Arkadi Yurkovetski
I am the beginning of my military service. I am wearing a uniform of the time of the great patriotic War in the picture. I sent this photograph to my parents from he army. This photo was taken in Chernovtsy in 1950.
In 1950 I went to serve in the army. I was sent to an 'initial military training unit' in Chernovtsy. Since I had secondary education and beautiful handwriting I was taken to serve in stuff service of a division where I served 3.5 years. There were 8 clerks and I was the only Jew among them. We stayed in a room at the headquarters. I never faced anti-Semitism during my service. I got along well with my fellow comrades. I had awards for excellent performance and studies. I was allowed to leave the unit after 18:00 hours. Twice a year on I was allowed a 10-day leave: on 1st May [Labor Day] and 7th November. My parents were very happy about it. My moter died in April 1953. In 1954 I demobilized from the army.
