Ex-Red Army vets to receive medals
By ALEX PESHKOV

The Republican, MA
May 8 2005

Sunday, May 08, 2005 — SPRINGFIELD – A group of ex-Red Army soldiers
and officers – all members of the local Russian-speaking community –
will be awarded Russian jubilee medals at a dinner commemorating the
60th anniversary of victory in World War II.

The Russian consulate officials will bestow “60 Years of Victory in
the Great Patriotic War” medals to 24 veterans of World War II and
thank them for their bravery at the annual dinner that will be held
Thursday at 193 Worthington St.

The awards recognize the veterans’ role in the fight against fascism,
said Grigory A. Karamov, 83, of Springfield, vice president of the
Springfield chapter of All American Association of Veterans of World
War II, whose members immigrated to America from the former Soviet
Union and the Soviet Bloc.

Karamov, one of those who will be receiving the award, enlisted in
the Army July 13, 1941. He was severely wounded two years later while
commanding a machine-gun platoon of the 815 Rifle Regiment/the 394th
Rifle Division that was fighting at Klukhorsky Pass, Caucasus.

“After the hospital, I went to a military medical school and then
spent another 33 years with the Army serving as an officer in the
Army’s Medical Service Corps,” said Karamov, who retired as a colonel
and lived in Baku, Azerbaijan, until 1990. He was honored for his
service with the Medal for Bravery, Order of the Patriotic War,
Order of the Red Star, and “many other” awards.

Karamov, an Armenian, left Azerbaijan after violent inter-ethnic
clashes, where he was severely injured while escaping a group of
armed thugs who robbed his apartment. He moved to America 11 years ago.

“(At the dinner) we’ll be celebrating Victory Day and commemorating
those who perished in the war,” said Karamov, adding that he also
remembers the five-year struggle, known in Russia as the Great
Patriotic War, as a time when people of different nationalities were
united by the goal of defeating the Nazis.

“It’s a rather informal gathering. … We’ll be having some food.
We’ll be singing our old songs, recalling time in service. … You
know, it’s ‘the holiday with tears in your eyes’,” he said, referring
to the words of the Russian song.

The Soviet Union’s contribution was crucial to an Allied victory over
the Nazis and cost the country tens of millions of lives. Victory
Day remains one of the most significant public holidays in Russia,
where each family has at least one relative who served in the war.

“The war remains a very emotional thing for us. … There are few of
us who are left, but our memories are still vivid,” Karamov said.