¹11, 2008 Generation of unjusticeThe long-livers of the last century were characterized briefly and understandable – he survived in three wars (two world wars and one revolution). And only a few people realize, what those contemporaries had to suffer, being born on the edge of centuries. The character of my story – the military pilot of the first class Igor Shendrygin at his 45 had such an amount of military experience, that any person would have enough till the end of days. The human tragedies were observed on the ground and from the height of the flight of he helicopter/ Everybody knew: the infamous Being the assistant of a crew commander he has got his first “hot” mission. In April, 1986 the Chornobyl exploded. He served in the crew of Astafiev, and without being changed, chief-lieutenant Shendrygin was liquidating the catastrophe from August 12 till October 25, when the object “Shelter” was fully covered. Igor Fedorovych recollects: - one week in the Chornobyl zone was absolutely proved itself, because even without it people got high dozes of radiation. The storage element in the shape of the pencil didn’t do it’s work. That’s why they gave us key-like device. After the flight you put this key into the device and turn it – to see the total result. Maximum was 25 roentgen for the pilot and 40 for the ground troops. But not a single chemist has dared to put the real figures. That’s why after the two month of staying in the zone I had only 8 in total. The machinery, in spite of the constant chemical proceeding was still “indicating” – the dosimeter’s scale was not enough. You could become the victim not flying to the zone, but just working with the helicopter. Also the colonel Shendrygin had to suffer a great surprise: the military base, where he served in Chornobyl was gone! He has all the papers with stamps from there, the marks in the flight-hours’ book, but the base itself… never existed. That’s how still think the Podil and Kyiv Archives, where all the papers are stored. The training battle system in Landing Soviet army was set. The regiment formed the squadron from 120-130 people. If there was a lack of own specialists, the bases were formed from the other military districts. In half a year after the Chornobyl, in May, 1987 it was Sendrygi’s turn. In August, 1988 the troops’ recall was in the air. As always – no one informed, but everyone knew. The first “swallows” flew back home. In May, the Shendrygin’s regiment started to work in the northern direction through the Shinand into the Middle Asia to the Mar-1 and 2. they evacuated people and property. He remembers a case, when during the flight one engine has stopped, and for the long 40 minutes the “dragged” on the other one, until crossed the border. Igor just remembered about the old airdrome and landed their. And there were families, already waiting at home. After this case, an Order of the red star was handed. One August day they got the command – back home. 48 hours for everything, and the regiment has left the infernal At the beginning of 90-s The The KFOR forces successfully resolved the problems in Kosovo. The results of the work of 14-th separate helicopter detachment of the Ukrainian Army didn’t change the decision og the high command about the recall. Because In four years from the beginning of rotation, the detachment was transferred to the neighboring In less then half a year, he got to The experience of the first African trip became really useful for Shendrygin in January 2004. after the quick discussion, the high political command decided to take part in the peacemaking mission, that spread on the territory of another African country – 56-th separate helicopter detachment of the UN Mission (UNMIL) was formed at the terms of On the moment of arriving of the personnel, the food and accommodations were fully organized. The camp territory became more or less safe from the “outer world”, where still armed gangs were wheeling around. The whole counties didn’t obey the central government. The menacing weaponry chilled down even the hottest daredevils. Even if the local population started to show the unnecessary interest, on the airfields, our pilots, pointing at the external tanks, said: bombs! But still, they had to take part in special missions. Such as taking under the government control the area of Harper. Under the lead of the commander of UN Mission, the whole armada of available in UNMIL helicopters was launched in the air and transferred to the East of the country, together with quick reaction forces and easy machinery. In three days, the question of power in the area was resolved. But still our helicopter pilots constantly stay there, also in the area of 3100 hours of flights in total has the pilot of the first class, colonel Shendrygin. More then 1/3 – during the performing of the battle flights or the extreme conditions. Usually, the Ukrainian officers in their personal histories have the “Battle Action Participant” chapter blank. This man has three pages, of how people say – very small letters. Today, the pilots of such a class in …Meanwhile, the people of their age took the enormous mortgages in the bank to return them after, for the price of the matchbox, created the pyramid schemes, parties, and learned how to live in the new economical conditions. Today, from the high parliament tribunes, educated, they form the military policy of the state. They form it, according to their own moral and professional principals. As the result: one of the most powerful armies on the continent after the reform has changed into “we have, what we have”. Thousands of officers became useless in one moment and now are a burden to the state. The character of the story took the only right decision – he said “So long!”. Talking to me, he worried not about how to adopt to the civil life, but worried about the fact, that young officers come to service, and they have no moral principals. Once upon a time – some protected the Motherland, and some made the oath. And what to protect today, if even the historical books describe the country like two different banks of the river, and this Motherland is seen differently?? Serhiy Syzonenko |