This rather unusual Lifesaving group was awarded to Sergeant Vladimir Petrovich Stirnov, of the Leningrad MVD- the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  He joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs in October 1956.  Unusual in his is the presence of two awards of the medal "For Saving a Life from Drowning". 

This medal was awarded "to rescue workers and other citizens of the USSR, and foreigners for bravery, courage and self-sacrifice displayed while saving lives in the water, for a high level of alertness and resourcefulness that resulted in avoiding water accidents, and for exemplary organization of the life guard service."

From the time of its inception in 1957, approximately 24,000 medals were awarded.  Rarely, however, has anyone received more than one award. 

Sergeant Stirnov's first award was on 25 November 1961, four years after its creation.  The medal was awarded by the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Counsel.  His second award was five years later, on 28 June 1967.  Once again, his medal was awarded by the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Counsel. 

In addition to his Lifesaving medals, Sergeant Stirnov was also awarded the three medals "For Irreproachable Service in the MVD of the USSR" First, Second and Third Class, indicating over 20 years of exemplary service to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

His first award, the medal "For Irreproachable Service Third Class" was actually issued from the MOOP, the "Ministry For the Protection of Social Order of the USSR".  This was the name for the MVD from August 1962 until they decided that 'MVD' sounded better and went back to the original name on 12 August 1966.

Interestingly, his Third Class award was issued on 27 July 1966, just two weeks prior to the change of names!

His Second Class medal, for fifteen years of service, was awarded on 25 October 1971, and finally, his First Class, for twenty years of service, was awarded on 22 October 1976.