3 ½" x 4 ¾", printed on thin semi-gloss photo paper. The photo presents a Guards Red Army Lieutenant Colonel in dress uniform with a full chest of awards: an Order of the Red Star, two Orders of the Patriotic War, an Order of the Red Banner, and four medals including the Medal for Capture of Berlin and Liberation of Prague.

The handwritten military archival entry on the verso identifies the officer as Lt. Col. Yepifan Korotun (Епифан Ерофеевич Коротун), and bears the seal of Military Unit 77727 and hand signature of its Chief of Staff Guards Col. Pitkevich. The certification is dated 10 November 1950.

The photo is in excellent condition. The paper is slightly wrinkled, and shows a small tear to the left edge, not reaching the image. Tilting the photo to reflect a bright light reveals a shallow indentation at the left upper corner left by a paper clip and a short horizontal indentation next to the collar. However, both are practically invisible when looking at the photo at a normal viewing angle. The image is in sharp focus, providing an excellent opportunity to examine the uniform, insignia, and decorations.

Then Major Korotun, Communications, was awarded his first Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class in August 1943 for providing lines of communications under enemy fire, sometimes running wire lines himself when he had no trained comms troops at his disposal; also for timely training radiomen for communications and interception of enemy radio traffic, thus providing uninterrupted efficient operational control of the combat actions of the 19th Tank Corps.

His second Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class was awarded in June 1945 for providing efficient lines of wired and wireless communications during the Battle of Berlin.

Korotun was also awarded an Order of the Red Star (1944), Order of the Red Banner (1946), Order of Lenin (1951), Medal for Liberation of Prague (1945), medal for Capture of Berlin (1945), and Medal for Victory over Germany (1945). Unfortunately, there is no available documentation for these awards.

Research: b/w photocopies of the award commendations for the two Orders of the Patriotic War.

Please note that the penny in our photo is for size reference.