Evening star., 1942-10-25
FIiqht Instructor Praises
Mothers of Fighting Men
Letter to 'Overunxious' Parent
Louds Sons Accomplishments

"The Germans advanced. Tor
rents of fire from Rugayev's tank
pinned them to the ground and
finally checked the advance. The
Germans then concentrated artil-
lery fire on the tank. Heavy shells
struck the ground nearby and ham,
mered at the armor. But Rugayev
kept on fighting.
"They are shelling me heavily
he reported. 7 scored several direct
hits. Must spare ammunition. The
Germans are concentrated In the
gulley on the left. Stand by from an
attack from there
"Rugayev might have taken ad-
vantage of a brief lull in the fighting
to escape through port-hole of the
tank and flee from the battle field.
But apparently the idea did not
occur to him or to any of his crew.
They had wireless, machine guns
and a cannon-so they fought.
THE Germans are passing by.
Am sparing ammunition. Artillery
should shift fire 300 yards to left.
The Germans are concentrated in
the gulley,' was Rugayev's next re-
port.
Soviet gunners opened fire at the
gulley. A few moments later Ru-
gayev flashed, Artillery doing fine
job. Germans in the gulley are in
panic. Am firing at them. Germans
are surrounding me-
Crew Is Killed.
Heavy guns battered away at the
tanks, but failed to set it on fire At
last they scored direct hit with a
6-lnch shell and few minutes aft
erWard Rugayev reported, Chew
killed. Am keeping up fire Am
munition running out. Tell artillery
to keep up fire along gulley. Ger
mans are retreating.'
The Germans now understood
who was directing the artillery fire
and determined to silence the tank.
Two hundred soldiers craWled to-
ward 1t on all fours. Rugayev sig
nailed, Am being surrounded. Ger
mans are 200 yards away. Keep up
flre at gulley. If you have fire to
spare, set up barrage in front of
me-
"A volley of heavy Soviet shells
tore up the earth in front of Ru-
gayev's tank and shielded it from
the advancing troops.
Thanks for help. Germans are
pinned down. Am keeping up fire.
came Rugayev's message.
"A few minutes later he reported
triumphantly, Germans retreated )
The messages became briefer.
Rugeyev had no time to spare. Sud-
denly the field in front of the tank
brlstled with Germans running
toward the immobile and now silent
tank. They came closer and closer,
but still the tank was silent.
When the Germans were almost
upon the tank, a stream of fire
blazed from the turret
Firing at Germans Rugayev
transmitted. Ammunition short.
Only six magazines left
Shift Your Fire"
"Rugayev must have known that
he could not hope to keep at bay
all the Germans who were pressing
toward him, but he reported calmly,
Germans surrounding me. Am
fighting and a moment later in
defiance Of death, Shift your fire
right on me-
Black shrapnel bursts shrouded
the tank. Thanks. Give them
some more Rugayev said. The
Germans continued to advance.
They knew that it would be folly to
continue their attack without ST.
lencing this tank. The ground was
Uttered with their dead. But they
disregarded losses, knowing that
sooner or later the tank must run
out of ammunition.
Then came Rugayev's last mes
sage, No ammunition. Good-by,
comrades. The Germans are on ton
of the tank. They seem to be laying
a mine. Avenge me-
His last wish will be fulfilled.
Our heavy tanks are going into
battle. Our tankists will avenge
him"