Uday Singh Taunque

Sergeant Uday Singh (born 1982–died 2003) was the first U.S. Army soldier of Indian descent to die during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born in a Punjabi Sikh family. His death in Iraq was widely reported in the Indian and American media.

Early life
Sergeant Uday Singh was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India on April 23, 1982. He was born to a distinguished military family. His grandfather, Wing Commander Kartar Singh Taunque, was the first member of Indian Air Force to win a gallantry award for operations in Waziristan during World War II. He lived with his parents at various military stations until 1994. In 1994, he moved to his grandparents' home in Chandigarh.

Education
In Chandigarh, he enrolled in St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh. In 1995, Singh's parents and sister also moved to Chandigarh. Singh, completing school in Chandigarh in June 2000, left for the U.S. with his father and sister.

Service in the U.S. Army
Singh enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 28, 2000 and following completion of initial training at Fort Knox was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, based at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Singh's unit was deployed to Iraq in September 2003. On, December 1, 2003, Singh was serving as the gunner in the lead Humvee of his platoon while on reconnaissance mission in Habbaniyah. The platoon took fire and Singh returned fire, pinning the insurgents down until reinforcements arrived. Sergeant Singh was shot in the head during the engagement and died while en route to the hospital. The mission led to the capture of a number of insurgents and large cache of weapons.

For his actions that day Uday received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Memorials

 * Singh's ashes are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia (near Washington D.C.) Section 60 Gravesite No 8122.
 * A memorial for perpetuating his memory is established and will be completed shortly at his home in Chandigarh (1550, Sec 18-D).


 * His school St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh paid homage to Sergeant Singh's bravery and sacrifice. The Annual School Magazine of 2004 was dedicated in his memory.


 * A memorial has also been constructed in Singh's memory at his school St. Stephen's School, Chandigarh.


 * Illinois General Assembly also paid homage to Sergeant Singh's bravery and sacrific by passing a Senate Resolution.