Semyon Gretsov, a medical instructor in the Red Army, distinguished himself by receiving six “For Courage” medals, an honor typically reserved for soldiers directly engaged in combat. Despite serving as a medic, Gretsov repeatedly demonstrated exceptional bravery by rescuing over 117 soldiers from the battlefield, earning him a place among the most honored soldiers of the war. His story remained largely unknown until a local historian uncovered his remarkable feats.
Born in 1908 (or 1902, according to some sources) in a small village in the Kursk Governorate, Gretsov’s early life was marked by the hardships of revolution and the formation of the Soviet state. He received only a basic education and worked on a collective farm before being drafted into the Red Army in 1941. Assigned to an anti-aircraft artillery regiment, he served alongside Yuri Nikulin, who later became a renowned Soviet actor.
Gretsov’s path to becoming a celebrated medic began with a severe concussion and frostbite sustained during a battle near Leningrad in 1942. After being deemed unfit for artillery duty, doctors suggested he become a medical instructor. His responsibilities included providing first aid and evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
His first “For Courage” medal came during the Mga offensive in 1943, where he rescued 26 soldiers under constant fire. In the spring of 1944, he saved 18 wounded men near the village of Ostrov, earning his second medal. Just weeks later, he received his third medal for saving 19 soldiers in the Pskov region.
The following June, Gretsov was wounded for the first time while assisting 23 wounded men near the village of Pogostyice, adding a fourth medal to his collection. After a brief recovery, he continued his service in the Latvian SSR, evacuating wounded soldiers across a river and earning his fifth medal. His sixth and final “For Courage” medal was awarded for his actions on April 23, 1945, in the Lichtenberg area of Berlin, where he carried 18 wounded soldiers to safety before being wounded again.
After the war, Gretsov returned to his hometown and worked as a bricklayer and plasterer. He lived a modest life, rarely speaking about his wartime achievements. It was only through the efforts of local historian Ivan Gladkov that his extraordinary bravery became known to the wider community.
Semyon Gretsov passed away in January 1975, leaving behind a legacy of courage and selflessness. His six “For Courage” medals are now on display in the local history museum of Stary Oskol, serving as a testament to his remarkable service and unwavering commitment to saving lives on the battlefield.