NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MARCH 15
Army veterans of Short Service Commission (SS-8) batch have celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their Commission in OTA Chennai on Saturday.
Exactly 50 years ago, on March 15, 1970, a bunch of 400 plus young officers were commissioned into various services of the Indian Army and dispatched to their respective unit locations in far-flung areas.
The courage and leadership qualities of these officers of SS-8 were put on anvil just year and half later when they led the troops into 1971 war against Pakistan on both the eastern and western front.
They played a laudable role in forcing Pakistan into a crushing defeat. Thirteen of these young officers made supreme sacrifice by laying down their lives in the operation. The country fully honoured their contribution and awarded many of them with various gallantry awards.
The first Mahavir Chakra (MVC) of 1971 war was conferred upon Second Lieutenant Samsher Singh Samra of 8 Guards posthumously. The batch of officers of SS-8 achieved the distinction of being conferred with highest number of decorations accorded to a single course passing out of OTA.
The officers of SS-8 took active part in almost all major military operations and earned honours and awards till they hung up their uniforms.
In fact some of the officers of SS-8 displayed their exemplary valour and earned both war time and peace time gallantry awards like Shaurya Chakra, Kirti Chakra etc.
As per the available figures, the course mates count as a whole MVC-1, VRC-10, SM-12 (War Time) and PVSM-1, Kirti Chakra-1, Shaurya Chakra-1, AVSM-13, VSM-3 and PPMG-1 (Peace time).
It would be an act of impertinence if we don’t remember those heroes who equally played their bit but went unnoticed, unrecognized and remained unsung heroes.
Five officers attained the rank of General (02 Lt Gens and 03 Major Gens) in addition to more than 24 Brigadiers. SS-8 batch has distinguished itself on many platforms and finds a well-recognised place among other batches.
Approximately 200 veterans with their lady wives have come from all corners of the nation to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their commission here in OTA Chennai, a release from Defence PRO said.
