Vir Chakra (VrC)

During "Operation Vijay", 17 JAT was tasked to capture Pimple complex part of Point 4875, a most dominating feature in the Mushkoh Valley, Colonel Umesh Singh Bawa, the Commanding Officer of the unit, planned a two pronged attack along the least expected and difficult approaches to surprise the enemy. The attack commenced at 2200 hours on 04 July 1999.

Colonel Bawa led the attack from the front and in a rare display of command and leadership qualities, motivated his men to achieve a near impossible military task against heavy odds. Under heavy enemy artillery, mortar and small arm fire, he took charge of the assaulting columns and personally supervised capture of four enemy positions that led to crumbling of enemy defences. The unit, under his inspiring leadership, also successfully repulsed the enemy counter attacks on Pimple Two.

Colonel Umesh Singh Bawa kept his cool throughout the battle and exercised full control on the assaulting troops and led them to the capture of Pimple One, Pimple Two and another feature named Whale-Back. The unit also recovered thirty-five weapons and twenty-two enemy dead bodies including that of an officer. He displayed exemplary courage while leading form the front in the face of the enemy.