Congress of Russian Americans wishes our members and families a most happy and blessed Thanksgiving!We thank all of our members, supporters and donors for their continued support to our organization and our programs.

When the Continental Congress created a naval force on October 13, 1775, it launched more than a fleet—it launched a tradition. For 250 years, immigrants have become shipmates, and the U.S. Navy has become their proving ground. Among them, Russians and people from the lands of the former Russian Empire—and “White” émigrés of the 1920s—found a home in the sea service. They stood watches in engine rooms and on windswept decks, healed shipmates as corpsmen and doctors, cracked codes, built ships, led research labs, and, in one case, re-invented the Navy in the nuclear age.

The Navy’s first legend, John Paul Jones, ended his sea career as a rear admiral in Catherine the Great’s Imperial Russian Navy (1788–1789). That unlikely bridge foreshadowed centuries of crossings—by people, ideas, and ships—between Russian and American sea power.

Arriving by way of Harbin, Riga, Odessa, Sebastopol and Shanghai, Russian émigrés brought languages, technical skill, and resilience. In peacetime they learned new ratings; in wartime they kept gray hulls moving across blue water. They crewed destroyers and escort carriers, taught Russian to allied crews at Cold Bay during Project Hula, and later helped the Navy master nuclear propulsion, sonar, and systems engineering.

No story better symbolizes that ascent than Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, born in the Russian Empire (then Congress Poland), whose relentless standards created the Nuclear Navy and set a culture of accountability that still defines the Fleet.

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Honor Roll: Russians and Russian-Americans in the U.S. Navy. Congress of Russian Americans maintains the list. If anybody would like to share a biography to be adeed to the CRA Honor Roll please email bio at: crahq.sf@gmail.com (few entrees from the honor roll are below)

World War I

• Alexis Eshounin (1893–1952) — U.S. Army & Navy, Garrison 297 (WWI).
  Resting place: St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Cemetery, NJ.
  • Nicholas Terrence Gansa — Russian Imperial Navy officer who remained in the U.S. (1918) after serving aboard the Russian Volunteer Fleet ship Omsk; in WWII served on—and as LCDR commanded—USS Antares; present at Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec 1941.

World War II

• Vadym Victorovich Utgoff (1917–2002) — Captain (CAPT), USN (WWII & Korea).
  Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery, VA.
• Victor Utgoff (1915–1955) — Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), USN (WWII & Korea).
  Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery, VA.

Korea

• Victor Bakunoff (1930–2015) — U.S. Navy (Korean War).
  Resting place: Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.
• Igor Senokosoff (1926–2004) — U.S. Navy (WWII & Korea).
  Resting place: Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.

Vietnam & Cold War to Present

• Boris Elia Pogre (1945–1966) — KIA (Vietnam). Name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC.
  Resting place: Serbian Cemetery, Colma, CA.
• Oleg P. Pogre (1920–1979) — U.S. Navy (WWII, Korea, Vietnam).
  Resting place: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA.
• Alexey Vladimirovich Avdeev (1970–2011) — served as Electronics Technician, Third Class (ET3) during the Persian Gulf War. He is buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Pictured below:
Leo (Leonid Beloblotsky) Block (1920–2016) — U.S. Navy; USS MacDonough at Pearl Harbor; later Guadalcanal & Iwo Jima; USNR after war; engineer/inventor (7 patents).
Community: Los Angeles & San Clemente, CA. Legacy: Dana Point Harbor Youth Club sailing scholarship.

Please follow the link: https://holyvirgincathedral.com/sip-and-support-2025?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=68f6ba84009b066215407251&ss_email_id=68f6bd47cde6f1630119968e&ss_campaign_name=Bring+the+whole+family%21+Bonus%3A+order+frozen+cocktail+piroshki%21&ss_campaign_sent_date=2025-10-20T22%3A53%3A10Z

Join CRA members, many of whose ancestors, came with the Great Exodus w/Wrangel (1920) from the Crimean Peninsula or w/Stark from Vladivostok & Far East (1922) via the Philippines or across the borders after the Russian Revolution and Civil War or in 1949 via Tubabao, Philippines (thanks to Ataman Gregory Bologoff & Archbishop John of Shanghai and San Francisco.   Join the Cossacks’ Union members and friends to an unforgettable event that will go down in history.

You are invited for this once-in-a-lifetime historical event – Friday, October 17th at 7:00pm at the Russian Center of San Francisco (2460 Sutter Street).  

Discounted parking at the Sutter Street garage across from the building will be available.

Start the evening with tasty appetizers, view the exhibit of Cossack history that dates back to Shanghai, China with photos through the years in Shanghai, Tubabao and San Francisco.   The evening continues with a bountiful, delicious buffet, entertainment, dancing, souvenir program brochure and other surprises!!!

Please use the QR code below to order your tickets with discounts for All Cossacks’ Union of San Francisco paid-up members and for tables of 10.   Most info available in the QR code or for additional questions, please email cossacks100gala@gmail.com or phone no:  650-291-7289

Don’t delay in ordering your tickets before the deadline as space is limited!!! 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Centennial, for those who want to share in a unique historical opportunity or simply have a good time.

This year, the CRA scholarship was awarded during the luncheon after the liturgy at the Our Lady of Kazan church at Russian River in Guerneville, CA to David Nadelson-Dubinsky by CRA President, N. Sabelnik.    David joined CRA as a junior member along with his family many years ago and took out regular membership when he turned 18 years old.  He had volunteered for CRA’s numerous events, including the 40th and 45th anniversary conferences, festivals and other events in the Russian-American community.  He served in the altar at the All Russian Saints church in Burlingame, CA, graduated from their Russian School as a gold medal recipient and performed Ballroom dancing along with his sister for frequent festivals and other cultural events.  His exemplary grades, along with his active participation in the Russian American community made him an excellent recipient of the CRA scholarship this year.  

It is important to note that the scholarship, as well as participation in Russian School graduations are as important to our Russian-American youth, as they are to CRA, as we continue to congratulate and recognize our Russian American community youth.  This is another platform for visibility and awareness.  Russian School graduates are given proclamations (gramoti), congratulatory letters, honorary CRA membership for the current year and for Gold or Silver medal recipients, a stipend, as well.   The CRA scholarship recipients are also acknowledged with a proclamation, congratulatory letter and a $1,000 check.  They are eligible to post for the scholarship again the following year if they are still continuing their college or university education.