*A MUST READ THREAD*
Colonel Ivan Joseph Crasto (R)
Kirti Chakra
1 PARA SF
His roots were from Goa, but he spent his childhood in Mt Abu, Rajasthan. He would have become a lawyer if his father, a Naval Officer hadn’t coerced him to follow his elder brother into NDA.
He was commissioned into 1 PARA (SF) on 10th June 1978. Besides topping the Commando course, he was the best YO (Young Officer) with best grades in all professional courses.
As a combat free-faller, he also participated in National Sky-Diving Championship.
In 1990, he served as an Instructor in Tanzania Military Academy
and toured Africa, Europe, Canada and the USA.
After graduating from the Defence Services Staff College, he spent three years at the Army headquarters in the Military Operations Directorate.
October 1992 - Timber Trail Rescue
It is an mountain resort in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh which is 35 Kms from Chandigarh.
Then, the resort's main attraction was cable car.
On 13th Oct 1992, the 'B' cable car carrying 10 passengers hung perilously as it's cable broke down.
It's wheels start emitting fumes and fire and the passengers including a 4 yr old boy got frightened.
The 10 tourists were suspended to life and death over the height of 1,300 ft.
At 6 p.m., the hotel management approached the army brigade at Kasauli, 30 km away, for help.
Then Major Crasto, had just returned from Goa after attending his mother's funeral.
He along with some daredevils of IAF,
Gp Capt (later Chieft of Air Staff)
Fali Homi Major, Wg Cdr Subash Chander, Flt Lt (later Gp Capt) P Upadhay reached the site in a M-17 chopper.
On next day, it was a bad weather but somehow, the chopper reached the site.
The chopper was unable to go close to the cable cars due to electricity wires.
Then Maj Crasto made a daredevil decision. He jumped from the chopper on the top of wildly slaying cable car.
He opened the rooftop of cable car and slid into it.
Then he hauled load of food and essentials. He spent the night in it, comforting the terrified passengers.
5 passengers were rescued by Cheetah and Chetak helicopters earlier. The rest was rescued by Maj Crasto step by step.
"I have two kids at home and the fact that I am staying on means there is nothing to worry,” he comforted and rescued them.
Maj Crasto was awarded the Kirti Chakra, Gp Capt F.H. Major & Wg Cdr Subash of 152 HU, the Shaurya Chakra and Ft Lt P Upadhyay, the Vayu Sena Medal.
Maj Crasto later became CO of 21 PARA SF.
After serving for over 2 decades, he retired.
He initially moved to Goa where he wanted his children to grow up.
And later he moved to Sydney, Australia where he is teaching Maths at Western Sydney High School.
#KnowYourHeroes
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