Ralph P on the KGB in Afghanistan; superb article!

[Guardian 5]

Comrades,

Our very own mod Ralph P has penned a scholarly article on the medals awarded to a longtime KGB operative in Afghanistan which is very much worthy of its featured status in the current volume of the Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America.

KGB Lieutenant Colonel Rafik Vartazarovich Vartanian appears to have been involved for the duration of the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan and perhaps much longer than the 1979 - 1989 time period, as evidenced by his award of the Afghan "25-Year Irreproachable Service Medal."

In addition to giving detailed descriptions of the medals awarded to LTC Vartanian, Ralph also provides an overview of the Soviet history in Afghanistan, keying in on the activities of the KGB's clandestine operating units such as the "Alpha", "Omega", "Thunder" and "Cascade" teams. LTC Vartanian appears to have been assigned as a Cascade Team operative and was highly decorated for his service.

I hope Ralph will be willing to share some additional insights on the article. I for one would like to know where LTC Vartanian's awards currently reside.

In any event, I must congratulate Ralph on an outstanding article that has greatly enhanced my understanding of the KGB's activities in Afghanistan. Well done Sir!

All the best,
TJ

[Tretov]

It would be very interesting to read this article - and also to have a look at the award documents. I am curious on how this officer has the 30th and 40th anniversary of the Victory awards - but no "Victory over Germany" (nor Japan) medal. And no medal for 20 years of irreproachable service, yet "Veteran serviceman". Perhaps some awards are missing.

[Ralph P]

TJ - Thank you very much for the thread about my latest article, much appreciated my friend.

I have kept this grouping under wraps for a couple of years. The grouping is currently put away in my collection.

Tretov - Thanks for your comments about the grouping. As far as I know there are awards and booklets that are missing from the grouping. I have attached his irreproachable service booklet that show when he received his 10 and 15 year medals, which I hope helps with your observation.

[Tretov]

Are there documents with the 1975 and 1985 victory anniversary awards?

[Braznik]

In collecting KGB related items, we are accustomed to acquiring bits and pieces here and there and very glad to obtain these. To collect anything KGB requires a great deal of time, patience and of course, money.

This group is superb! Indeed a rarity! Congratulations and thanks Ralph! The article is magnificent, very very interesting and meticulously documented. Try to get a copy if you can.

[Ralph P]

Hello Tretov - thanks again for your follow up post. What I have within the grouping is:

20 years of victory 41-45; document 1965

30 years of victory; no document

40 years of victory; no document

vet armed forces document 1987

50 year jubilee armed forces document 1968

60 year jubilee armed forces document 1978

70 year jubilee armed forces document 1988

I hope this assists with your question.

Are there documents with the 1975 and 1985 victory anniversary awards?

[Ralph P]

Braznik - thank you very much for your post and comments about my latest article, much appreciated.

In collecting KGB related items, we are accustomed to acquiring bits and pieces here and there and very glad to obtain these. To collect anything KGB requires a great deal of time, patience and of course, money.

This group is superb! Indeed a rarity! Congratulations and thanks Ralph! The article is magnificent, very very interesting and meticulously documented. Try to get a copy if you can.

[Tretov]

Hello Tretov - thanks again for your follow up post. What I have within the grouping is:

20 years of victory 41-45; document 1965

30 years of victory; no document

40 years of victory; no document

vet armed forces document 1987

50 year jubilee armed forces document 1968

60 year jubilee armed forces document 1978

70 year jubilee armed forces document 1988

I hope this assists with your question.

Yes, absolutely. Please don't misunderstand as I find the group of this KGB officer very interesting, especially with the Afghanistan awards. My concern was more of the kind if he was also a WW2 veteran (with some awards missing) or if the two Victory anniversary medals would possibly have been added to the group at some stage if he was not a war participant - or if there would be any other reason he got those two medals. If awarded the 10 years service medal in 1972 he would have begun his career in the early 1960s.

[Ralph P]

Yes, absolutely. Please don't misunderstand as I find the group of this KGB officer very interesting, especially with the Afghanistan awards. My concern was more of the kind if he was also a WW2 veteran (with some awards missing) or if the two Victory anniversary medals would possibly have been added to the group at some stage if he was not a war participant - or if there would be any other reason he got those two medals. If awarded the 10 years service medal in 1972 he would have begun his career in the early 1960s.

Tretov - No worries... I am glad to know that my last post assisted with your question knowing that this grouping is unique. I like this grouping for multiple reasons; one of them is the amount of Afghan awards he was presented during his career.

thanks again Tretov...

[Ralph P]

Hello all - this is an update to this thread from a review recently done about the article published back in 2014. I hope you all find the review useful.

[Ralph P]

Final page.