Commodore Babru Bhan Yadav was born on September 14, 1928 in village Bharawas, Rewari district, Haryana. His father, late Major Bhagwan Singh Yadav M. B. E., had taken part in both the World Wars. Interest in adventurous sea-life came naturally to young Babru Bhan. In fact, this Yadav family’s history in joining army, dates back to the Mughal period, relates Colonel M. S. Yadav, his elder brother, and Colonel J. D. S. Yadav, his companion of school days.

Babru Bhan Yadav passed his Intermediate examination from the Banares Hindu University and B Sc from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi in 1947. As a student, he was very fond of swimming. He had not seen the sea until he was 20. On the New Year’s day in 1951, he got his commission in the Navy at the age of 23 years. He underwent his basic naval training in Devonshire in the United Kingdom.

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Leading Seaman Chaman Singh Yadav was born in village Gokulgarh, Rewari district, Haryana, on June 1, 1945. The village is 4 km from Rewari on Rewari-Jhajjar road. His father, Sri Nand Kishore was a farmer with a large family to support. After finishing his primary education in the village school, he studied up to matriculation in B. S. High School, Rewari. He was fond of swimming in school days. He joined the Indian navy on 12th June 1961. Chaman Singh Yadav got the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) award for displaying conspicuous gallantry during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, when he allowed his colleagues to escape and let himself be captured. He was released after liberation of Bangladesh. After retirement from Indian Navy, he joined a private Oil Company in Qatar. He has two daughters.

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Naik Shishpal Singh was born on 26th June, 1920 in village Bamla, Bhiwani district, Haryana. His father’s name was Sh Sheo Lal. He studied up to class 5th in the village school. On June 26, 1940, at the age of 20 he joined the Army in the 2nd Battalion of the Jat Regiment.

1948 India-Pak War: Naik Shishpal Singh was a platoon havildar in 2 Jat during Jammu and Kashmir operations against the Pakistani infiltrators. On 9th April 1948, his platoon was ordered to attack the enemy from a bill picket. He got seriously wounded, but put up a great fight and skillfully led his men unmindful of his own safety. His platoon was successful in their attack but this brave soldier died fighting. For his immense courage, and sense of duty he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) posthumously on 9th April, 1948.

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Brigadier Rai Singh Yadav was born on 17th March, 1925 in village Kosli, Rohtak district, Haryana. His father’s name was Sh Ganpat Singh. He was commissioned in the Indian Army on 10th December, 1950. He was commanding officer of 2 Grenadiers and held several key appointments in Army Headquarters and in Indo-Tibetan Border Force. He served in the Directorate of Military Operations in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and retired as a Brigadier from the Indian Army.

1967 India-China border clash: On 20th August 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Rai Singh Yadav was a commanding  unit at a border outpost at Nathu La. He was ordered to construct a wire fence along the water shed at Nathu La after the first Chinese intrusion at North Shoulder. Against grim enemy resistance, he managed to successfully complete the task. On 7th September 1967, he was ordered to extend the fence from North Shoulder to South Shoulder, the Chinese started firing, bayonets and rifle butts were used and in the scuffle Lt Col Yadav was injured. On 11th September when carrying out the work of strengthening the fence, his unit suddenly came under artillery fire from the Chinese side using mortars and recoilless guns. He ordered his unit to return fire with all available weapons, and personally opened fire with LMG on the Chinese bunker to give his men covering fire to allow them to get back to safety. When his own bunker was damaged he came out in the open, picked up a weapon of an injured soldiers and kept on firing on the Chinese. Later he manned the Browning machine gun when its operator was killed. Just a little while after he was hit in the stomach and collapsed on the spot. While being evacuated, he was again hit in the head by a splinter, yet he continued to give direction to his men to keep on fighting. For his gallantry and able leadership, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) on 11th September, 1967.

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Sepoy Man Singh was born on 12th April, 1926 in Rohtak district, Haryana. His father’s name was Sh. Sampat Singh. Sepoy Man Singh enrolled in the Indian Army ( 1 Para Kumaon Regiment ) on 12th April, 1945. After retirement he settled in village Khera Machhroli, district Rohtak.

1948 India-Pak War: On 25th January 1948, Sepoy Man Singh was in a picket in Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir, when it was very strongly attacked by the enemy who were more than 200 strong. His platoon was holding the front sector of the key defensive position. The enemy approached the picket perimeter covering their advance by heavy firing from their six light machine guns (LMGs) and grenade discharges. Sepoy Man Singh’s platoon had suffered more than 50% casualties and the enemy was about to rush in to capture the picket. Sepoy Man Singh, on his own initiative, came out of his trench and ran forward engaging the Pakistani soldiers by throwing grenades. He managed to destroy two of the enemy LMGs with its accompanying numbers. In this action, this brave soldier lost his life but helped saved the rest of the company and helped in the protection of the Poonch Garrison. For his bravery, devotion to duty and initiative, Sepoy Man Singh was posthumously awarded Maha Vir Chakra on 25th January, 1948

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Major General Swarup Singh Kalaan was born on 16th November, 1912 in village Salhawas, Jhajjar district, Haryana. He was the son of Rai Sahib Sultan Singh, a police officer. Major General Kalaan received his education at Jat High School, Hissar, Anglo Sanskrit High School, Ambala City, Government College, Rohtak and St Stephen College, Delhi. He joined the 319 Jat Regiment as a Y. Cadet and from there rose to the rank of Major General. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) during World War II. He was also awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his courage in the 1965 India-Pakistan War and retired from the Indian Army in 1966.

1965 Indo-Pakistan War: During this war, Major General Swarup Singh Kalaan was in command of the 19 Infantry Division in the Uri-Baramula-Gulmarg Sector. The first report of Pakistani infiltration was received in his area. He planned and executed operations to hunt the infiltrators, capture their bases and block routes of infiltration. In order to capture the Hajipur Pass and the subsequent link-up towards Poonch, he himself led his troops against the well entrenched Pakistan Army posts. They managed to throw out the enemy from their well guarded positions. He succeeded in his mission by showing exemplary leadership, determination and courage in the best traditions of the Indian Army. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) on 5th August, 1965.

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Lieutenant General Khem Karan Singh was born on 5th March, 1919 in village Badani, Rohtak district, Haryana. His father’s name was Captain Bharat Singh. He did his schooling at Government High School, Jhajjar and Government High School, Delhi Cantonment. Lt Gen Singh graduated from St. Stephen College, Delhi. He took part in the Hyderabad operations under the command of Gen J N Chaudhary. During the 1962 Indo-China War, he was Commander posted at Tezpur Headquarters. When the Deputy Commissioner of Tezpur fled away, Lt Gen Singh asked the SDM to perform the duty, and helped maintain the morale of the civilians. In the 1965 Indo-Pak War he was a Brigadier commanding an Armoured Brigade in the Sialkot Sector and was awarded the MVC for his gallantry. He was promoted to the rank of Lt General during the 1971 Indo-Pak War and appointed General Officer Commanding I Corps. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1971. After 32 years of meritorious service he retired from the Indian Army to his farm in village Amarpur, Tehsil Palwal, Faridabad. He now takes a great interest in agriculture.

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Havildar Fateh Singh was born on 24th Feb, 1920 in village Karsola, Jind district, Haryana. He was the son of Chaudhary Bharat Singh, a Jat farmer. Havildar Fateh Singh could not get education because there were no schools in his village at that time. Against his father’s wishes, he joined the Jat Regiment of the Indian Army on 3rd June, 1939. During World War II he served in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Middle East, Cairo, Java, Sumatra, Burma and Singapore. On his return to India, his battalion, 3 Jat was posted in Jammu & Kashmir. After the 1948 war, Havildar Fateh Singh was given the Hony, rank of Captain for his bravery. He retired from the Army on 3rd June, 1967 and went back to his native village.

1948 India-Pakistan War: On the night of 13/14 September 1948, an attack was launched by 3 Jat on the Chabutra feature in Zozila Pass area of Jammu & Kashmir. Havildar Fateh Singh was in charge of a platoon of the leading company. The platoon while moving in to attack came under heavy automatic fire from an enemy browning gun. The platoon suffered casualties in both dead and wounded, and Havildar Singh succeeded in leading his platoon to a relatively safer position. But the leading and the rear companies were now pinned down and even the slightest movement resulted in heavy fire. At 1500 hours his Commanding Officer ordered Havildar Fateh Singh to move down to the flat spur to arrange the collection of the wounded and the weapons of the dead. Havildar Singh moved out without hesitation and was hit by a bullet from the enemy browning. He was given up as dead by the rest of his men. But half an hour later, he moved again only to be hit by another bullet in the arm. He lay still and made another bold attempt at 18.30 hours and this time succeeded in reaching the lower slopes. He succeeded in gathering four wounded and eight weapons of the dead. At 1915 hours while attempting to return he was attacked by about 15 enemy soldiers. In spite of being wounded, Havildar Singh protected his post and killed three enemy soldiers by throwing grenades. The rest of the enemy then withdrew.

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