Vir Chakra (VrC)

On the night of 2 November 1965, Subedar Piara Singh was commanding a platoon in a battalion of Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. The battalion was ordered to clear a feature in the Mendhar Sector in Jammu & Kashmir, which had been encroached upon by Pakistani forces, notwithstanding the cease-fire. He led the assault through the minefield in the course of which he lost 25 men to mines and artillery fire.

Undaunted by the losses and with total disregard for his own safety, he led the charge on an enemy bunker from where a light machine gun was enfilading another platoon of his company. After silencing the light machine gun, he proceeded to the next bunker from where one 83mm rocket launcher was firing and holding up further advance. As he threw a grenade into the bunker, both his legs were blown off by the 83 mm rocket, but the grenade he threw killed the occupants of the bunker. A few minutes later he also died, but only after capturing his objective and exhorting his few remaining men to exploit further.

In this mission Subedar Piara Singh displayed leadership and indomitable courage and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army.