Grade title: senior sergeant. Our grandfather, Alexey Botov, born in 1912, participated in three wars. In 1934 he was called up for military service and as it is written in the military ticket served "in a crew of the Pacific fleet as a squad leader". In 1936 he was transferred to the reserve. In 1939 he was again mobilized in connection with the beginning of the Soviet-Finnish war and his combat life in the reconnaissance company of the naval infantry thus began. He had to go to the front line so that both to capture a prisoner and to perform sabotage work. He participated in breaking the siege of Leningrad, crossed the Svir river and participated in the liberation of cities on the Karelian front. Then he fought in the 4th Ukrainian front. After the end of the war with Germany Alexey together with his comrade-in-arms went on a train to the East and that moment he did not yet know why. After a long journey the train stopped at his home station, about three kilometers from home. He asked for a few hours off from the senior to see his family. After all, he already had four children before the war, my mother was the oldest. When he ran home he saw hungry, poorly dressed children and his wife. We can only imagine his feelings, but rather we can't imagine what was in his soul. And at that momemt they were broadcasting an announcement on the radio about the war with Japan. And he again ran back to the train to protect our homeland… He was discharged only in July 1946. So, Alexey Sergeevich honestly served in the army for nine years, most of which he fought. He has got awards: Bravery Medal, the order of the red Star, Medal For Battle Merit and medal “For the defense of the Soviet Arctic". After the war he and his wife had four more children. They raised everyone because they were hardworking, reliable and mandatory. My grandfather was of athletic build, and I always felt protected near him. My grandfather was skilful with his fingers, he could professionally repare a car, make a boat and he even used to make shoes for me, in clogs made by him I used to parade around the village. Their generation did not like to talk about the war but one thing is clear: they had a tough test and they passed it. And we need to remember what our grandfathers and fathers were like and to preserve the historical memory of their exploits!!! Low bow to them!