Milan Tepic

Major Milan Tepic (1957-1991), the last decorated hero of the Yugoslav National Army and the first hero of Republika Srpska. Major Tepić died heroically on 29 September 1991, when he was forced to withdraw his troops (conscripted soldiers) to the ammunition warehouse in the village Bedenik near Bjelovar and organize the defense from the attack of the Croatian forces. Realizing that the defense is impossible, and not wanting to let the weapons from the barracks end up in the hands of Croatian forces, Tepić ordered his soldiers to retreat to a safe distance from the base. Once the soldiers were far enough, and the Croatian army came near, Major Tepić sacrificed his life by triggering 170 tons of explosives stored within the warehouse. Soldier Stojadin Mirković, who disobeyed the order to withdraw and stayed with Major Tepić, also lost his life on that occasion. Major Milan Tepić was proclaimed a national hero, and in his honor the Army of the Republic of Srpska issued a medal for his contribution during the war. Milan Tepić is remembered for a sentence he once said: "Once people give their word, they stick to it or they break it. I gave my word that I will defend this country in its hardest times." Memory eternal!
 www.facebook.com/Meet.the.Serbs/photos/pb.53552959967.-2207520000.1505349493./10156758471139968/?type=3