DUE TO INJUSTICE, THEY CROSSED THE OCEAN: Fifty descendants of a Serbian hero scattered across America!

The legendary Serbian hero Blagoje Mićkov Krušić from the village of Prigradina in Banjani near Nikšić left a lasting legacy. A participant in the battles of Cer, Drina, Kolubara, Kosmaj, Prizren, Kajmakčalan, and the Salonika Front, he was a symbol of bravery. Today, fifty of his descendants are spread across America, from California to Arizona and Utah.

The Fate of a Hero

His relative, priest Dragan Krušić, recalls that for over eight decades, no one knows where Blagoje’s remains lie. He was killed on August 17, 1944, in Gornja Toponica near Niš, a victim of political persecution by the notorious OZNA. Despite extensive searches, his final resting place remains unknown.

A Decorated Warrior

Stories of Blagoje’s heroism are still told today. His chest was adorned with numerous medals, including:

The Gold Order of the Karađorđe Star
The Russian Grigoryev Cross
The French Military Medal with Swords
The Legion of Honor
Two Obilić Medals for Bravery
Four war service medals (including the Albanian Commemorative Medal)

As a soldier in the “Iron Regiment – Prince Mihailo,” he was wounded five times. On March 14, 1917, while on duty near Crna Reka, Prince Regent Alexander personally removed his Karađorđe Star with Swords and awarded it to Blagoje. French General Guillaume later honored him with the prestigious “Militaire” medal for his contributions during the Balkan Wars.

In 2007, the District Court of Niš rehabilitated him, making his case one of the first rehabilitations in Serbia after WWII.

A Life Marked by Hardship

Blagoje married twice. His first marriage to Milica resulted in a daughter, Smiljana. His second wife, Zorka Vojinović, was a close relative of Kosta Vojinović, leader of the Toplica Uprising. They had three children: Slavka, Dragutin, and Petar.

Blagoje lived in Kruševac during his service as a gendarmerie sergeant before moving to Niš after retirement, where he remained until his tragic death in 1944.

War and Exile

Following the capitulation of the Yugoslav Army in April 1941, Blagoje joined the Chetniks. However, due to old age and injuries from WWI, he later returned to Niš.

His sons, Dragutin and Petar, were sent to forced labor in Munich, Germany, in 1941, despite Petar being only 17. They remained there until the war ended.

Upon their return in 1945, they found their family home in Niš confiscated by the Partisans. A political commissar coldly informed them:

“This is no longer the house of your father, Blagoje Krušić. It now belongs to the People’s Liberation Army. Your father was executed as a Chetnik and Draža Mihailović’s agent. His property was confiscated, and he was killed.”

The brothers were branded as “sons of a traitor” and forced to flee to Toronto, Canada, where they completed engineering degrees.

A Life in America

Priest Dragan Krušić recounts how Dragutin, embittered by his father’s murder and the injustice they suffered, never returned to Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, Petar also studied aerospace engineering in Washington and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force in 1971.

Due to his piloting skills and contributions, Petar became an honorary citizen of Los Angeles. He spoke six languages: English, German, French, Italian, Russian-Polish, and Czech.

In his final years, longing for his homeland, he left America to spend his last days in Serbia. He died in 1999 during the NATO bombing, and was buried in Počivala, Banjani, according to Orthodox Christian tradition.

His four sons and four daughters, along with his brother Dragutin, were unable to attend the funeral due to the war in Serbia.

Today, his descendants work in the aviation industry, led by Blagoje “Robert” Krušić, who manages a successful company producing aircraft parts.

A Brother Honored on the Frontlines

Blagoje’s younger brother, Stevan Mićkov Krušić, was a captain in the Serbian Army during WWI. He fought on the Salonika Front and received multiple decorations for bravery.

Stevan passed away in 1921 and was buried in Cerovo, near Kuršumlija. Their father, Mićko Krušić, lived long enough to bury his own son, passing away in 1934.

Stevan’s legacy continued through his five sons, with Nikola, his grandson, achieving the rank of Colonel in the Yugoslav Air Defense Forces.