Russia – Soviet: A Vistula-Oder Offensive Order of the Red Star awarded to Reserve Private Ivan Aksentyevich Boksha, a Musician in the Military Band of the 215th Smolensk Red Banner Order of Suvorov 2nd Class Rifle Division for his efforts in attending to

Russia – Soviet: A Vistula-Oder Offensive Order of the Red Star awarded to Reserve Private Ivan Aksentyevich Boksha, a Musician in the Military Band of the 215^th Smolensk Red Banner Order of Suvorov 2^nd Class Rifle Division for his efforts in attending to the wounded whilst serving as a stretcher-bearer with complete disregard for the time he spent without sleep or rest.

Order of the Red Star, type 2, numbered 2264543

Condition: Good very fine

Ivan Aksentyvich Boksha was born in the village of Voronkovo, Rybitsa Raion, Moldova in 1915, and joined the Red Army in February 1942, having been drafted by the Military Commissariat of the Sokolnichesky Raion, city of Moscow.

Serving initially on the southern and then subsequently the Stalingrad Front, he was involved in the fighting for the city and the subsequent counter attack that destroyed the German Sixth Army resulting in him being awarded the Medal for the Defence of Stalingrad.

Going on to see service on the Western Front and then the Third Belarussian Front, Boksha was awarded a Medal for Courage by Order of the 707^th Rifle Regiment on 23^rd February 1944, before receiving this award of the Order of the Red Star on 1^st May 1945 by Order of the 215^th Rifle Division with the following citation:

‘During the offensive of January-February 1945, Ivan Aksentyevich Boksha served in the Medical Battalion as an orderly/stretcher-bearer. With complete disregard for the time he went days on end without sleep or rest. He assisted the medical staff in performing surgery on the wounded, providing the latter with comfort, warmth and fine care.

For his efforts he deserves the Order of the Red Star.’

Signed by the Commander of the 359^th Independent Medical Battalion, Major of the Medical Service Vyunkovsky

Boksha would subsequently go on to be awarded the Medal for the Victory over Germany, the Medal for the Victory over Japan and the Medal for the Capture of Konigsberg. After the war he served as a Driver at the sugar factory in the city of Beltsy, Moldova while living at 1 Ovrazhnaya Street, city of Beltsy, Moldova.