in the distant 1943, buried under the rank of private. The family members for more than 70 years considered Vasily missing in action, and only recently became aware of his Fate and the Great price he paid for our peaceful life.