*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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More from @love_for_nation

13 Jun
NAIK DIGENDRA SINGH
MVC, SM
2 RAJ RIF

He was posted in Sri Lanka during Op Pawan as a personal bodyguard of an Indian General. Once he was sitting in an open jeep, an LTTE terrorist threw a grenade at the jeep. He caught it and threw it back to the terrorist. The terrorist died.
Due to the grenade explosion his head was blown off into pieces. After this, he was nick-named ‘Cobra’ by his colleagues.

Later in the same Operation, he was assigned to rescue 36 Indian soldiers captured by LTTE. He sailed the river, saved soldiers and killed 39 militants.
Naik Digendra Kumar was awarded Sena Medal in 1993 for his anti-terrorist operations in the Kupwara area of Jammu-Kashmir.
In 1994, his services were appreciated for recapturing the Hazratbal Shrine from terrorists.
Read 9 tweets
13 Jun
“You should feel proud of me. I am contributing something for the nation in this uniform I have worn. Being a company commander at this time is the greatest experience one can have.”
Commissioned on 13 June 1992 into 2 RAJ RIF, and sacrificed his life to Nation on 13 June 1999.
MAJOR VIVEK GUPTA
MVC (P)
2 RAJ RIF

'Vicky' was born on 2nd Jan 1972 in Dehradun to Lt Col BRS Gupta (R).
He got inspiration to join Army from his father, and was commissioned in 1992
Major Vivek got married to an Army Officer, Capt Rajshree Bisht in 1997.
He was also awarded COAS Commendation for killing Pak terrorist in hand-to-hand combat.
Recognizing his outstanding skills he was soon sent to Infantry School, Mhow, as a weapon instructor.

During Kargil War in 1999, he played significant role in capturing of Tololing Top.
Read 7 tweets

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