GOANS IN INDIA'S DEFENCE SERVICE. By Valmiki Faleiro.

Goans in India's Defence Services



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VALMIKI FALEIRO delves deeper into Goa’s contribution to the officer ranks of the

three wings of India’s defence services.

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Goans, and Goan Catholics in particular, always had this fascination for adventure.

Right from the General in a Deccani army in the 17th century, to Manuel Antonio de

Souza (1835-1904), of Mapusa, who created and reigned over his own country with

an army of 30,000 men, by the right bank of the Zambezi, in far away Mozambique!

Down to dozens of officers in the armed forces of Portugal, Britain and any nation of

domicile, even … hold your breath … now Australia-settled Wg Cdr Zuzarte of the

Pakistan Air Force!




The number of Goans in independent India’s defence services is a matter of pride.

The tiny community produced one Chief and two Vice Chiefs of Army Staff, one Vice

Chief of Naval Staff and one Chief of Air Staff. And at least 42 Generals (from

three-to one-star), one VAdm, one RAdm and four Commodores, three Air Marshals, two

Vice Marshals and five Air Commodores – and a legion of other officer ranks in the

three services.




The Chief of Army Staff, as all know, is Gen Sunith F Rodrigues of Curtorim. The

Vice Chiefs are Lt Gen Kevin L D'Souza of Mapusa and Lt Gen Stanley L Menezes of

Sangolda. The Vice Chief of Naval Staff is Vice Adm John C DeSilva of Navelim. The

Chief of Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Hrishikesh Shamrao Moolgavkar of Mulgao-

Bicholim. A bit on him:




One of the earliest IAF Goans (slightly junior to AVM Erlic Pinto), he was among the

first four Indian IAF officers to earn a MVrC for bravery in J&K ops (and one of only

three IAF Goans to be so decorated, the others being Gp Capt Sidney Noronha and

Gr Capt Allan D’Costa.) A versatile fighter pilot, he flew 56 types of aircraft

including helicopters, from pre WW-II vintage to “planes without propellers” (jets)

like Gnats and MiGs. He was the first Indian to fly faster than sound (in a Mystere-

II.) Awarded the US Congress’ Legion of Merit at the Pentagon in 1978.




Goa missed counting three more Chiefs of Staff, one each of the Army, Navy and Air

Force. Maj Gen Eustace W Fernandes stood, as AVM Erlic W Pinto did in the IAF, a

chance for the top job. He died in 1994, like AVM Pinto in 1963, together with

several senior army officers. He was inspecting weapons and explosives seized from

J&K terrorists when the dump exploded. Both AVM Pinto and Maj Gen Fernandes died in

J&K – and both, rather uncannily, shared the same initials, EW! (Maj Gen Fernandes’

younger brother, Air Cmde Kevin Fernandes was, creepily again, killed in a helicopter

crash in the 1950s – in J&K!) The appointment of then RAdm John C DeSilva to

Chief of Naval Staff was a near miss.




Several times since 1947, Goans held operational commands in the three services.

Lt Gen Walter AG Pinto from Santa Cruz-Calapur was GOC-in-C, Central Command,

Lucknow. Vice Adm John DeSilva commanded the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy.

Air Marshal Terence J de Sa from Sangolda was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,

Southern Air Command, like AVM Erlic Pinto, AOC-in-C, Western Air Command

before. Lt Gen Francis T Dias from Velcao was Chief of Staff, Southern Command.




Or get the import from another angle. In the Indo-Pak 1965 war, three vital High

Altitude Passes were under Lt Gen Stanley L Menezes in Ladakh, Maj Gen Sidney

Pinto at Jelep La and Maj Gen Eustace F D'Souza at Natu La. Lt Gen Eric A Vaz

commanded an operational Brigade in Punjab.




During the 1971 war, Goans commanded three operational Infantry Divisions: Lt Gen

Walter AG Pinto in Punjab, Maj Gen Benjamin F Gonsalves in Bangladesh and Maj

Gen Eustace D’Souza in the Kashmir valley. (Lt Gen Stanley Menezes was a leading

light in the 1971 ops., while Maj Gen Antonio C da Silva commanded the Artillery

Regiment that thrust on Dacca.) Yes, the Army part of the 1971 war – on all three

fronts – was led by Goans!




Goans held key positions in strategy, in all three services, at various points of

time. Among the latest instances was Gp Capt Sunil J Nanodkar, Director-Ops

(Offensive/Tactical) at Air HQ in 2003



Brig Joseph V Pinto, a telecom expert, oversaw the transition to computer-based

telecom in all the three services in the 1970s. Lt Cdr John E Gomes was Asst

Director-Ops at Naval HQ. Sqn Ldr Raul Silva Rodrigues was Asst Director-Ops at

Air HQ.




Lt Gen Walter AG Pinto, known as “The Legend” after the 1971 war, commanded the

famous Battle of Basantar, the last in that war, inside (West) Pakistan. His tactics

were soon part of the curriculum for army commanders. He is writing a book on the

story of Basantar.




Cmde Gilbert Menezes from Raia and Lt Joseph DeSilva from Navelim (brother of

VAdm DeSilva, who left service early) were among the Navy’s pioneer submariners.

They were trained in Russia in 1967. Cmde Menezes commanded the foxtrot class

submarine Kalvari, also the frigate Taragiri, and retired as Director of Submarine

Operations at Naval HQ.




Air Cmde Walter J Fernandes, com. 1943 in the Flying Br, was a no-nonsense Flying

Instructor, CO, Systems Analyst (possibly the first in the IAF), who made a name for

himself with his strength of character, formidable personality, quick logical

thinking,booming voice, and clear English diction – that he was nicknamed “Bull

Fernandes!”




Air Cmde Sandesh P Wagle, com. 1984, himself a distinguished attack heli pilot,

brought up his 104-HU squadron to exacting standards to fly one of the most lethal

helicopters in the world, declared the “Best Combat Helicopter Squadron of the IAF”

– thanks to his in-house innovations and leadership. Amongst the youngest (at 43)

Air Commodores in IAF. Originally from Margao (his ancestral house was behind the

Grace Church, last occupied by Adv. Kantak, where a high-rise stands today.)




Gp Capt Emanuel R Fernandes (“Fighter Fernandes”) wrote the virtual IAF bible on

maneuvering Gnats in dogfights. Commanding a SQN at Adampur-Punjab in the

1965 war, he acquitted himself well despite being allotted just 7 or 8 Mystere-IV

aircraft as against the normal 16 aircraft of a full-fledged fighter squadron.




Lt Col Amrut R Nageshkar from Nagueshi, com. 1961 in the RVC, is the only Goan

army veterinary surgeon I have come across. He served 31 years when the highest

achievable rank was Brigadier (later raised to Lt Gen.) He took part in 1965 and 1971

wars, and on retirement, worked 10 years at Mumbai’s SPCA hospital, Asia’s largest.

Then returned to Goa and passed away in 2005.




Lt Col John (“Jack”) Desmond Dias successfully led an Army expedition to Mt.

Everest – with his team’s medical officer, Col Manuel Soares.




Cdr Sharad V Varik from Canacona, a Masters in Naval Architecture, helped design

and innovate the craft in the Navy.




Wg Cdr Shreepad M Prabhudesai from Margao, com. 4/4/55, was perhaps the

earliest Goan IAF engineers on the radar. He took early retirement some years after

the 1971 war, during which he served in a frontier area near Wagah.




Sqn Ldr Owen J D'Sena from Verna was a decorated fighter pilot, an expert on flight

trials of new aircraft, esp. the Sukhoi-7 – in which he died in a tech failure

crash, on his wife Brenda’s birthday.




Among the earliest (British-time) Goan females to join the army was Maj Magdalene

T D’Souza from Vaddem-Bardez. She was with IAMC (later Army Medical Corps.)

Many others followed her example, like Maj Rose Fonseca from Assagao, cousin-

sister of the current Goa Archbishop.




The large number of Goan officers in India’s armed forces should hardly surprise.

We have seen how the spirit of adventure was ingrained in the Goan. Martial

traditions continued from father to son and to his sons. More than one sibling opted

for the services in a given generation. Then there were teachers and schools that

fostered love for defence of the nation’s honour.




A case in point is the hoary Jesuit institution of Bandra-Mumbai, St. Stanislaus High

School. It groomed several Goan lads who joined the defence services. From Lt Gen

Francis T Dias, Air Marshal Terrence J D’Sa, Maj Gen Eustace F D'Souza, Brig

Ransom F Lobo, Wg Cdr Oscelyn Faria, Maj Leon G Fonseca, among others.




A sharper case is four batch mates from that school who joined the IAF, all fighter

pilots, all heroes in the 1971 war: Flt Lt Lawrence F Pereira was martyred in FAC

strafing, Wg Cdr David J de Figueiredo saw the fiercest fighting on all three fronts

and safely brought back his severely damaged Hunter to base, Wg Cdr Sunith F

Soares helped draw the first Pakistani blood before the actual start of the Dec-1971

hostilities, and Gp Capt Ashley M Rodrigues still carries part of an ack-ack bullet

in his left leg since Dec-1971!




Sadly, there’s little awareness on service life in Goa today. Few know commissioned

officers start on a salary of Rs.35,000/month, forget the myriad perks. Motivated kids

are discouraged by parents – who are oblivious of the fact that life is riskier on

Goa’s roads than in the forces. Fortunately, Goa has dozens of Retd defence

officers, ready and willing to motivate youth. Hope my friend, Maj Venugopal Nair,

Secretary of the Goa Rajya Sainik Board will utilise their honorary services. But

please start with Parents-Teachers at PTA meets, before trying to reach the

students! The last knownGoan to join the services is Pilot Offr Rahul Verenkar, com.

2010, from Ponda.




Let’s move over for a quick glance at Goa’s Hall of Fame. Names are listed by rank

alphabetically (save in IAF, where they are by rank and seniority.) A word of

caution:this list is far from complete – but I’m putting it out in the hope that

knowledgeablereaders will fill me in with names not appearing below:




Army





GENERAL: Sunith F Rodrigues.




LT. GENERAL: Christopher A Barretto, Eric A Vaz, Francis T Dias, Kevin L D'Souza,

Stanley L Menezes, SJ Menezes and Walter AG Pinto.




MAJ. GENERAL: Antonio C da Silva, Benjamin F Gonsalves, Eustace D'Souza,

Eustace W Fernandez, Ian Cardoso, Ivan D’Cunha, Sidney Pinto and (?) Raikar.




BRIGADIER (26 one-star Generals): Alfredo IG Monteiro, Anthony RM Rebello,

Arnold Rodrigues, Ashley Gomes, Christopher E Fernandes, Donald Viegas, Edward

D’Sa, Edward Rodrigues, Eustace da Costa, F Reginald Campos, Frederick G Rose,

George F D’Souza, George W Pinto, Gokuldas R Bhangui, Ian D'Costa, Joseph V

Pinto, Kevin B Mendonca, Leo S Vaz, Michael PS Mendonca, Nevis H Braganza,

Noel Barretto, Ransom F Lobo, Rui S Lobo, Stephen P Gracias, Terence Barretto

and Wilfred Lobo.




COLONEL (34): Anthony L Sequeira, Apolinario XRP Ferrao, Carlos IP Gracias, Clifton

Marquis, Edwin D’Souza, Emidio de Sa, Gerard Lobo, Herman J Fernandes, Irwin Extross,

Joseph T Gomes, John JJ Faleiro, Joseph R Falleiro, Kevin DeSouza, MB Sawardekar, MAJ

Fernandez, Manuel Soares, Mario J DSouza, Melville de Souza, Mervyn C Saldanha, Neil

Martins, Neville Dias, Neville H Gracias, Noel D’Lima, G Oscar Rebelo, Ryan Lobo,

Steven J Gracias, Sumer D'Cunha, Sunith A Cardozo, Teotonio Fernandes, Winston

DeSouza, Xavier Pereira, (?) Colaco, (?) Saldanha and B (?)




(In addition, there are 39 Lt Colonels, 22 Majors, 10 Captains, 3 Lieutenants and 3

others whose ranks are not known.)




Navy



ADMIRAL: None.




VICE ADMIRAL: John C de Silva.




REAR ADMIRAL: DRF Pinto (Faust Pinto do Rosario).




COMMODORE: Emile da Costa-Joshi, Gilbert Menezes, Henry Menezes and

John Carneiro.




CAPTAIN: Aniceto Pereira, Edwin Pinto and Socrates Furtado.




(In addition, there are 14 Commanders, 6 Lt Cdrs, 4 Lieutenants and 3 others whose

ranks are not known.)



Air Force (by Rank & Seniority)



AIR CHIEF MARSHAL: Hrishikesh S Moolgavkar.




AIR MARSHAL: Terence J de Sa, Dinanath R Nadkarni and Gordon P D'Souza.




AIR VICE MARSHAL: Erlic W Pinto and Loretto P Pereira.




AIR COMMODORE: Walter J Fernandes, Angelo R Lobo, Kevin Fernandes and

Sandesh P Wagle. Seniority of Giles Gomez not known.




GROUP CAPTAIN (19): Sidney B Noronha, Emanuel R Fernandes, Allan A D'Costa,

Trevor J Fernandes, Norbert J Misquitta, Kevin Braganza, Deryck Fernandes, Ashley

M Rodrigues, Leyland Fernandes, Peter D’Souza, Christopher Fernandes, Conrad A

Dalton, Sunil J Nanodkar and Tony D’Cruz. Seniority of Colville de Souza, EJF

D’Silva, PV Karapurkar, SC Fernandes, Vinita Valerie Gomez not known.




(In addition, there are 32 Wg Cdrs, 23 Sqn Ldrs, 12 Flt Lts, 6 Fg & Pilot Offrs, and

8others whose ranks are not known.



A total of 300 officer ranks, and still counting!




I’ll sign off with the incredible story of Air Cmde Angelo Reginald Lobo. Hailing

from Bodiem-Bardez, the man peers describe as “sweet-natured” flew Packet transport

aircraft as a young Sqn Ldr. Unmarried, he was on his first dance-date with the

pretty Anglo-Indian who’d be his wife, when, after dropping her home on his

motorcycle

near midnight, he was hit by a truck that ran over his leg. Bleeding profusely, he

was found at daybreak, still alive, leg almost severed, hanging by its tendons.




After seven months in hospitals, the IAF, at the instance of then Air Chief Marshal

Subroto Mukherji, shifted him to London. There too, doctors tried their best and

finally decided to amputate his leg. His wife was a woman of immense faith. Gwen

asked the docs to let her take her husband out for a few days before the amputation.

Shetook him to the shrine at Lourdes in France. Despite his wails, she pleaded of

him to dip his hope-less leg in the waters. Then they returned to London.




Preparations began for the amputation. Then something inexplicable happened.

Doctors asked the wife where she had taken their patient. She told them where.

Tissue culture tests, preparatory to the amputation, revealed that body tissue at the

affected part had suddenly begun regenerating – when modern therapies had failed

to induce just that, for months together, in India and the UK!




Sqn Ldr Lobo and Gwen returned to India. He resumed flying, was Commander of

IAF’s Paratroopers Training School, in time promoted to Wg Cdr, Gp Capt, Air Cmde

and was cleared for promotion to AVM, when he decided to quit and join Civil

Defence as its Dy Director General. He was in the thick of flying during the Bhopal

Gas Tragedy. Despite risks of radiation, he flew in to get victims airlifted to

hospitals across India. He died of cancer before the age of superannuation.




This is just one poignant story of the quintessential Goan courage and compassion,

which often went together. There are more. We shall visit some in the concluding part

of this series next Sunday.



(To conclude…)

The author can be contacted at: valmikif@gmail.com

===================================================================

The above article appeared in the HERALD(Goa) edition of May 23, 2010

ON CHURCHILL'S SUPPORT TO NON-GOANS.

Francis Fernandes has left a new comment on your post "CHURCHILL SUPPORTS NON-GOANS TO DESTROY GOA & GOAN...":

Freddy,

Great article as usual, love reading them as they are on the point. AVF must have found another one of his character and I m sure lots of people likes your write-ups so keep it up at least you keep the blood in real Goans sons and daughters in check.

What a disgrace Churchill saying Goans will get a job as watchman in that project shame on you Churchill, give that job to your Son who you have sent to Dubai to learn to fly may be the next smuggling activity will be via AIR. If you want to lower us Goans in front of those outsiders builders start with your family members and than we will see. Churchill you and your family members have many fishing Trawlers can you tell how many Goans are working on it?

It is now become a known fact that our famous Margoa Circuit House is become 10 % brothel and run by a politician daughter. The Carmona project must have been one those passed from circuit house who knows?

Lately on the football front ref Churchill Bros team, press has said that he may even take the team off in reagrds to poor refreeing decisions which went against CB. I feel that MUSLI POWER must be getting out of the sponsorship deal after the Air Hostess fiasco and if they get out who will CB lean on? Raheja Builders must have promissed to sponsor the team if he supports the projest and that is why he is barking.

Some time back one Congress MLA has said that Churchill like to be in limelight and this is one the limelights we see him in what a DISGRACE!!

We Goans need honest politicians to run Goa and not the Crooks who will loot us so elections are approaching, its high time we open a third front of real Goans Sons.

We Goans have to decide our fate and not blame anyone else.

Francis Fernandes.

MANGALORE PLANE CRASH - CONDOLENCE FROM GOAN CULTURAL CENTER, KUWAIT.

CONDOLENCES

The Mangalorean, Goan, Keralite and the entire Indian community in Kuwait, U.A.E. and the Gulf region is in total shock on hearing this morning's tragedy - a disaster of immense proportion in the history of the Indian aviation industry.

Our prayers go to the bereaved families, the aged parents of the passengers who perished in the crash and the innocent infants and children, as well as to the colleagues and friends of those working in the U.A.E..

May the Almighty God rest the souls of the dear departed in peace and give the bereaved families the courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss. Let us also pray for the survivors for their quick recovery as well as those Mangaloreans who have and are assisting in the rescue operations.

With heartfelt sympathies and our deepest condolences.

Carmo Santos & Managing Committee and Members of:
Goan Cultural Centre - Kuwait
goanculturalcentreKuwait@gmail.com
22 May 2010

Helpline numbers for Air India flight IX-812
Mumbai, May 22 (IANSS) Air India has set up the following helpline numbers for queries on its IX-812 Flight that crashed Saturday morning killing at least 158 people.

"To assist us in continuing to help those most affected by this accident, we request that relatives and close friends only contact our following telephone numbers so that communication lines are open to those who need it the most," the airline said in a statement.

Bangalore Helpline: +91-080-66785172 and 080-22273310
Mumbai Helpline: +91-022-2279 6161
Dubai Airport: +00971-4-2165828/29

"Air India is extending all its support to the emergency services and other agencies that are associated with this emergency. A team has been rushed to Mangalore," the airline said. "Air India shall provide all assistance and cooperation to the regulatory authorities that will investigate the accident."
The following is the list of passengers as published by www.mangalorean.com
http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=181213

Mangalore, May 22, 2010
Following is the list of passengers who travelled on the Air India Express plane
that crashed Saturday in Mangalore city.
1. Harshini Poonja
2. Aaron Joel Fernandes
3. Niha Imthiaz
4. Bhaskaran T.V.
5. Komalavally Alinkeel
6. Narayana Kanthav Rao
7. Vani Narayana Rao
8. Vaishnavi Narayana Rao
9. Mohammad Ishaque Rafique Ahmed
10 Hasanabba Abubakkar
11. Hiba Azeena (child)
12. Mushina (child)
13. Haifa Hasha (infant)
14. Joyanrichard Saldanha
15. Ummer Farook Mohammed
16. Shahida Nushrathar
17 Zeshan Abdul Rehman (child)
18. Kannur Zulekha Banu
19. Nazeema Muhammad Ashraf
20. Satyanarayana Ballakuraya
21. Sujatha Rao
22. Fathimamehzan Shafqat
23. Rashaad Shafqatmahmood (infant)
24. Khader Ammangod Mohammed Shafy
25. Suhaib Mohammed Naseer (child)
26. Bibi Sara (child)
27. Nabeeha Mohammed Nasir (child)
28. Mohammad Asraf
29. Maimoona Asraf
30. Ashaz Abdulla (child)
31. Ayesha Afsheen (child)
32. Plaviashakunthala Lobo
33. Venishanikola Lobo
34. Vishalfloid Lobo (child)
35. Abdullah K.M.
36. Rosly Shibu
37. Godwina Thomas (child)
38. Gloria Thomas (child)
39. Bhagali Prabhakar
40. Kammadam Kunhabdulla
41. Shashikanth Punja
42. Manirekha Punja
43. Abdulbarr Damudi (child)
44. Mahesh Shetty
45. Mohamed Naser
46. Anwar Sadiq
47. Hassan Kutty
48. JoelPratap DSouza
49. Arunkumar Shetty
50. Abdul Samad
51. Prasadand Manjrekar
52. Krishnan Koolikunnu
53. Mullachery Balakrishnan
54. Shanthi Olivera
55. Chethana Mukeshkumar
56. Ahmednaushad Abbu
57. Rajan Pulikodan
58. Jayaprakasha Devadiga
59. Jayaram Kotian
60. Chitra Jayaram
61. Rahul Jayaram (child)
62. Prabhavati Karkera
63. Ashitha Bolar
64. Akshay Bolar
65. Suresh Kunder
66. Soman Narayani
67. Pradeep G.K.
68. Kallingalabullah
69. Thalangara Ebrahimkhaleel
70. Naziya Afarin
71. Mohammed Abaanruknuddin (child)
72. MohammedRafi Beliyapura
73. Abdullah Mohammed
74. Ibrahim Saheb
75. Sameena Saheb
76. Issam Ibrahim
77. Rida Ibrahim (child)
78. Perumbalamohammed
79. Shivakumar Nagaraj
80. Meenu Gupta
81. Shetty K.K.
82. Gangadharan Nair
83. Prabathkumar Attavar
84. Sathisha Shetty
85. Irshad Ahmed
86. Neha Parveen
87. Affan Ahmed (infant)
88. Sameerbeerran Moideen
89. Abdunnazir Avinja
90. Riju John
91. Sabrina Nasrinhuq
92. Mahammooda Abdulla Kanyana
93. Althafahmed Moolana
94. Lokeshasadananda Belchada
95. Hameed Pookayam
96. Mayankutty K.P.
97. Vipin Kattoor
98. Kishorekumar Kudpapoojary
99. Chandukutty Nair K.
100. NM Bharatham
101. Abdulazeez Anchikatta
102. Umashan Vijayan
103. Cavin Sequuiera
104. Reshmasanthosh Rai
105. Nalandshaunsantosh Rai (child)
106. Vihasantosh Rai (infant)
107. Vamana Prabhu
108. Ganesh Prabhu
109. Qazi Abdulsalam
110. Qazizulekah Khuddus
111. Jackson Periera
112. Mahammed Ismail
113. Naveen Kumar
114. Sanjaykumar Mahabal
115. Mahendra Kodkany
116. Indumathi Nayak
117. Vijesh Kovval
118. Ramakrishna Nayak
119. Ajesh Mottathil
120. Navid Ibrahim
121. Ignatius DSouza
122. Sukumara Kuzhiyamkottuchal
123. Abdul Basheer KM
124. Mohiddin Farasusman
125. Mahim Mohammedpalli
126. Mohammedashraf KA
127. Mohamed Usman
128. Naveenwalter Fernandes
129. Saritaphilomena Dsouza
130. Ullas Dsilva
131. Mannapadupuashraf Abdul
132. Safdharali Sheik
133. Mahesh Shetty
134. Abdulharish Koppalamhouse
135. Abdul Jebran
136. Parambathkunhi Krishnan
137. Prabhakaran Pachikaran
138. Nekkareibrahim Ismail
139. Melwynkiran Menezes
140. Siddeeque Choorisulaiman
141. Putturismail Abdulla
142. Somashekhar Potyalsrinivasa
143. Lokesh Narayanan
144. Lolitta Dias
145. Lilly Dias
146. Praveena Sundar
147. Hilda Dsouza
148. Pradeep Deepanivas
149. Denis Saldanha
150. Ashton Saldanha (child)
151. Manthur Hassainar
152. Rama Satish
153. Mohammed Basheer
154. Aboobacker Siddeeq
155. Mohammed Usman
156. Shaileshrao Brahmavara
157. Mohammed Ziad
158. Sameena Abdul Karim
159. Zainab Mohammedziad (child)
160. Mohammed Subairzaid (child