The Congress of Russian Americans (CRA) — a national non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco — continues a project started by one of its founders, Colonel Oleg Pantyukhov. Whenever possible, the organization adds new names to the Golden List of Russian Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. If you have relatives who served, or if you would like to share the biographies of friends or acquaintances, please send their names with brief biographical information to CRA. You can email to: crahq.sf@gmail.com

Today, the United States observes Memorial Day — a day dedicated to honoring the memory of members of the armed forces who lost their lives in service. On this day, it is especially important to remember and pay tribute to all who gave their lives defending the country — and in particular, to our compatriots of Russian descent. Attached are few biographies of the Russian Americans killed in combat. Memory eternal!  

Eugene R. Luri (Евгений Лури)

Eugene was born to Maria K. Luri, a well-known figure in San Francisco’s Russian community who was several times chosen as the Queen of the Russian Invalids Ball. Eugene served as a medic in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was killed in action in Germany on March 2, 1945, at the age of 20. Initially buried in a U.S. military cemetery in Belgium, his remains were brought home to San Francisco in 1948 at his mother’s request.

Vladimir Boldyreff (Владимир Болдырев)
Vladimir was born into a Russian Don Cossack family in Yugoslavia. His father, Colonel Sergej Vladimirovich Boldyrev (1890–1957), was a noted writer and professor at the Don Cadet Corps. The family immigrated to the United States and settled in Ohio in 1950. Vladimir enlisted in the U.S. Army and was killed in action during the Korean War on October 18, 1952.

Valentine N. Barsoukoff (1928–1953) (Валентин Барсуков)

Valentine served in the Korean War with the 1st Marine Division and held the rank of Private First Class. He was killed in combat in 1953. He was awarded the Purple Heart and a Gold Star. His final resting place is the Serbian Cemetery in Colma, California.

Alexander Fedoroff (Александр Федоров)

Alexander was born in 1944 in California. He served in the Vietnam War as a Staff Sergeant with the 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron. He was killed in combat in 1968 and was awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. See photo taken from the Wall of faces.

Paul Kassatkin (Павел Касаткин)
Born in 1947, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on October 21, 1966, in New York City. He served in Vietnam with Company A, 3rd Platoon, 3rd Engineer Battalion, attached to H&S Company, BLT 3/1, 9th MAB, FMFPac. In early April 1968, during Operation LANCASTER II near Camp J.J. Carroll in Cam Lo District, Quang Tri Province, he was wounded by a hostile explosive device. He died from his injuries aboard the U.S. Naval Hospital Ship USS Sanctuary on April 9, 1968. See photo taken from the Wall of faces.