Boris Anatolyevich KOTOV

    Col (Retd.) Boris Anatolyevich KOTOV, DOB 23.11.1925, was born in the Ivanovo region. At the age of 16 he dropped out of school and went to work helping to raise 4 younger brothers and sisters. In March 1943 he was drafted into the Red Army and sent to a sergeants’ military school, where specialists of artillery instrumental resonance were trained. He was appointed to the 1290th howitzer regiment, the 2nd Ukrainian front and took part in the liberation of Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia. The most difficult battle happened near Balaton lake, Hungary. On 21 March 1945 he was lightly wounded, but remained to continue engagement with targets during street fighting. The war ended for him in Prague, the local people warmly welcomed Soviet troops with lilacs. At the end of May 1945 he was offered a place in the Odessa Artillery Academy. He retired from the military service in Sept.1983. Col (Retd.). He was awarded the Order of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War, the Medal "For the Capture of Vienna" and the Medal "For Combat Deeds".