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Based on my research, this prestigious honor was given in April 1953 to a soldier of the Red Army for long service (eg at least 15 years).
Those dates indicate this individual was in the military during WWII, when the Soviet Union lost ~25 million people.
By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 4, 1944 the practice of awarding military orders and medals for long service was established.[1] The following awards could be bestowed:
- For 15 years of service: Order of the Red Star
This system was abolished thirteen years later, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on September 14, 1957.[2] The Presidium explained this decision as follows:
"The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet has ascertained that the existing practice of awarding Soviet orders and medals to servicemen for long service at the present time does not contribute in the right manner to dealing with the challenges that lie before the Soviet Armed Forces. The practice of large-scale awards to servicemen for a specified number of years of service in the Army or Navy, without regard to the nature of their service duties and concrete merits, has led to a decreased value of awards, and awarding Soviet orders and medals has stopped being an important means of commending servicemen for achieving significant successes in military and political training, strengthening the military discipline, and improving the troops' combat readiness."[3]
