Vasily Ermolaevich Gorbunov was born in 1921 in the Tyumen region, Berdyuzhsky district in the village of Murashevo. As a 19-year-old boy, he was drafted into the Red Army in May 1940. Since June 1941, he participated in the Great Patriotic War. He received his first order in 1943 for exemplary performance of combat missions. Being the head of the radio station of the 10th Separate Guards battalion of miners, guards Sergeant Vasily Gorbunov, was awarded the Order of the ""Red Star"".These are the words from the award list: ""Being part of a Squad of guardsmen miner parachutists with radio officer in the unit guards Lieutenant Casto, operating in the deep rear of the enemy on the train station Borisov – Orsha, for four months he ensured uninterrupted radio contact with battalion headquarters, timely passed the results on the destruction of enemy communications and explored about the enemy. Having good communication, the battalion headquarters was always aware of the life of the detachment and provided the detachment with everything necessary. Being surrounded by the enemy, despite being wounded, Gorbunov took out the radio station and kept it in good condition. During the fighting, the detachment undermined 11 enemy railway echelons, broke 11 locomotives, 66 trains, 12 platforms, 12 vehicles, killed and wounded 790 Germans..."" In 1944 Sergeant Gorbunov Vasily ermolaevich, a radio officer of 10th Guards Motorized Engineer battalion, was awarded the Medal ""For courage"". Extract from the award list "" Comrade Gorbunov acting as head of the radio station and assistant platoon commander, acting in the detachment of the battalion, provided timely and uninterrupted command of radio communications. Being under intense fire and exposure from the enemy's air, Gorbunov did not show the slightest sign of cowardice and personally repaired three damaged radio broadcast stations, and his example attracted subordinates on precise execution of tasks to ensure communication."" Order from 02.06.1945, No. 472 :""On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, for exemplary performance of Command assignments at the front against the German invaders and the manifestation of the courage and bravery he was awarded the Order ""Glory of the 3d class"". Sergeant Gorbunov provided continuous radio communication, carried out mining and mine clearance work. Risking his life, Gorbunov found a German radio and immediately adapted it to communicate with the battalion. Knowing the radio business perfectly well, comrade Gorbunov trained excellent radio operators in the battalion. The order of Glory of the third degree is worthy of the government award»... ""In 1945, he walked along Red Square in Moscow, as a participant in the Victory Parade."