Only in the Soviet Union

Leonid Telyatnikov, born in Kazakhstan, head of the fire department at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Missing from duty during the immediate events of the Chernobyl disaster, later turned up drunk. Without a radiation suit, climbed onto the roof of the power plant to look inside the gaping hole created by the explosion and look at the reactor core. Died of cancer. Named a Hero of the Soviet Union.