Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 20 October, 1962, approximately 150 Chinese attacked one of our company positions at the Tsangdhar area in NEFA, where Havildar Kaula Singh Thapa was Company Havildar Major. He had positioned himself in the left section LMG pit so as to prevent enemy penetration from the left flank. When a rifleman operating the light machine gun was killed, Havildar Thapa immediately took charge of the gun. He kept on firing it and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. After some time the tempo of the attack increased; by then he had only three magazines left with him. The position was untenable and Havildar Thapa was ordered to withdraw He asked his platoon to withdraw and himself undertook to provide covering fire. Completely disregarding his own safety he stuck to his gun till the Chinese over-ran the position and he was killed.

Throughout the operation, Havildar Thapa displayed the highest sense of duty, leadership and courage in the best traditions of the Army