Naum Kravets with his front-line fellow Sergey Streletskiy

The picture was taken in Moscow in 2000.

In this photo I am on the right with my front-line fellow, the pilot of our regiment Sergey Streletskiy. We took part in the 2nd Victory parade, 55th anniversary.

After the parade they organized a feast for us at Poklonnaya hill in Moscow. We were drinking to the Victory and remembering those who did not survive.

My awards from top to bottom, from left to right. On the left lapel, 1st row: Orders of the Red Star, Orders of the Great Patriotic War of the second class. The 2nd row: jubilee medal of aviation regiment # 15, Medal for Military Merits. 3rd row: medals for the Defense of Leningrad and for the Capture of Konigsberg. To the right are jubilee medals devoted to the memorial Victory dates, Soviet Army and Soviet Aviation dates as well anniversary dates of the Victory over Germany, and three medals of the State of Israel.

After demobilization in 1950 I decided to look for a job. I got lucky. By chance I read the announcement in the street about a job opening in a design bureau for radar experts.

I was offered a job immediately and was determined in flight test laboratory. In the 1970s the bureau was turned into the corporation Phasotron-NIIR, scientific research radio institute. The corporation still exists, and I am still working there.

We didn't mark Jewish holidays after the war. Our family marked Soviet holidays such as 1st May, 7th November, New Year's Day, Soviet Army Day, Victory Day. I spent Victory Day with my family only in the morning, when we went to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier to lay down flowers.

Then I met with my front-line soldiers. Some of them lived in Moscow; others came here on the holiday. We remembered the past, drank to the victory, commemorated our comrades who didn't make it, and sang military songs.

I was happy to have been in Israel for several times. When I was in the Israeli airdrome of the armed forces the army commander gave me a tiny Torah. He told me that each officer, each soldier of the Israeli army is given such a Torah. He said that I should always have it on me for me to be protected. There is a special small pocket for the Torah in the uniform of an Israeli soldier.

I don't have a pocket in my uniform, so my daughter made one for me. I keep my Torah close to my heart. If I put a jacket on, I put the Torah there. It is always with me. I don't think I'm religious, but I'm sure the Torah is taking care of me.

I took part in two parades in Moscow in 1995 and 2000, devoted to Victory Day. Recently I found out that I passed the medical examination and was permitted to take part in the Victory parade in May 2005.

They are even fixing the ceremonious uniform for the occasion. This is my last parade and I'm happy to take part in it. Frankly speaking I had a forlorn hope that I would make it.