Pilot Officer Alex Puthenveede Mammen has been serving as a technical Engineering officer with a fighter Squadron. When the present hostilities started with Pakistan, this officer was faced with a difficult task of maintaining serviceability of the aircraft of his Squadron to the maximum, in spite of shortage of technical manpower, ground equipment and spare parts. Plt Offr Mammen worked many long hours during the critical period and ensured maximum serviceability. This young officer with his zeal, determination and single-minded devotion to duty was a source of inspiration to all the personnel working under him. But for his efforts, the heavy commitment that the Squadron had to face would not have been possible.