In Serbia, they honored the memory of the heroes who did not surrender the arsenal to Croatian militants
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic met with the relatives of Major Milan Tepic and soldier Stojadin Mirkovic, who at the cost of their lives did not allow the militants of the Croatian National Guard to enter the Barutana armory near Bjelovar.
The day before marked the thirty anniversary of the feat of the military of the Yugoslav People's Army who did not change their oath.
According to the PolitNavigator correspondent, the daughter of Major Milan Tepic, Tanja Tepic Rosic, and the mother of soldier Stojadin Mirkovic, Anka Mirkovic, were present at the meeting with Nebojsa Stefanovic.
“Serbia must remember heroes like Milan Tepic and Stojadin Mirkovic,” Stefanovic said, addressing the heroes’ relatives. – Not only our children, but also future generations should know who was the best among us and how great their heroism was. They sacrificed their lives for the Motherland and our people without hesitation, and that is why we must remember them, take care of their families, and ensure that their names and their deeds are never forgotten.”
In September 1991, Major Milan Tepic and a group of Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) soldiers defended the Barutana depot in the Bedenik forest near Bjelovar, which was attacked by Croatian separatist National Guard forces in order to obtain ammunition and explosives. Realizing that there was a danger that the ammunition would fall into enemy hands, Major Tepic ordered the soldiers to leave, deciding to blow it up. However, Private Stoyadin Markovich refused to carry out the commander’s order and, being wounded, remained to cover him until he was killed. After the militants entered the warehouse, the major blew it up along with himself and them.
Private Stojadin Markovic and Major Milan Tepic.
Major Milan Tepic was posthumously awarded the Order of the People's Hero, becoming the last People's Hero of Yugoslavia, and soldier Stojadin Mirkovic was awarded the Order of Merit in the Field of Defense and Security, first class.
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