Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav of 18 Grenadiers, was part of the Commando 'Ghatak' Platoon tasked to
capture three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill on the night of 3/4 July
1999. The approach was a
vertical cliff face, snowbound at 16,500 feet. Grenadier Yogender Singh
Yadav,
volunteering to lead the assault, was climbing the cliff face and fixing
the ropes for further assault on the feature. Halfway up, an enemy
bunker opened up machine gun and rocket fire. His Platoon Commander and
2 others fell to the heavy volume of automatic fire. Realising the
enormity of the situation, he continued to scale the cliff face
alone through a volley of fire. In spite of having been hit by three
bullets in his groin and shoulder, displaying superhuman strength and
resolve, he climbed the remaining 60 feet, all by himself and reached
the top. With rare grit and courage, he crawled up to the bunker
critically injured and lobbed a grenade killing four Pakistani soldiers
and neutralising enemy fire. This act was directly instrumental in
facilitating the rest of the platoon in climbing up the cliff face.
Grievously
injured, but with reckless disregard to personal safety, Grenadier Yogender Singh
Yadav
now charged on to the second bunker and neutralised it, with two of his
colleagues in an extremely fierce hand-to-hand combat, killing three
Pakistani soldiers. This extraordinarily gallant act motivated the rest
of the platoon which quickly traversed the treacherous terrain and
braving hostile fire, charged onto the enemy to capture Tiger Hill, a
vital objective. Throughout this operation, from scaling the vertical cliff face by rope for destruction of 2 Pakistani bunkers in
succession, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav displayed indomitable spirit, determination
and action beyond the call of the duty. For his sustained display of the
most conspicuous personal bravery and gallantry of the highest order in
the face of the enemy, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav was awarded the
Param Vir Chakra,
India
's highest medal for gallantry.
CITATION
GRENADIER
YOGINDER SINGH YADAV
18
GRENADIERS (2690-572)
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav was part of the leading team of a
Ghatak Platoon tasked to capture Tiger Hill on the night of ¾ July
1999. The approach to the
top was steep, snowbound and rocky.
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav, unmindful of the danger involved,
volunteered to lead and fix
the rope for his team to climb up. On
seeing the team, the enemy opened intense automatic, grenade, rocket and
artillery fire killing the Commander and two of his colleagues and the
platoon was stalled. Realising
the gravity of the situation, Grenadier
Yogender Singh Yadav crawled up to the
enemy position to silence it and in the process sustained multiple
bullet injuries. Unmindful of his injuries and in the hail of enemy
bullets, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav continued climbing towards the enemy
positions, lobbed grenades, continued firing from his weapons and killed
four enemy soldiers in close combat an silenced the automatic fire.
Despite multiple bullet injuries, he refused to be evacuated and
continued the charge. Inspired
by his gallant act, the platoon charged on the other positions with
renewed punch and captured Tiger Hill Top.
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav displayed the most conspicuous
courage, indomitable gallantry, grit and determination under extreme
adverse circumstances.
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