‘Full service’: Only man to serve all three armed forces turns 100

Chandigarh, Dec 11 : Col Prithipal Singh Gill (retd), the only officer who served in the country’s all three armed forces, turned 100 on Friday. His wife, Preminder Kaur, is 93 years old.
Colonel Gill, who lives in the city, started his military career in the pre-World War II era as a pilot in the Royal Indian Air Force.
He then sailed the high seas with the Indian Navy and later was a gunner (artillery officer) in the Indian Army.
Serving during World War II and the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Gill was a Sector Commander with the Assam Rifles in Manipur when he retired.
Greeting the veteran, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, also an ex-serviceman, tweeted: “Congratulate Col Prithipal Singh Gill who turns 100 today.
“He bears the unique distinction of having served in all the three Armed Forces. Sir, wish you many more years of good health and may you continue to always inspire all of us.”