Hero of the Great Patriotic War, Kyrgyzstani Kalyinur Usenbekov Usenbekovich

Hero of the Soviet Union Usenbekov Kalinur Usenbekovich

Kalinur Usenbekovich Usenbekov - party organizer of the 1008th Rifle Regiment of the 266th Rifle Division of the 5th Shock Army of the 1st Belarusian Front, senior lieutenant.

He was born on September 23, 1921, in the village of Oi-Bulak, Tyup District, Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan, into a peasant family. Kyrgyz. Member of the VKP(b)/CPSU since 1943. In June 1941, he graduated from the Przhevalsk Pedagogical School. He worked for less than a year as the head of the educational department of the Malo-Dzhargylchak incomplete secondary school.

In the Red Army since February 1942. He was sent to serve in the Transbaikal Military District.

Participant of the Great Patriotic War since November 1942. In 1943, he graduated from junior lieutenant courses.

He fought on the Don, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian, and 1st Belarusian fronts.

As the party organizer of the 1008th Rifle Regiment (266th Rifle Division, 5th Shock Army, 1st Belarusian Front), senior lieutenant Kalinur Usenbekov, during the battles to expand the Küstrin bridgehead from February 12 to 14, 1945, inspired the soldiers to attack and repel numerous enemy counterattacks by his personal example and words. He displayed personal courage and bravery.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 31, 1945, for exemplary performance of combat missions from the command on the front against the German-fascist invaders and for the courage and heroism displayed during this, senior lieutenant Usenbekov Kalinur Usenbekovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the medal "Gold Star" (No. 5841).

He finished the war in the capital of fascist Germany – the city of Berlin.

After the war, the brave party organizer continued his service in the Armed Forces of the USSR. In 1951, he graduated from the Military Law Academy of the Soviet Army. From 1951 to 1961, he worked in the military and civil prosecutor's offices.

He was a military investigator, then deputy and first deputy prosecutor of the Kyrgyz SSR. From 1961 to 1968, he worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the Republic as the head of a department, and then in the MVD troops as the deputy commander of a military unit.

From 1968 to 1987, he worked as the chairman of the Central Committee of DOSAAF of the Kyrgyz SSR. K.U. Usenbekov made an exceptional contribution to the creation and development of the material and technical base of DOSAAF in the republic. Various sports such as aviation, parachuting, automotive, motorcycling, radio, underwater, shooting, modeling, and others developed in the republic. Fundamental structures for educational and sports organizations were built in all six regional centers, as well as 50-meter shooting ranges. Buildings for sports and technical organizations with equipped classrooms and garages for cars were erected in 28 district and city centers. Similar work was carried out in remote areas of the republic, such as Alay, Batken, Uzgen, Aravan, Frunze, Ton, Tyup, in the city of Suluktu, and others. At the initiative of K.U. Usenbekov, a unique structure was built – an underground shooting range in the city of Bishkek (Yuri Fuchik Park).

Since May 1987, Lieutenant General K.U. Usenbekov has been retired (he was discharged in 1973 with the rank of Major General). Since May 1987, he has headed the Council of Veterans of War, Labor, and the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. Since 1990, he has been the chief editor of the republican "Book of Memory". He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR of the 9th, 10th, and 11th convocations, and in 1989 he was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. K.U. Usenbekov is the author of several books and numerous publications in the periodical press.

He lived in the capital of Kyrgyzstan - the city of Bishkek. Hero of the Soviet Union K.U. Usenbekov passed away on December 9, 2003, at the age of 83... He was buried in the city of Bishkek.

He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, the Patriotic War 1st class, three Orders of the Red Star, the Order of "Manas" (Kyrgyzstan), medals from the USSR, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, and Romania. K.U. Usenbekov was also awarded five Certificates of Honor from the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR,

Certificates of Honor from the Ministry of Defense and the Central Committee of DOSAAF of the USSR.

In the Alley of Heroes on the territory of the command of the internal troops of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, a bust of the Hero has been erected.

SOURCES OF HEROISM

Manas, as the epic testifies, had forty choro (companions). Each of them was ready at any moment for martial feats, for bloody battles with the desecrators of the sacred land of their ancestors. Therefore, one of the outstanding manaschi of modernity, recognized as the Homer of the twentieth century, Sayakbay Karalaev, usually prefaced his performance with the thought that each of Manas's forty choro is, in its own way, a general in the current understanding. And Sayakbay, if one delves into the essence of the boundless poem, was absolutely right, for any of the companions could lead a numerous army, at the cost of their own life, to defend their native land from the enemy.

Each era has formed its heroes — true heroes, imaginary heroes. Only true heroes have inscribed themselves in the history of nations for centuries, acquired a distinctly popular character, and became a guiding star in the most difficult moments for the people and the homeland.

Only true heroes could defend the interests of their people at the cost of their own lives, protect their native land from foreign invaders. The people composed legends and songs about them, immortalizing their names.

Our era, which took its rapid start with the first shots of the legendary "Aurora," has also created its heroes, but unlike previous centuries and eras of heroes, who were flesh and blood connected with the people, with its great October conquests, calling humanity to fight for the triumph of the ideas of peace and justice not only on their native land but throughout the planet. Such are Kanibek, Chargin, Temir, Tanabay, Duyshen, Tolgonai, Yedigey, Tabaldy, Urkuya, and many others, whose names have embodied in novels and stories, poems, and songs. But there are heroes among us, with whom we stand at the theater box office, hurry to work together, carry fragrant bread under our arms...

The name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General Kalinur Usenbekov, is well-known. His feats during the Great Patriotic War have become the subject of creativity for prominent masters of the pen and brush of the republic, thanks to them this faithful son of the Kyrgyz people, raised in the spirit of socialist ideas and communist conviction, gained all-union fame.

In the course of his work, the author of these lines often meets with young people, building conversations and discussions around the best workers, deciphering the roots of the feats accomplished by the loyal sons of the Kyrgyz people in the difficult years of the war, when the fate of our multinational Motherland was at stake. And before starting a conversation about a particular famous personality, it is useful to know well the period of the hero's life in the next conversation, during which he prepared himself selflessly to overcome difficulties, when he formed resilience and steadfastness within himself, when the thoughts and concepts that gave him strength and faith in unexpectedly arising critical circumstances awakened in him.

It is this segment of Kalinur Usenbekov's life that I would like to remind the youth about, for a person reaches the intended goal by overcoming enormous difficulties, severe trials, and sometimes sacrificing their own life.

The thirties come to mind, a turbulent, interesting time when the youth, at the first call of the party and Komsomol, went to great construction projects, participated in fundamental changes in the way of life in the village. Despite countless economic worries, we, the youth of the thirties, always found time to meet the GTO standards. The conditions were tough; to become a holder of the badge, one had to show high results in all types of athletics, demonstrate skills in overcoming obstacle courses.

Once, an inspector from the city committee of Osoaviahim gathered another group of boys. But just before the start of the competition, he removed a frail boy who indeed looked much younger than his peers from participation. This boy was Kalinur. The inspector's decision affected him deeply, as he did not concede to anyone in boys' games, and here... Kalinur realized he had his recently received Komsomol ticket with him! He immediately presented it to the inspector, who, after carefully examining the boy from head to toe, still allowed him to participate in the competition...

Kalinur recalls this incident from his youth as overcoming the first obstacle in his life. "What an obstacle," some might retort. But if you think about it, the young man found himself in a position that humiliated not only his physical but also his moral dignity in front of his peers, as he was being separated from his contemporaries, and he wanted to be with them. Falling behind one's peers means falling behind life and participation in great achievements.

A self-respecting Kalinur wanted to be not only in the thick of events in which the youth participated but also to always be at the forefront. And at those competitions, this "weak" young man proved that he could skillfully save a drowning person, successfully extinguish a fire, and had high skills in hand-to-hand combat. Thanks to his perseverance, agility, and excellent sports training, Kalinur became a holder of the GTO badge of all three levels.

A memorable day in his life was the day of the solemn presentation of his Komsomol ticket. He opened the hard booklet with an image of V. I. Lenin with excitement, read his surname and name, and proudly imagined how happy his mother would be...

Many years later, Kalinur Usenbekov would say about his mother: "My mother, as I remember, constantly instilled the thought that I must live and work in a way that the people require. In the most difficult moments, she helped me find the right solution."

The day before the treacherous attack of German fascism on the Soviet Union, Kalinur Usenbekov received a diploma with honors from the Przhevalsk Pedagogical Technical School. His long-held dream of becoming a teacher was realized. He worked with the zeal and enthusiasm characteristic of him. His pedagogical activity was soon recognized, and Usenbekov was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the district education department.

The war was underway. His peers were already at the front. He applied to the district military enlistment office several times, but each time they replied: "We have plenty of work in the rear, and the main one is the education of the younger generation."

Soon, Kalinur Usenbekov was appointed deputy director of the school; now he checked the plans and outlines of teachers, decorated the school in the spirit required by the military situation, and organized a shock-defense student brigade from high school students, which became an active force in harvesting crops, preparing fodder, and during the lambing campaign of sheep.

The brigade worked diligently, without prompting, as everyone knew that the time was tough.

The war was particularly felt during the winter cold. The students were poorly dressed and shod, hungry, and their faces reflected the longing for fathers who had gone to the front. Kalinur could not watch his students without bitterness and compassion, but he could do little to help them. The only thing he could do was to once again, for the umpteenth time, ask the military enlistment office to send him to the front. This time he was lucky. Upon receiving the summons, he said goodbye to his students, colleagues, and his native aiyl, and the next day he set off on his journey. The realization that he was entrusted with protecting his native land from the Hitlerite hordes with a rifle in hand made him serious and resolute in his actions and deeds.

Suddenly, it hurt in his chest when he learned that they were taking them not west, where bloody battles were taking place, but east of the country.

They were brought to Irkutsk, trained in accurate shooting, learning to disassemble and assemble a machine gun with their eyes closed, and familiarized with the intricacies of overcoming obstacles...

Everything was left behind, behind the soldier, and to ensure that this "everything" did not end up under the heel of the invader, did not become desecrated by him, it was necessary to rush into battle. "I am going to defend you, the pearl talisman of my land, oh, Issyk-Kul; I am going to defend you, the supports of my native sky, oh, the peaks of Ala-Too; I am going to save you, mothers and children of my nature, oh, mountain rivers and streams..." — this thought never left Kalinur Usenbekov. And this soldier's faith in his righteousness made him an indomitable fighter, an unwavering citizen, a loyal defender of his people.

In moments of brief respites from battles, a white-bearded wise elder with a bouquet of mountain flowers in hand appeared before him in his imagination. And the elder, handing him the bouquet, said meaningfully: "These flowers are yours, blood-related; I picked them in your native aiyl Oi-Bulak. Remember, my son, you may not be Manas, but you must be a brave man..."

The thought of justice, a sense of responsibility to the Motherland, both great and small, and an unwavering faith in the triumph of Lenin's ideas — these are the sources of the feats and heroism of our fighters; and all this was in Kalinur Usenbekov long before the Soviet people recognized his heroic feats during the Great Patriotic War.

The outstanding commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union G. K. Zhukov, in his memoirs, writes of Kalinur Usenbekov as one of the best sons of the Motherland, whose merit is invaluable in the heavy battles for the capture of Berlin...

As the head of the republican DOSAAF society, Kalinur Usenbekov is still at the forefront of the ideological struggle today.

A tested warrior, a loyal son of the Leninist party, and a public figure, Kalinur Usenbekov dedicates much strength and energy to the education of the younger generation in the spirit of loyalty to communist ideals. Wherever he is, whether on a business trip or at a nationwide veterans' meeting, at meetings with Armed Forces soldiers or students of schools and vocational schools, he always begins his conversation with the great changes that have occurred in the republic over the years of Soviet power, with a characterization of the people who perform everlasting combat and labor feats for the happiness and peace on earth.

On the chest of the veteran of the Lenin Komsomol, a member of the CPSU, and a mentor to the youth, Kalinur Usenbekov, the "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union shines, and dozens of orders and medals play with colors. And above all — the Order of Lenin, whose image will be indelibly alive in the hearts and memories of every person from our large and friendly family of fraternal peoples of the country.

M. DJANGAZIEV
Translation from Kyrgyz
A. KARIMOVA