Service No: 2669264W
Date of Birth : Mar 16,1959
Birth Place : Ghumarwin (HP)
Service: Army
Last Rank: Havildar
Unit :18 Grenadiers
Arm/Regt :The Grenadiers
Operation :Op Vijay (Kargil)
Award : VrC
Date of Martyrdom :Jun 14, 1999
Hav Udham Singh was born on 16th March 1959 and hailed from Chaihadi village near Ghumarwin in Himachal Pradesh. After completing his schooling he joined the Army and was inducted into 18 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its valiant soldiers and various battle honours.
Kargil War : 14 June 1999
During June 1999, Hav Udham Singh’s unit was deployed in drass sector. Tololing feature was indicative of the deepest penetration made by Pakistan in Drass sector. By holding features of Hump, Point 5140, Point 4700 and area ‘Three Pimple’the enemy had ensured a secure route of maintenance for its troops at Tololing. 18 Grenadiers was tasked to capture Hump and also provide support to 18 Garhwal Rifles in its attack on Point 5140. Hav Udham Singh became part of the team that was tasked to capture Hump feature.
On 13th/14th Jun 1999, Hav Udham Singh led the company attack with his section on area Hump in the Drass sector. He along with his comrades kept on neutralizing enemy’s resistance en route. The area was heavily fortified and Hav Udham Singh’s section’s advance was impeded due to the heavy automatic fire of the enemy. Realizing the gravity of the situation Hav Udham Singh decided to outflank the enemy positions to neutralize the enemy threat. He ordered his troops to keep engaging the enemy position, while he along with a small team crawled towards the enemy position from the flank. He halted his team close to enemy sangar and himself inched closer to lob a hand grenade inside.
Hav Udham Singh’s movement was however noticed by the enemy who fired at him causing severe injuries to him. Without caring for his wounds, he rushed up to the enemy sangar and lobbed a hand grenade and fired at the soldiers inside. He succeeded in killing three enemy soldiers from close quarters and signaled his men to charge ahead. However during this process, he succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. His bold and courageous action eventually paved the way for the capture of the important tactical feature Hump, which later facilitated capture of another significant feature, Point 5140. Hav Udham Singh was a gallant and committed soldier who laid down his life in the service of the nation, following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Hav Udham Singh was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his outstanding grit, determination, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.
The citation for Vir Chakra awarded to him reads :
On 13th/14th June 1999, Hav Udham Singh volunteered to lead the company attack with his section on area Hump in the Drass sector during “Operation Vijay”. He, with his section, kept on neutralizing enemy’s resistance en route. The section’s advance was impeded due to the heavy automatic fire of the enemy. Seeing this, Hav Udham Singh reacted immediately ordering his troops to keep engaging the enemy position, he with a small team crawled towards the enemy position from the flank. He halted his team close to enemy sangar and himself inched closer to lob a hand grenade inside. His movement was however noticed by the enemy who fired incessantly causing severe injuries to him. Without caring for his wounds, he rushed up to the enemy sangar and lobbed a hand grenade and fired from his personal weapon from close range lulling three occupants and called his men to charge ahead. In the process, he succumbed to his injuries but not before paving way for the capture of the important tactical feature Hump, which later facilitated capture of Point 5140. Hav Udham Singh displayed exceptional bravery and courage before making the supreme sacrifice for the nation in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
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