Major Gurudial Singh
During the Indo- Chinese conflict of 1962 a battallion of the Rajput Regiment was entrusted with the task of defending the Namkhachu river area in NEFA. The Chinese attacked on the 20th October with heavy artillery and mortar. Quickly overrunning the outer defences they began to close in on the battallion headquarters from all sides. Seeing them come, the second-in-command, Major Gurudial Singh realised that only a swift and bold manoeuvre could avert a total rout. Rallying the survivors he led charge on the advancing enemy, taking him by surprise Many Chinese were killed and the rest fell back, giving some of the Indian soldiers who have been trapped in vulnerable postions, time to withdraw to safer ground. Major Gurudal Singh was awarded the Mahavir Chakra for conspicious gallantry. Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his courage and leadership.