"Award Order
- Name: Kurochkin, Viktor Aleksandrovich
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Position and unit: SU-85 commander, 1893rd Fastov Self Propelled Artillery RegimentIs nominated for the Order of the Red Banner.
- Year of birth: 1923
- Nationality: Russian
- Party affiliation: VLKSM
- Participation in the Civil War, subsequent combat in defense of the USSR, and Patriotic War: from August 1943 until present on the 1st Ukrainian Front.
- Wounds and contusions in the Patriotic War: none
- In the Red Army since: 1942
- Recruited by: Ulyanovsk Recruitment Office, Ulyanovsk Oblast
- Prior awards: none
Brief and specific description of personal heroism or accomplishments: Comrade Kurochkin skilfully and fearlessly directed his crew. In combat for the liberation of Antopol-Boyarka from German invaders, he faced off against two German Tigers in battle. Skilfully coming in from the flank, he destroyed one Tiger with its crew and up to a company of enemy infantry. His skill in directing his crew in battle held the positions that were captured and saved his vehicle in the midst of powerful enemy fire. During the entire operation, comrade Kurochkin's vehicle had no emergency stops or breakdowns.
He is worthy of the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 1893rd Fastov Self Propelled Artillery Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Vasov.
January 8th, 1944"
Schneider's Tigers in Combat II backs up this claim. The Germans lost three Tigers specifically at Antopol-Boyarka on December 28-29th and took a beating in those battles in general: out of 13 total tanks, there were two functional Tigers left by December 31st and none at all on January 1st.
Meanwhile, Kurochkin turned out to be more than a one-trick pony. A year later, he was nominated for an award again.
"Award Order
- Name: Kurochkin, Viktor Aleksandrovich
- Rank: Lieutenant
- Position and unit: SU-85 commander, 3rd battery, 1st Guards Lvov SPG regiment, 6th Guards Mechanized Lvov Order of the Red Banner Corps, 4th Tank ArmyIs nominated for the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.
- Year of birth: 1923
- Nationality: Russian
- Party affiliation: VKP(b) candidate since 1944
- Participation in the Civil War, subsequent combat in defense of the USSR, and Patriotic War: on the front lines of the Patriotic War since August 20th, 1944
- Wounds and contusions in the Patriotic War: wounded January 1st, 1945
- In the Red Army since: February 1942
- Recruited by: Ulyanovsk Recruitment Office, Ulyanovsk Oblast
- Prior awards: Order of the Red Star in 1943, Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class in 1944.
Brief and specific description of heroism: On January 31st, 1945, during the battle for Kammelwitz and Gross past the Oder, he showed himself an exceptionally brave and decisive officer. His SPG was the first to burst into Kammelwitz, destroying 2 APCs with enemy infantry, 5 trucks with cargo, and up to 30 fascists. 4 enemy soldiers were taken prisoner.
During the battle for Gross he was heavily wounded and evacuated to a hospital.
For brave and decisive action in battle and selfless devotion to the Socialist Motherland he is worth of the state award of the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.
Commander of the 1st Guards Lvov SPG Regiment, Guards Lieutenant Colonel [signature]"