The medallion is in silver and enamel; measures 36.4 mm in height incl. the eyelet, 32.1 mm in width, approx. 2.7-2.8 mm thick at the edge, and weighs 22.4 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Features an engraved serial number in the typical style of the Variation 1, characteristically small eyelet, and high-quality red enamel covering the letters "CCCP". The medallion is in fine to very fine condition. The edge of the medallion has some bumps between approx. 5 and 6 o'clock positions and a few minor dings that are not too detractive. There are also some tin

The medallion is in silver and enamel; measures 36.4 mm in height incl. the eyelet, 32.1 mm in width, approx. 2.7-2.8 mm thick at the edge, and weighs 22.4 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Features an engraved serial number in the typical style of the Variation 1, characteristically small eyelet, and high-quality red enamel covering the letters "CCCP". The medallion is in fine to very fine condition. The edge of the medallion has some bumps between approx. 5 and 6 o'clock positions and a few minor dings that are not too detractive. There are also some tiny contact marks throughout, but no significant scratches. The enamel in the letters is perfect. The raised parts of the artwork and lettering show a modest amount of surface wear, but their details remain well- defined. As is often the case, the Type 1 suspension has been discarded, most likely by the original owner to comply with post-1943 regulations, and replaced with an early post-war five-sided suspension, a single-layer model in brass. The ribbon is old, probably of the period; it shows a modest amount of wear but is overall nicely preserved, clean and attractive. The connecting link appears to be of the period.

Vasily Ivanenko was born in 1908 in a village in the Kharkov Province of Ukraine. Not much information is available about him before WW2. It is likely that he did his mandatory stint in the Red Army and was discharged into reserve as an NCO before getting re-enlisted into active duty on 12 July 1941, apparently in the rank of Senior Sergeant. During the first months of the Patriotic War, he served as a mechanic of the auto transportation company, 695th Separate Airdrome Support Battalion, 24th District of Air Force Bases. Due to the Red Army's heavy losses in vehicles in the initial period of the war, his company was replenishing its fleet with trucks requisitioned from civilian industrial and agricultural organizations. Most of them were in the "2nd and 3rd category" of disrepair, and Ivanenko distinguished himself by tireless high-quality work repairing them, regularly completing 150-200% of the daily quota of work. As stated in the commendation, the trucks returned by Ivanenko into service worked flawlessly, allowing the battalion to perform its tasks supporting combat missions of the airplanes. For that, Battalion Commander Maj. Aleksandrov recommended Ivanenko for the Medal for Combat Service, which was awarded to him on 12 February 1942 by a general order of the Southwestern Front.

Later, while still serving under the same front and probably with the same airdrome service unit, Ivanenko participated in the Battle of Stalingrad and subsequently received the Medal for Defense of Stalingrad. This and the Combat Service Medal are his only wartime decorations on record. The 695th Separate Airdrome Support Battalion continued as a unit throughout the Patriotic War but, as far as Ivanenko is concerned, we only know that he was wounded, treated in a hospital, and released from it on 11 January 1944.

Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award record card, commendation, and the relevant part of the award decree for the Medal for Combat Service.
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