Two bullet wounds and a victory at 18,000 feet

After a continuous climb of 12 hours, Lieutenant Balwan Singh and his unit won the Tiger Hill

Two bullet wounds and a victory at 18,000 feet

After a continuous climb of 12 hours, Lieutenant Balwan Singh and his unit won the Tiger Hill

Just two months after stepping out of the Officer's Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, in March 1999, Lieutenant Balwan Singh was doing what he had been trained for fighting the enemy in the mountains of Kargil.

Belonging to the 18 Grenadiers, the Mahavir Chakra awardee wrested Tiger Hill from the enemy in a daring attack by scaling the steep mountain tugging his heavy snow equipment and slowed down by two bullet injuries. "At that time it felt like a miracle. Ab to aur bhi jyada josh hai (today I am more motivated). But I was no exception, every soldier in the Indian Army wants to prove his valour," said Lieutenant Singh.

After their initial success in the battle of Tololing and adjoining ridges, Lieutenant Singh's unit was asked to capture Tiger Hill at 18,000 feet, heavily guarded by the Pakistanis. "We surveyed the area for five days but found no safe approach to the top. Finally, we decided to move along the cliff. The temperature was below zero and the approach became more difficult due to the heavy snowfall. I was asked to lead the Ghatak Platoon from the northeast side of the mountain with a 70-degree gradient," he said.

Lieutenant Singh began his mission on the night of July 3. The men in his unit not only carried their guns and ammunition but also their heavy snow boots and climbing gear. "We climbed continuously for almost 12 hours but every one was too charged up to be tired. At such situations, the ijjat (pride) of the unit becomes the driving force," said Lieutenant Singh.

The Pakistanis had not expected an attack from the snow-clad slopes and were caught unawares. "We were some distance from the peak when they started firing at us. Six men from our platoon were hit but we kept climbing and as soon as we reached the peak, we surrounded the enemy bunkers," said Lieutenant Singh, who was hit in the leg and hands but he refused to be evacuated.

"When I left home for the war, my parents had said, 'lad kar aur jeet kar hi aana (fight and return a winner).'

My father was in the Army too and appreciated my win immensely," said the proud Jat officer.

Lt. Balwan Singh's unit after a victory

Lieutenant Singh's father retired from the Jat regiment in 1973 and his elder brother is an officer with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). "In our village, Jhajjar in Haryana, a career in the forces is the first preference of youngsters. It is a way of life for us," he said.

Lieutenant Singh got married two years after the Kargil conflict and laughs that his MVC status helped his in-laws choose him. Blessed with a six-year-old son, Dev, and a toddler daughter, today Lieutenant Singh is a happy man. "I like reading magazines and newspapers but due to my wife I have started taking an active interest in gardening as well," said the officer, who never misses to catch up on new movies and songs.

Though soldiers win wars, they are deeply hurt when they lose their buddies and Lieutenant Singh is no different. "I was happy to be alive but I lost so many friends. Gradually the feeling sinks in and you realize the true essence of a war you have to lose people to protect the country," said Lieutenant Singh.