Russia – Soviet: A Naval Machine-Gunner’s Minesweeping Order of the Red Star awarded to Petty Officer First Class Ivan Arkhipovich Gordik, 2nd Minesweeper Brigade, Red Banner Baltic Fleet for clearing mines in the Bay of Danzig and the Konigsberg Canal.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, without screw post plate, and with semi-flared edges numbered 1650657
Condition: Good very fine
Ivan Arkhipovich Gordik was born in the city of Biysk, West Siberian Krai in 1913. Attaining an elementary education he joined the Red Army in 1935, and the Navy in 1943, serving as a machine gunner in the 2nd Minesweeper Brigade of the South Baltic Fleet, he saw action in the fighting around Konigsberg and along the coast of East Prussia. This Order of the Red Star his sole decoration for bravery was awarded to him by Order of the 2nd Minesweeper Brigade on 21st July 1945, on the back of the following citation:
‘Comrade Gordik was directly involved in the Great Patriotic War, in which he demonstrated bravery and courage in battle with the German invaders.
He particularly distinguished himself during the campaign of 1945, when he swept anchored mines in enemy waters. In the part of the Konigsberg Canal, in the Frisches Haff, a number of shallow-draught anti-boat mines were spotted. In force-five tempestuous weather comrade Gordik entered a rowboat and personally detonated 5 mines. While carrying out a minesweeping assignment in the Bay of Danzig he once again proved to possess a thorough understanding of his specialty.
In charge of the minesweeping post when the mine flail was being put in position and retracted, comrade Gordik always served as an example to the crews of the other minesweepers. Lying in the sea for 17-18 hours on end, comrade Gordak’s mine flail always worked perfectly. The equipment he is in charge of is in good working order. Not a single instance occurred in which the equipment broke down.
He deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star.’
After the war, in November 1946 Gordik was still in position as a Machine Gunner in the 2nd Minesweeper Brigade in the South Baltic Fleet, and was noted as being a resident at number 1, 10 Aprelya (April 10th) Street, in the city of Kaliningrad, which was the new Soviet name for the formerly German city of Konigsberg.
