On Nov 18, 1962, during the Sino-Indian War, Maj. Shaitan Singh Bhati and 120 Indian soldiers of C. Co. 13th Kumaon BN were tasked with defending a remote outpost near the Chinese border at Rezang La; 16000 ft above sea level.
In the early freezing morning, the beleaguered company was attacked in full force by over 5000 Chinese soldiers.
Completely outnumbered and outgunned, Maj. Singh managed to fend off the initial assaults with accurate fire and defensive tactics, encouraging his men to hold the line. After hours of fighting, the company was reduced to only 20 survivors, who were now out of ammo and completely surrounded. Still, despite the odds, Maj. Singh led them in a charge and fought the enemy in hand to hand combat.
Maj. Singh was severly wounded in the stomach my an MG round. One of his soldiers managed to drag him to a nearby boulder, where the Major ordered him to leave him there and save himself.
Maj. Singh's frozen body was recovered months later, behind the same boulder, still holding on to his weapon.
Out of the 120 in the original company, only 7 survived. The Chinese losses ranged at over 1300. Despite the position being lost to the enemy, Maj. Singh would posthumously receive India's highest award for bravery, the Param Vir Chakra.
Out of the 21 recipients who earned that medal, only 7 lived to wear it.
The photo on the right was taken during the recovery efforts which shows the bodies of 2 Indian soldiers who died fighting beside each other.
#reality #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #hardfucks