The Zonal State Archive in Rechitsa presents a document: a letter from a participant in the Great Patriotic War to his family in the Khoyniki District
Held within the collection of the Department of Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Khoyniki District Executive Committee is a letter dated October 5, 1944, written by a Great Patriotic War veteran, Grigory Mikhailovich Sachenko, and sent to the village of Khrapkov in the Khoyniki District (F.13, I.3, F.391, s.185–186 verso). The letter contains the following lines:
«Greetings, dear Mother and sister Lena! To begin, dear parents, I want to let you know that I received the letter you wrote on September 11, 1944—thank you so, so much for it. I received it on October 4th at 10:00 p.m. What a joy! It is the first letter I have received in three months.
Dear parents, I am so glad to hear that you are currently alive and well. You mention in your letter that my friend and comrade—with whom I lived back home, spent time together, served in the army for eight months, and even shared a sleeping space—stopped by your place on September 1, 1944, before we parted ways. Surely, dear Mother, he told you all about our life in Kirov, our journey, and our time in the city of Brest-Litovsk. If he visited you or you had the chance to see him, he must have shared many interesting things. But that is all of little consequence. Life was actually quite good while Volodya and I were here. You also mention that you sent a parcel and a letter for me via Volodya. I, of course, will not receive them from him, because I have remained here in Brest, while he—or so I have heard—has likely headed off to the front». But don’t worry, Mother—it’s all nothing. I don’t need any parcels from you. Just take care of yourselves and your own health. Don’t fret about me. If I survive, I’ll come home eventually. <…>
Yes, Mother, you mention that there’s no hay—but you don’t really need it. The cow will eat straw, provided there’s some to be had; back home, even straw serves as fodder. As for firewood, do your best to get some—bring it in if you’re out. Also, let me know if Uncle Timokh, Vera, Misha, and everyone else are at home. Have the young people been taken off to the FZO?Who exactly was taken?In short, tell me all your news.
For now, goodbye. I am alive and well, and I wish the same for you. Give my regards to all our relatives and acquaintances. My heartfelt greetings to Stanislav Safronovich. I look forward to your reply. Your son, Grigory Mikhailovich Sachenko».
According to the «Memory of the People» (pamyat-naroda.ru) website, Grigory Sachenko was born on December 16, 1924, in the village of Khrapkov. From 1943, he served in the 36th and 254th Reserve Rifle Regiments. On April 6, 1985, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class.
According to the household registers for the village of Khrapkov for the years 1944–1948 and 1983–1985 (F.62, S.3, F.18, s.10v–11; F.62, S.3, F.36, s.14v–15; F.17, S.3, F.108, s.77v–78), Junior Sergeant Sachenko returned to his native village after the war. He worked as a laborer at the «Sudkovo» state farm («sovkhoz»). He married Maria Vasilievna, and the couple had three sons: Vladimir, Nikolai, and Mikhail.
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| 1–6. F.13, S.3, F.391, s.185–186v |