There are things that are hard to describe—you have to experience them for yourself. And that’s exactly what our journey with the veterans of the Tango 23 observation post was like —a return visit to the very spot where, on August 5, 1995, their friends and comrades-in-arms, Sergeant Petr Valeš and Staff Sergeant Luděk Zeman, were killed during the Croatian offensive.
Observation post Tango 23 was part of a long line of observation and control posts of the UN mission UNCRO between hostile Croatia and the Republic of Serbian Krajina. In 1995, following a relatively long period of calm, Croatia launched Operation Bijesak (Lightning) in May and Operation Oluja (Storm) in August, which drove the Serbs out of Western Slavonia and dismantled the Republic of Serbian Krajina, from which all Serbian residents were expelled. During Operation Oluja, a mortar shell struck an observation post, killing both of our soldiers and wounding three others.
One of the goals of the trip was to personally present Repetitor knives engraved with their names and ranks to the soldiers who had served at that observation post. This took place on Saturday, May 6, during a ceremonial gathering at the memorial plaque that former UNCRO mission soldiers had placed directly at the site of the tragedy.
The purpose of placing this plaque and holding the entire ceremony was to honor the fallen soldiers. Nevertheless, Repetitor Hill should not become a tourist destination for military history enthusiasts. The breathtaking views, beautiful natural surroundings, and minimal number of tourists might, of course, make it tempting. But even nearly 30 years after the front line passed through, the area is still not safe. In the bushes and among the rocks near the path, invisible killers—landmines—still lurk, all of them functional and hidden in the ground. If anyone still wishes to venture there, it is essential to hire an experienced local guide and, under no circumstances, to stray from the well-trodden or well-traveled paths.
You can safely pay your respects to the heroes—perhaps on your way to the sea or to the nearby Plitvice Lakes—at the official memorial, located at the foot of Repetitor Hill along the road from Korenica to Lički Osik.
Such an occasion naturally stirs up emotions that blend the joy of the reunion with sadness and memories. It’s not easy to describe everything in just a few lines, which is why we’re preparing a documentary film and an exhibition about the entire expedition and the soldiers’ story, which we’ll present to you before the summer vacation.
The Repetitor knife is part of the War Veteran Project, which commemorates our army’s overseas missions; for every knife sold, Mikov donates 300 Kč to the Military Solidarity Fund. In addition to the Repetitor knife, the Storm knife is also available for purchase.