Vasily Filippovich Herasymenko was born in a village of Velyka Burimka, Poltava Governorate (today part of Zolotonosha Raion, Cherkasy Oblast) on April 24, 1900 in a peasant family.

In 1918 Herasymenko joined the Red Army and during the Russian Civil War he fought at the Northern Caucasus and the Southern Russia.

In 1920 Herasymenko joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and in 1922 he finished the courses of commanding staff of the Red Army.

The decree of Ukrainian parliament Presidium was signed on March 11, 1944 and legalized the decision that was adopted by the Stavka of Commander-in-Chief and the State Defense Committee (both headed by Stalin).

On November 13, 1945 on decision of Stalin as the Supreme commander of Armed Forces of the Soviet Union Lieutenant General Gerasimenko was dismissed from the post of narkom and district commander and transferred to Riga where he stayed until September 1953 as part of the Baltic Military District staff personnel.