Alexander Kolesov

Alexander Andreyevich Kolesov (Russian: Александр Андреевич Колесов; 1 February 1922 – 31 July 1994) was a Soviet officer and Hero of the Soviet Union.

Early life
Kolesov was born on 1 February 1922 in Sukhovsky, Alexeyevsky District, Volgograd Oblast. In 1934, he moved to the village of Ust-Buzulukskaya in the same district.

After finishing school in 1939, he worked as a radio operator and as an assistant projectionist in the regional Palace of Culture at Kruglovka in Nekhayevsky District.

World War II
He was drafted in May 1941. Kolesov served with the 346th Separate Reconnaissance Company in the 253rd Rifle Division. Fighting on the Southwestern Front and the Southern Front (Soviet Union), Kolesov fought in the Donbass-Rostov Strategic Defensive Operation and was slightly wounded twice. In January 1942, he was sent to an Airborne course and graduated in May 1942. Kolesov was then assigned to the 3rd Guards Airborne Division, with which he fought during the Demyansk Pocket operations, the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Kiev.

In October 1943, Kolesov commanded a platoon of anti-tank guns in the 8th Guards Airborne Regiment of the 3rd Guards Airborne Division. During the Battle of the Dnieper on 5 October, he destroyed two German self-propelled guns, causing a German counterattack to be repulsed. On 23 December, he was severely wounded and sent to hospital. On 10 January 1944, Kolesov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.

He was released from the hospital in February 1944. In 1946 Kolesov was discharged with the rank of Captain. In May 1949 he rejoined the army and retired in 1974 as a colonel. He lived in Moscow and died on 31 July 1994.

He was also awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class in 1985 and the Medal "For Courage" in 1968.