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Vasily KlyukinDriver of the 116th Artillery Regiment, Hero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 28.02.1907
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- From Civilian to Soldier
- Valor in the Karelian Isthmus
- Service in the NKVD
- Post-War Life and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Born Vasily Sergeyevich Klyukin on February 28, 1907, in the village of Klyukintsi, Kirov Oblast, he hailed from a humble peasant family. Klyukin received only elementary education.
From Civilian to Soldier
Before joining the Red Army, Klyukin worked as a truck driver at the Ivanovskaya Machine and Tractor Station in Krasnodar Krai. He enlisted in 1929 and served again from 1939 onward.
Valor in the Karelian Isthmus
As a driver in the 116th Artillery Regiment of the Reserve of the High Command (RGC) of the 13th Army, Klyukin distinguished himself in the Winter War. During the battle for the crossing of the Burnaya River on December 6, 1939, his convoy of ammunition trucks was halted when the engine of the lead vehicle failed. Despite enemy fire, Klyukin rushed to the aid of the stalled vehicle, restarted its engine, and led the convoy to safety.
Over the following days, Klyukin continued to deliver ammunition to the frontlines while skillfully avoiding enemy artillery fire. On his return journeys, he evacuated wounded soldiers, even braving further enemy attacks to ensure their safe transport to a hospital.
Service in the NKVD
During World War II, Klyukin served in various capacities within the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs).
Post-War Life and Legacy
After the war, Klyukin lived in Krasnodar, where he worked as a driver for the Krasnodar Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). He passed away on March 22, 1987, and was laid to rest at the Slavyanskoye Cemetery in Krasnodar.
Klyukin's heroic actions during the Winter War earned him the prestigious title of Hero of the Soviet Union, a testament to his exceptional bravery and dedication to the Soviet cause.
