In December 1979, The Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, in order to support friendly regime, and had intention to depart within a year. But good intentions of the Soviet Union turned into a long war. In 1987, one of the direct participants in this war was a second-year student of Karaganda State Medical Institute Marat Turganbekovich Kulmakhanov.

On September 7, our university organized a commemoration meeting "While We Remember - We Live", which was dedicated to Marat Kulmakhanov. As a second-year student Marat Kulmakhanov was drafted into the ranks of the Soviet Army and was at war from May 1987 to August 16, 1988 in Afghanistan.

On August 16, 1988, Kulmakhanov's platoon accompanied the convoy of the 103rd Airborne Division. But in the vicinity of Kunduz village, the troop was ambushed. Sergeant Kulmakhanov skillfully organized the reflection of the attack, and led the fight to the approach of assistance by risking his life. He was seriously wounded in an unequal battle. On the way to the hospital Marat Kulmakhanov died.

This year’s September 15, Marat Kulmakhanov would have turned 50 years old.

Parents of Marat Kulmakhanov: farther - Turganbek Kulmakhanovich, mother - Gulbala Umirtaevna, relatives and friends were invited to the evening of memory.  Marat’s farther shared his memories of his son. He expressed gratitude to the university for organized meeting.

To honor his memory, from different regions of Kazakhstan also came Marat’s classmates. They shared their memories of who was Marat Kulmakhanov, and also dedicated a self-penned verse to him. In memory of the deceased soldier there was opened a corner in the museum of our university dedicated to Kulmakhanov Marat.

During his lifetime, Marat was awarded a Medal for Courage and the Order of the Red Star. And in February 1989 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner posthumously.

We would like to express our deep gratitude to the parents of Marat: farther Turganbek Kulmakhanovich and mother Gulbala Umirtaevna for decent upbringing of thier son, the real hero and for finding time and power to visit our university.

As the further Afghan war departs into the depths of history, the more these losses are perceived. We tell them, who died in their native land and foreign land, who survived in unequal battles: "Thank you! We will remember you! "