(28. 3. 1909 - 30. 10. 1943)
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With tepan Kuzmich Ostapenko, . Guard lieutenant, . Chief of Intelligence, 131 th Guards Artillery Regiment, 62 Guards Rifle Zvenigorod Red Banner Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 2-degree divisions, . born March 28, 1909 in d,
. Dmitrievka Balakovo district of Saratov region. Russian. Graduated Tersinsky Agricultural College in 1931. , and the Higher Agricultural School in 1936. In 1931 - 1934 he worked as a technician at the farm-animal breeders "Frontier", on the eve of the war was the editor of the regional newspaper. In the Red Army, he served in 1940 and 1941 - 1943. Participated in the Russo-Finnish War 1939 - 1940 period.
From July 1942 until October 1943 fought at Voronezh, Steppe and 2 of the First Ukrainian Front. Participated in battles at Voronezh, in the Battle of Kursk and the liberation of Ukraine. For military distinction was awarded the medal "For Courage" (1943).
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on Feb. 22, 1944 for bravery and courage in crossing the Dnieper, seizing and holding the bridgehead on the west bank of the River.
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On the night of September 30, 1943 Lieutenant Ostapenko crossed the Dnieper, along with the advanced detachments of infantry
. At dawn his scouts noticed how the Nazis roll his open positions on their guns, like machine guns and tanks, camouflaged. All the detected target Ostapenko to map and then passed their details but the radio in the regimental headquarters.
Bridgehead reclaimed rifle battalions and artillery, no more than a quarter of a square kilometer. Infantrymen occupied a narrow strip along the shore with two enemy trenches. In one of them Ostapenko established his observation post.
. Soon the Germans hit our foothold sea of fire, under cover of which the thick chain-machine with the tanks went into a counterattack.
. Watching in the telescope, Ostapenko chose the area where the enemy's chains were thicker and more tanks, and called on the area fire all divisions of the regiment
. The shells were going to just. Dozens of the Nazis were on the slope. However, the Nazis continued to approach the positions of Battalion. Again, the team Ostapenko before Nazi tanks and self-propelled guns stood thick wall of defensive fire. After that came into the case, our machine guns and antitank guns. Leaving the battlefield, five tanks and about a hundred killed, the Germans withdrew.
Pulling up the reserves, the enemy in the morning on October 4 has taken a new, even stronger counter. A mine explosion in the artillery was divided into a radio station, and communication with the headquarters of the regiment was interrupted. Ostapenko went to is located next to the Chief of Intelligence Division 2-nd lieutenant Nicholas Rudometov and, using his radio station, went on to manage the fire of the regiment.
. Meanwhile, up to a dozen enemy tanks overran the military formations of one of the rifle companies, and broke through to the observation post
. Ostapenko with Rudometov fire caused the 2 nd division over ...
Raids was a powerful. On the slopes of the heights were three enemy tanks and dozens of submachine. Those who survived the Nazis retreated, and the surviving tanks backed away.
Fire regiment, who skillfully managed the lieutenant Ostapenko, this day was reflected three counterattacks. Gunners have helped the infantry hold the bridgehead on the west bank of the river near the village of Yasinovatki.
During October a springboard for the south-east of Kremenchug were stubborn battles. Many towns were passed from hand to hand. In the area of the village Lozovatka Krivoy Rog area of our units, which comprises and Ostapenko, was encircled. The Soviet soldiers fought to the last bullet. Many died. Not returned from the battlefield and SK. Ostapenko, and his fate is unknown.
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Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
