Colonel Kochappan Thomas (Retd) was commissioned into 5 RAJPUT on 23 April 1969 and soon opted to join 7 PARA. As a Captain, he served in Bangladesh during Op Cactus Lilly (1971). Later, as a Lt Colonel, he commanded 7 PARA (1987–89) and took part in Op Cactus (Maldives). He was Commander, 10 Control HQ (IPKF) in Sri Lanka (1989–90), earning the Southern Command Commendation Card. He also commanded the DSC Centre and was Dy Commander, 108 Mtn Bde. An ace paratrooper, skydiver, and athlete, he parachuted again at Agra in 2021, symbolizing: “Once a Rajput, always a Rajput.”