Naser Vučelj is remembered as one of the heroes of the Battle of Košare. The young man from Novi Pazar was killed on April 19, 1999, at just 21 years of age while defending the state border of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during one of the fiercest battles in modern Serbian history.
He was a member of the 125th Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav Army and lost his life in the Maja Glava sector, where he and his fellow soldiers were trying to stop an advance by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) from the direction of Albania. Today, his name is listed among the 108 soldiers who were killed in the battle, which has become a symbol of the country’s defense.
“He had the opportunity to go to Germany to be with his father and avoid both the war and military service, but he refused,” his mother, Sadija, said.
Every year, his family, fellow soldiers, and members of the Serbian Armed Forces gather at his grave in the Gazilar cemetery in Novi Pazar to pay tribute to the young man whose heroism, they say, must never be forgotten. His father, Alija Vučelj, has repeatedly said that despite being warned not to join the military, Naser chose to complete his compulsory military service and stand by his country.
In memory of his sacrifice, the street where he lived in Novi Pazar has borne the name Naser Vučelj since 2020. The initiative was launched by the Serbian Armed Forces, with the support of his fellow soldiers, to ensure that the memory of the young hero is preserved forever.
The Battle of Košare lasted 67 days, from April 9 to June 14, 1999, and is considered one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles fought during the NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
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Source: Serbian Times, Foto: Printscreen Facebook