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Yogendra Singh Yadav was born on 10 May 1980 in Aurangabad Ahir village in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. His father Karan Singh Yadav served in the Kumaon Regiment, participating in the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971. He joined the Indian Army at the very young age of 16 years and 5 months. He was part of ‘Ghatak’, a commando platoon with 18 Grenadiers.
Yogendra Yadav became the youngest soldier who received this highest gallantry honor of India.
It was only a few years since Yogendra Singh Yadav joined the army that the Kargil war broke out on the border. India was once again attacked in 1999 by Pakistan. During this war, Yogendra Singh Yadav was assigned the task of capturing the three most important bunkers of Tiger Hill. The plan was to climb from that part of Tiger Hill at an altitude of 18,000 feet, from where the enemy could not even imagine. This climb was not easy but the Indian soldiers had to move forward. Grenadier Yogendra took the lead, their main task was to establish a sequence of ropes for the rear units. The mission began on the night of July 3, 1999. As they had reached the target that 70 Pakistanis attacked them. Most of the comrades were martyred, even Yogendra had also received three bullets in the attack. But despite this, he kept on moving forward. Saving himself from enemy firing, he first attacked some Pakistanis with a grenade at the bunker. After this, he decided to attack the second bunker, from where four enemies were firing bullets at the Indian soldiers who were following him. He jumped into the bunker and then single-handedly killed the four. As his companions came closer, they saw that Yogendra Yadav had a broken arm and was hit with about 15 bullets. But even after this, Grenadier Yadav challenged the comrades to attack the third bunker. The Grenadier conquered the last bunker by tying his broken arm with a belt.
In the end, the platoon was successful in capturing Tiger Hill, and Yogendra Singh Yadav had a great contribution to this. He had lost a lot of blood in this fight, his companions admitted him to the hospital as soon as possible.
The most interesting thing was that, for this act of bravery, it was announced that he would be given Param Vir Chakra posthumously, but it was soon discovered that he was in an improving condition in the hospital and is alive.
So in this way, Yogendra Yadav became the youngest soldier who received this highest gallantry honor of India.
