One of World War II’s last living Veterans has passed at the age of 103 yeasr old. Grigoriy Tankhumovich Fein, also known as Gregory Fain, was born on April 18, 1921, in Prapojsk (now Slawharad), Belarus. Before the war, he completed the seventh grade at a Jewish school. In 1935, following the closure of Jewish schools, Fein continued his education at a local Belarusian school.
Fein served in the Red Army from November 1939 until June 1960, participating in the 5th Air Force of the Southern and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts. He was involved in the defense of the Caucasus and the liberation of Budapest and Prague. He also took part in the Yassy-Chisinau operation, which led to the liberation of Moldova.
Drafted into the army in 1939, Fein was sent to a junior aviation specialist school. During the Winter War with Finland (1939-1940), he served as a gunner in air combat missions and was wounded. From 1941 to 1942, as an air gunner, he flew combat missions on the Il-2 attack aircraft. In the later years of the war, he served as a political officer in an airfield construction battalion. His military honors include the Order of the Red Star.
After his military service, Fein graduated from the Smolensk Higher School of Propaganda and the Military-Political Academy. In 1960, he was demobilized, earned his PhD in philosophy, and until his retirement in 1986, led the Philosophy Department at the Odessa Institute of Communications.
Fein received several awards, including the first and second degree of the Order of the Patriotic War, two Orders of the Red Star, and medals “For Distinguished Achievements in Combat”, “For the Defense of the Caucasus”, and “For Victory over Germany”.
Holding a PhD in Philosophy, Fein is also a member of the American Academy of Science. He authored four books of philosophical essays and memoirs.
Grigoriy, along with his wife and son, immigrated to the USA on September 5, 1996, settling in West Hollywood (WeHo). He became actively involved with the Association of Russian WWII Veterans and served as a Liaison with the American Association of WWII Veterans.
To learn more about this distinguished hero, explore the following resources:
- Victory in Europe Day 2023: 78th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day – May 7, 2023 | Flickr
- Blavatnik Archive Veteran Profile
- YouTube Interview
The documentary “Beyond Duty, The Story of the Los Angeles WWII Veterans Association” was produced by the City of WeHo’s Russian-Speaking Advisory Board in recognition of Victory in Europe Day in May 2023.
It is a surprise to me and also a shock. I was not aware with the fact that someone from WWII is still living. Rest in peace.
Rest In Peace, sir.
Thank you for your fiercely brave service against fascism, Dr. Fain. Your life was long and productive and your beloved family has every reason to revere your memory. I join them in saluting you.
Grigoriy was a stalwart among our World War II veterans. He had the biggest and warmest smile – one he wore all the time. He was among the most active of the veterans in West Hollywood and was a strong supporter of the monument in Plummer Park. He remained active in the association until well after his 100th birthday. He and his colleagues in the Veterans Association had a big impact in the City of West Hollywood – there used to be hundreds and now there are only a handful and their absense from civic life – and as our… Read more »
Thank you Jeff for your help in putting together the information to share with everybody. You may have left WeHo but you are still omnipresent.