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Gontzoff, Vadim F. (39550802): Difference between revisions
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Expand exact roster rank codes (class_rank: Pvt -> Private) |
RB Archive: Victor Kendall alias; VENONA Class 6; vitals |
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|surname=Gontzoff | |surname=Gontzoff | ||
|first=Vadim | |first=Vadim | ||
|middle= | |middle=Feodor | ||
|class_section=10 | |class_section=10 | ||
|class_rank=Private | |class_rank=Private | ||
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|class_number=6 | |class_number=6 | ||
|class_display=6 | |class_display=6 | ||
|alias=Victor Kendall; Vadim Gontsov | |||
|birth_date=23 February 1915 | |||
|birth_place=Moscow, Russia | |||
|death_date=2 October 1997 | |||
|death_place=New York City | |||
|rank_final=Second Lieutenant | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | <div class="soldier-lead"> | ||
'''Vadim | '''Vadim Feodor Gontzoff''' (stage name Victor Kendall; 23 February 1915–2 October 1997) was a Moscow-born actor and Camp Ritchie trainee ([[:Category:Class 6|Class 6]]) who served as a U.S. Army second lieutenant. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Vadim Feodor Gontzoff (stage name Victor Kendall) was born on 23 February 1915 in Moscow. His mother was opera singer Maria Kurenko and his father Feodor Gontzoff; after studies in France he graduated from Columbia University (B.A., 1938) and worked briefly in Hollywood films under the name Victor Kendall. | |||
He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Los Angeles on 30 December 1942 (ASN 39550802) and trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[:Category:Class 6|Class 6]]. A declassified VENONA New York–Moscow cable of 26 May 1943 lists Vadim Gontsov among Russian-section graduates; NSA comments identify him as Vadim Feodor Gontzoff, stage name Victor Kendall, naturalized at Hagerstown, Maryland, on 19 May 1943. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received an honorable discharge in 1946. | |||
After the war he worked for Radio Liberty / Voice of America and NBC, then as a classical music announcer at WTFM in New York. He died on 2 October 1997 in New York City. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* VENONA: NSA comments on the 26 May 1943 Military Intelligence Training release identify GONTsOV as Vadim Feodor Gontzoff / Victor Kendall (Class 6 contemporary of Stephen Soudakoff). No cover name for Gontzoff himself appears in that cable. | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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| row_source || both | | row_source || both | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 23 February 1915 — Born in Moscow. | |||
* 1938 — B.A., Columbia University; later Hollywood work as Victor Kendall. | |||
* 30 December 1942 — Enlists, Los Angeles (ASN 39550802). | |||
* 19 May 1943 — Naturalized, Hagerstown, Maryland (per VENONA comment). | |||
* 1943 — Camp Ritchie Class 6; named in 26 May 1943 VENONA Russian-section list. | |||
* 1946 — Honorable discharge (second lieutenant). | |||
* 2 October 1997 — Died in New York City. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* [https://www.lordheath.com/menu1_1149.html Lordheath — Victor Kendall / Vadim Gontzoff filmography note] | |||
* [https://www.fold3.com/memorial/91094157/vadim-f-gontzoff Fold3 memorial — Vadim F. Gontzoff] | |||
* [https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/venona/dated/1943/26may_military_intel_tng.pdf NSA VENONA — 26 May 1943 Military Intelligence Training] | |||
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | * Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | ||
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | * Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | ||
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | * NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present) | ||
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | * 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present) | ||
Latest revision as of 03:19, 19 September 2026
| Vadim Feodor Gontzoff | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Victor Kendall Vadim Gontsov |
| Born | 23 February 1915 Moscow, Russia |
| Died | 2 October 1997 New York City |
| Nativity | Russia |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 39550802 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 6 (13 March – 11 May 1943) |
| Section | 10 |
| Enlisted | Los Angeles, California |
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Vadim Feodor Gontzoff (stage name Victor Kendall; 23 February 1915–2 October 1997) was a Moscow-born actor and Camp Ritchie trainee (Class 6) who served as a U.S. Army second lieutenant.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Vadim Feodor Gontzoff (stage name Victor Kendall) was born on 23 February 1915 in Moscow. His mother was opera singer Maria Kurenko and his father Feodor Gontzoff; after studies in France he graduated from Columbia University (B.A., 1938) and worked briefly in Hollywood films under the name Victor Kendall.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Los Angeles on 30 December 1942 (ASN 39550802) and trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 6. A declassified VENONA New York–Moscow cable of 26 May 1943 lists Vadim Gontsov among Russian-section graduates; NSA comments identify him as Vadim Feodor Gontzoff, stage name Victor Kendall, naturalized at Hagerstown, Maryland, on 19 May 1943. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
After the war he worked for Radio Liberty / Voice of America and NBC, then as a classical music announcer at WTFM in New York. He died on 2 October 1997 in New York City.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- VENONA: NSA comments on the 26 May 1943 Military Intelligence Training release identify GONTsOV as Vadim Feodor Gontzoff / Victor Kendall (Class 6 contemporary of Stephen Soudakoff). No cover name for Gontzoff himself appears in that cable.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
After you are autoconfirmed, upload a photo and add [[File:Example.jpg|thumb|caption]] here, or set |photo=Example.jpg in the infobox.
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Approx Age at Death | 82 |
| Nara ASN | 39550802 |
| Nara Name | GONTZOFF VADIM F |
| Nara State | 91 |
| Nara County | 37 |
| Nara POE | 9141 |
| Nara DOE | 301242 |
| Nara Grade Alpha | PVT |
| Nara Grade Code | 8 |
| Nara Branch Alpha | BI |
| Nara Branch Code | 0 |
| Branch | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| Nara Term or Enlistment | 5 |
| Term of enlistment | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Defer. Date | 0 |
| Nara Source | 0 |
| Nara Nativity | O9 |
| Nara Year of Birth | 15 |
| Nara Race | J |
| Nara Race Description | White not yet a citizen |
| Nara Education | 8 |
| Nara Civilian Occupation | 148 |
| Nara Marital Status | 6 |
| Nara Height (inches) | 71 |
| Nara Weight (lbs) | 165 |
| Class_ASN | 39550802 |
| Class_Name | GONTZOFF, Vadim F. |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 23 February 1915 — Born in Moscow.
- 1938 — B.A., Columbia University; later Hollywood work as Victor Kendall.
- 30 December 1942 — Enlists, Los Angeles (ASN 39550802).
- 19 May 1943 — Naturalized, Hagerstown, Maryland (per VENONA comment).
- 1943 — Camp Ritchie Class 6; named in 26 May 1943 VENONA Russian-section list.
- 1946 — Honorable discharge (second lieutenant).
- 2 October 1997 — Died in New York City.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Lordheath — Victor Kendall / Vadim Gontzoff filmography note
- Fold3 memorial — Vadim F. Gontzoff
- NSA VENONA — 26 May 1943 Military Intelligence Training
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)