2024-10-06 06:45:00
Before that. HISTORY OF IVAN SEDUN. “COMMUNICATIONS”
In the early spring of 1928, Ivan Sedun received a call from the volost administration to appear at the conscription commission for military service. He was enlisted in the navy. But soon the second child was born, and instead of the navy, Ivan was assigned to the 82nd infantry regiment, stationed in Brest. Let’s continue with his memories.
The first impression of the arrival of the regiment was not very encouraging. They took us to the bathhouse and changed us into uniforms, all in patches, shoes that didn’t fit our feet. The days were filled to capacity. In addition to scheduled training, margins and physicals came up with additional nonsense – all kinds of “jumps”, pigeon steps, “reports” to the stove and much more. Three months passed without attention, and we were sworn in, each class in its own clergy. After the oath, the most capable and competent of all the companies began to be selected for the training team. I also joined this group, despite my poor Polish. 120 of us soldiers were placed in a separate block. The best officers and non-commissioned officers were assigned to us as instructors – and the best, in a military sense, were those who were more lenient towards their subordinates. But be that as it may, I graduated with honors from the regimental school, the first of those chosen. I was given the physical degree.
In the same year, an order came from the ministry to expand physical education. In our regiment, soldiers also began to check their sports abilities. I was one of the best in running and jumping and I was enrolled in a sports team, where the conditions were much better than in the company. In May 1929, all soldiers who could compete in swimming were registered. Having grown up at sea, I had a good handle on the water, but I didn’t think about speed. When he was checked, it turned out that more than a third of 80 soldiers who were registered as able to swim were afraid to enter the water. In the regiment, I swam better than others and qualified for competitions in the division, where I took first place; After intensive preparation, some of us were taken to Warsaw for the Polish Army Championship.
The swim took place in a 25-metre indoor pool. I had to compete in long distances of 400 and 1000 meters. As happened later, among the participants were athletes from civilian clubs chartered by military units. In the final, I was given the least favorable outer lane by lottery. An additional difficulty was created by turning, which I did not do in open water, but in the pool they meant a lot; But along the way he adapted and finished ahead of the second swimmer almost the entire time. I also won the second race. The awards were presented by Marshal Pilsudski.
After my return to Brest, Colonel Switalski congratulated me personally. The regimental commander presented me with a cash award and gave me three weeks’ leave. And at the end of the active service, he offered to stay in the regiment as an “extension” with full military support with a payment of 50 zlotys per month. But my wife and two children were waiting with me at home; she couldn’t manage the family – I had to refuse. My family also discouraged me from trying to get a job in a civilian sports club, where I wanted to go to Warsaw.
I stayed on the farm, but it didn’t work out for me. The horse I left behind when I joined the army disappeared, there was no money for the second one, so I had to buy a “zdykhlya” which was more like a goat.
And then, very timely, a letter arrived from the commander of the regiment, who asked him to come for a few months to compete for the regiment in competitions. 600 zlotys for two months with full coverage – excellent conditions. So, in May 1930, I temporarily became a military man, but in reality I was just training, preparing for competitions. But they were canceled due to the state of the economy, which was affected by the global crisis.
The commander fulfilled his obligations, in addition, he offered to stay on long-term service for a period of 3 years with a monthly payment of 300 zlotys and promised to send me to a one-year course in Warsaw at the “physical training school”, which he did swimming instructor for me. The prospect was tempting, and I agreed. I graduated with honors from school and got a diploma to teach in the regiment.
In 1935, I was sent to Zambrów for a year of training for junior staff commanders. I graduated with honors from this school, but I was urgently called to Brest to the second department, ie counter-intelligence, for further questioning on a case that dates back to 1925 in our village. I gave the same evidence as during the questioning in the village, but nevertheless I was included in the list of unreliable people. After Piłsudski’s death, power passed into the hands of Colonel Rydz-Śmigły, under whom the policy changed. Many were dismissed from service or transferred to lower positions. As a native of Kresy Vkhodnih, I was also affected by these trends …
Vasily Sarychev (To be continued)
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