Havildar Abdul Hamid

During the Battle of Asal Uttar in September 1965, Pakistani forces launched a massive armoured thrust with their US-supplied Patton tanks — then considered among the world's best. Havildar Abdul Hamid of the 4th Battalion Grenadiers manoeuvred his jeep-mounted RCL gun with extraordinary daring, picking off Patton after Patton at close range. In three sorties over two days, he destroyed eight tanks. On 10 September he was mortally wounded while engaging yet another tank. His action inspired his entire unit, and Asal Uttar became known as 'Patton Nagar' for the graveyard of Pakistani armour left behind. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously.