Ivan Alekseevich
Geraskin

1924-1998


Ivan Alekseevich Geraskin was a Soviet military intelligence officer, a foreman of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, a participant in the Great Patriotic and Soviet-Japanese Wars. Full Knight of the Order of Glory. He was born on February 15, 1924 in the village of Sharlino in the Novosilsky district of the Tula province (now it is Korsakovsky district of the Oryol region) in a peasant family. In 1937, he graduated from the 5th grade of school, then worked as a groom at the Pravda collective farm. In November 1942, he was drafted into the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army by the Korsakov District Military Enlistment Office of the Orel region. By April 1944, Private Geraskin was a scout of the 111th separate reconnaissance company (74th Rifle Division, 40th Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front). During the fighting, he destroyed more than 10 enemy soldiers. On April 2, 1944, acting in a group of scouts during the crossing of the Prut River and in the battles for the settlement of Cotu-Camenesti (12 kilometers south-east of the Romanian city of Darabani), he captured the «tongue» and killed several Wehrmacht fighters. On April 15, 1944, he was awarded the Order of Glory of the III degree. During the period of hostilities from April 22 to April 25, 1944 at the settlements of Gura-Gumora, Kymnildych (30 kilometers south of the Romanian city of Radeuci), Geraskin saved the commander from death in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. On May 29, 1944, he was awarded the Order of Glory of the II degree. In the period from June 7 to June 10, 1944, while with scouts in the German rear near the village of Strazha on the Suceava River (42 kilometers north of the Romanian city of Kimpulung), Geraskin destroyed a sentry, thereby facilitating the unhindered passage of the group to the enemy rear. During the withdrawal of the group with three prisoners, he covered them with fire, accompanied them to the headquarters of the unit. On March 24, 1945, he was awarded the Order of Glory of the first degree. Participated in the Soviet-Japanese War. In 1948, Geraskin was awarded the military rank of “foreman”. In reserve since 1949. He participated in Parades to commemorate the 45th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Victory on Red Square.

Address: Moscow, Kapotnya 5th quarter, d. 19