Medals:

Soviet Medal for Distinguished Military Service, 2nd cl. In German silver and lacquer; the medallion measures 41.0 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 37.0 mm in width; weighs 16.0 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Raised logo of the Moscow Mint appears on the reverse of the medallion.

In excellent, near mint condition. The details and lacquer finish of the medallion are perfect. The screw post is full length, over 12 mm, and includes

Medals:

Soviet Medal for Distinguished Military Service, 2nd cl. In German silver and lacquer; the medallion measures 41.0 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 37.0 mm in width; weighs 16.0 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Raised logo of the Moscow Mint appears on the reverse of the medallion.

In excellent, near mint condition. The details and lacquer finish of the medallion are perfect. The screw post is full length, over 12 mm, and includes the original mint-marked screw plate.

Afghanistan, Medal "From the Grateful Afghan People". Brass, enamels; medallion measures 37.0 mm in height incl. eyelet, 32.0 mm wide. The obverse shows the USSR and Afghan national flags. The reverse has the writing "From the Grateful Afghan People" in Russian and Dari.

In excellent, near mint condition. The enamel and gold finish are perfect. Includes the original unmarked screw plate. The ribbon is immaculately clean.

Afghanistan, Medal in Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Socialist Afghanistan (aka 10th Anniversary of the Saur Revolution), 1988. In brass, measures 36.5 mm in height incl. eyelet, 32.0 mm in width. Outstanding, excellent condition. The finish is exceptionally bright and free of oxidation spots or blemishes. The ribbon is perfectly clean.

Award Documents :

Award Certificate for the Medal for Distinguished Military Service, 2nd cl., filled-out on 14 August 1988 based on a 1 July 1988 award decree of the Soviet Defense Minister. The document has an ink stamp of the Military Unit #38021 and is hand-signed by its commander, Colonel N. K. Kovalenko. The document is in near mint condition. Both the cover and internal pages show no wear or soiling.

Award Certificate for the Medal "From the Grateful Afghan People", issued on 4 July 1988 based on a 15 May 1988 decree of the President of Afghanistan. The typed text is in Russian. Near mint condition.

Award Certificate for the Medal in Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Socialist Afghanistan, issued on 27 April 1988. The hand- written name of the medal, name of the recipient and date of the award are in Russian. Excellent, near mint condition. There is a slight ink smear to the Russian text left accidentally when the document was filled-out, but the entries are fully legible.

Although the unit is identified in the Distinguished Military Service only by its serial number 38021, many Internet sources show that it was the 276th Pipeline Brigade. Initially a separate battalion transferred from East Germany to Afghanistan in early 1980, soon after the Soviet invasion, it was later expanded into a brigade. The unit remained in Afghanistan as a part of the 40th Army until the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. It had an arduous and unenviable task of laying and maintaining gasoline and diesel pipelines over the Afghan mountains and deserts to supply the needs of the massive Soviet army widely dispersed throughout the country. Almost needless to say, such pipelines - and soldiers working on them - were an easy target for the insurgents.
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