Vasilij Ivanovich Ekimov was born in the Russian SSR in 1907. During the feat in which he earned his medal of Bravery he was serving as a senior sergeant of the 3rd Artillery Squadron Reconnaissance from the 117th Mortar Regiment, 5th Mortar Brigade at the Volkhov front at the battle of Lake Barsoe during the 22nd and 23rd of July 1943. Very little is known about senior sergeant Ekimov. The only known part is that he was drafted into the army by the Chernogorsky military commissariat and the research states that he has been a worker before. During the war he earned one medal as far as is known, which is the Medal for Bravery № 234694.
His citation reads as follows: Senior Sergeant commander of the 3rd artillery squadron reconnaissance EKIMOV Vasilij Ivanovich, who exhibited courage in the combat engagement near the lake Barskoe during 22-23 July 1943. Disregarding his personal safety, he skilfully conducted reconnaissance and observation despite the very intensive enemy artillery fire and quickly detected the enemy positions, which allowed the battery to destroy one machine-gun, one mortar battery, and 2 pillboxes. His bravery medal was awrded by his commanding officer, major Elischaev with approval of the Chief of Staff of the 117th Mortar Brigade, captain Bezruchko and was presented to him on the 25th of July 1943.
Senior Sergeant Ekimov was a nonparty member as of July 1943. Little more is known about his political preferences and career. His home address was intentionally obscured and nothing is known of his life after the second world war. The combat diary shows a few amazing drawings from 1943 in which you can clearly see the proudness of their regiment with a drawing of the mortar and the brigade itself and the 25th anniversary since the revolution in 1918, showing the people in the revolution chasing away what seems to be a German soldier and the regiment doing the same against fascists forces in 1943.