liquidator

[solipsistnation]

That's the face of a man who may have shoveled burning radioactive graphite off of the roof of a nuclear power plant that was melting down a few hundred feet below him. He apparently survived until 1991-- I have no idea if he's still alive today, but considering that I, a random American, have not only his medal but the document for his medal (this has been verified by people who are experts in such a thing-- and it wasn't expensive, which on the one hand is cool because I could afford it, but on the other hand is sad because it was his life). If he was alive, would his medal and the document have made it out of the ex-Soviet states? I don't know.

He looks like the kind of guy who would be good to have a drink with. He looks a little sad, but also like the kind of man who could tell a good joke if he wanted, the kind of man who smiled easily. I may be projecting because I want to think he was a good person. Either way, he worked a terrible job and we should remember him as a good person for that.