Order of the Red Star, Type 7, Variation 2, Sub-variation 2, #3712993, awarded on 27 September 1984 to Private Anatoliy Chayun (Анатолий Иванович Чаюн), a driver of the 126th Separate Automobile Battalion, 58th Automobile Brigade, 342nd Engineering Directorate, Turkestan Military District.
Silver, enamels; 45.9 mm tall x 48.1 mm wide; weighs 30.6 g without the screw plate. Features the Type 7 medallion (according to Strekalov classification) and relatively blunt tips of the arms (as compared with the earlier issues). The toe of the soldier's right boot (left to the viewer) is turned sharply to his right. The character "Д" of the mint mark has a flat top. The order was manufactured in 1957 at the Moscow Mint.
In excellent condition. The enamel is free of wear visible to the naked eye, having only a single minuscule surface flakes at the base of the to
Silver, enamels; 45.9 mm tall x 48.1 mm wide; weighs 30.6 g without the screw plate. Features the Type 7 medallion (according to Strekalov classification) and relatively blunt tips of the arms (as compared with the earlier issues). The toe of the soldier's right boot (left to the viewer) is turned sharply to his right. The character "Д" of the mint mark has a flat top. The order was manufactured in 1957 at the Moscow Mint.
In excellent condition. The enamel is free of wear visible to the naked eye, having only a single minuscule surface flakes at the base of the top arm and a couple of microscopic contact marks that could be just barely found under a 10x loupe. The center medallion is nearly pristine: it has perfectly preserved, exceptionally crisp details and only microscopic traces of wear. Beautiful dark patina on the silver on both sides. The screw post is full length, approx. 13 mm, and includes an original period screw plate.
Anatoliy Chayun was born in 1963 in a village of the Cherkassy Region, Ukraine. He was conscripted into the Soviet Army in April 1982 and from January 1983, served in Afghanistan as a driver of the 126th Separate Automobile Battalion, 58th Automobile Brigade, 342nd Engineering Directorate, Turkestan Military District.
By March 1984, Chayun had completed 25 trips on Afghan roads, in five of which his column was attacked by mujaheddins. On 10 March 1984, he was participating in an automobile convoy en route from Kushka to Shindand, Herat Province. The convoy was ambushed by insurgents near the city of Herat about midway between the Soviet-Afghan border crossing at Kushka and the city of Shindand. Using the antiaircraft gun mounted on one of the trucks, Private Chayun proceeded to repel the attack and, even after being wounded, continued to suppress enemy fire, contributing to the convoy leaving the ambush area without loss of life. In recognition of his bravery, Chayun was recommended for the Order of the Red Star which was personally approved by Commander of the Turkestan Military District, General of the Army Maksimov and awarded to Chayun on 27 September 1984. This order was his only combat decoration. Decorations for Afghanistan were awarded rather sparingly and publicly available award commendations are infrequent. Fortunately, in this case we know exactly the cause for the award.
Chayun's two-year stint in the army was supposed to end in April 1984 but, according to his award record card, he was discharged at the end of August, presumably after hospital treatment and convalescence. As of July 1985, when his award record card was filled in, he had returned to his native area in Ukraine and worked at a factory as a fitter.
Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award record card and award commendation for the Order of the Red Star.
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