PANJIM: In recalling the battle for Tiger Hill, on the 21th anniversary of the Kargil ‘war’, the Lieutenant Commondor from Goa Viriato says that to be part of Operation Vijay was a ” call for which he had waited fo long”
It was in mid May 1999 that Captain Viriato had just gone as a young Lieutenant on a new posting to Kochi, as the Air Engineering Officer of INAS 550, the premier Flying Squadron of the Indian Navy and the cradle of all aviators.
As days went by and war clouds were hovering all over, and coffins of martyrs arriving daily, he knew that it was just a matter of time before the calling came, something that every soldier waits anxiously during his/her service.
“One fine day, as we wound up and I was about to call it a day, my Squadron Commander, Capt. Gopakumar sent for me. The sailor who came to call me said, “Squadron Commander jaldi bula raha hain, lagta hain message aa gaya”. As I rushed across the hangar, I saw Gopa Sir, as we fondly and respectfully called him, coming across to my office, and called out, “Ferdie, that’s what they called me in the squadron (short form for Fernandes), we have to leave for “Ops Vijay”, the Air Force guys are coming to pick us up early morning”. Captain Viriato said speaking to goemkarponn.com
The just about 12 hours to get the aircraft and men ready, including documents, support equipment, machinery, guns, gun pods, ammunition, etc, etc ..and no mobiles to inform my wife that the call for which I had waited for long had finally come.
“We took off early morning and headed to a Forward Operating Base (FOB), from where we were supposed to operate our aircraft, providing intelligence and advance info.” He recalled
He said “We had many memorable and anxious moments that will drive my adrenaline till I’m alive. We remained there till the peace agreement as signed.”
Captain recalled that the entire team had started pull back around 30 July 1999 after an all clear from Delhi.
“We watched the hindi movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam the night before we left the place. I was awarded the Vijay medal and subsequently the Vijay Star medal for the operation.” He added