{"id":174005,"date":"2025-04-01T10:39:18","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T08:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=174005"},"modified":"2025-04-01T10:39:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T08:39:19","slug":"due-to-injustice-they-crossed-the-ocean-fifty-descendants-of-a-serbian-hero-scattered-across-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/due-to-injustice-they-crossed-the-ocean-fifty-descendants-of-a-serbian-hero-scattered-across-america\/","title":{"rendered":"DUE TO INJUSTICE, THEY CROSSED THE OCEAN: Fifty descendants of a Serbian hero scattered across America!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legendary Serbian hero <strong>Blagoje Mi\u0107kov Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong> from the village of <strong>Prigradina in Banjani near Nik\u0161i\u0107<\/strong> left a lasting legacy. A participant in <strong>the battles of Cer, Drina, Kolubara, Kosmaj, Prizren, Kajmak\u010dalan, and the Salonika Front<\/strong>, he was a symbol of bravery. <strong>Today, fifty of his descendants are spread across America, from California to Arizona and Utah.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Fate of a Hero<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His relative, <strong>priest Dragan Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, recalls that for over <strong>eight decades<\/strong>, no one knows <strong>where Blagoje\u2019s remains lie<\/strong>. He was <strong>killed on August 17, 1944, in Gornja Toponica near Ni\u0161<\/strong>, a victim of political persecution by the notorious <strong>OZNA<\/strong>. Despite extensive searches, his <strong>final resting place remains unknown<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178328\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Arhiva Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Decorated Warrior<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stories of <strong>Blagoje\u2019s heroism<\/strong> are still told today. His chest was adorned with numerous medals, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Gold Order of the Kara\u0111or\u0111e Star<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Russian Grigoryev Cross<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The French Military Medal with Swords<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Legion of Honor<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two Obili\u0107 Medals for Bravery<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Four war service medals (including the Albanian Commemorative Medal)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a soldier in <strong>the &#8220;Iron Regiment \u2013 Prince Mihailo,&#8221;<\/strong> he was wounded five times. On <strong>March 14, 1917<\/strong>, while on duty near <strong>Crna Reka<\/strong>, <strong>Prince Regent Alexander<\/strong> personally removed his <strong>Kara\u0111or\u0111e Star with Swords<\/strong> and awarded it to <strong>Blagoje<\/strong>. <strong>French General Guillaume<\/strong> later honored him with the prestigious <strong>&#8220;Militaire&#8221; medal<\/strong> for his contributions during the <strong>Balkan Wars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>2007<\/strong>, the <strong>District Court of Ni\u0161<\/strong> rehabilitated him, making his case <strong>one of the first rehabilitations in Serbia after WWII<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Life Marked by Hardship<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blagoje married twice. His first marriage to <strong>Milica<\/strong> resulted in a daughter, <strong>Smiljana<\/strong>. His second wife, <strong>Zorka Vojinovi\u0107<\/strong>, was a close relative of <strong>Kosta Vojinovi\u0107<\/strong>, leader of the <strong>Toplica Uprising<\/strong>. They had three children: <strong>Slavka, Dragutin, and Petar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blagoje lived in <strong>Kru\u0161evac<\/strong> during his <strong>service as a gendarmerie sergeant<\/strong> before moving to <strong>Ni\u0161<\/strong> after retirement, where he remained until his tragic <strong>death in 1944<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>War and Exile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the <strong>capitulation of the Yugoslav Army in April 1941<\/strong>, Blagoje <strong>joined the Chetniks<\/strong>. However, due to <strong>old age and injuries from WWI<\/strong>, he later returned to <strong>Ni\u0161<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sons, <strong>Dragutin and Petar<\/strong>, were <strong>sent to forced labor in Munich, Germany, in 1941<\/strong>, despite <strong>Petar being only 17<\/strong>. They remained there <strong>until the war ended<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Upon their return in <strong>1945<\/strong>, they found their <strong>family home in Ni\u0161 confiscated<\/strong> by the Partisans. A <strong>political commissar<\/strong> coldly informed them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;This is no longer the house of your father, Blagoje Kru\u0161i\u0107. It now belongs to the People\u2019s Liberation Army. Your father was executed as a Chetnik and Dra\u017ea Mihailovi\u0107\u2019s agent. His property was confiscated, and he was killed.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The brothers were <strong>branded as &#8220;sons of a traitor&#8221;<\/strong> and forced to <strong>flee to Toronto, Canada<\/strong>, where they <strong>completed engineering degrees<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178329\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Arhiva Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Life in America<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Priest <strong>Dragan Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong> recounts how <strong>Dragutin<\/strong>, embittered by <strong>his father\u2019s murder and the injustice they suffered<\/strong>, <strong>never returned to Yugoslavia<\/strong>. Meanwhile, <strong>Petar<\/strong> also studied <strong>aerospace engineering in Washington<\/strong> and was promoted to <strong>Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force in 1971<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to his <strong>piloting skills and contributions<\/strong>, <strong>Petar became an honorary citizen of Los Angeles<\/strong>. He spoke <strong>six languages<\/strong>: English, German, French, Italian, Russian-Polish, and Czech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his final years, longing for his homeland, he <strong>left America<\/strong> to <strong>spend his last days in Serbia<\/strong>. He <strong>died in 1999 during the NATO bombing<\/strong>, and was <strong>buried in Po\u010divala, Banjani, according to Orthodox Christian tradition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His <strong>four sons and four daughters<\/strong>, along with his brother <strong>Dragutin<\/strong>, were unable to attend the funeral due to the <strong>war in Serbia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, his descendants <strong>work in the aviation industry<\/strong>, led by <strong>Blagoje &#8220;Robert&#8221; Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, who manages a <strong>successful company producing aircraft parts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178330\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Arhiva Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Brother Honored on the Frontlines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blagoje\u2019s <strong>younger brother, Stevan Mi\u0107kov Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, was a <strong>captain in the Serbian Army<\/strong> during <strong>WWI<\/strong>. He fought on the <strong>Salonika Front<\/strong> and received <strong>multiple decorations<\/strong> for bravery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevan passed away in <strong>1921<\/strong> and was <strong>buried in Cerovo, near Kur\u0161umlija<\/strong>. Their father, <strong>Mi\u0107ko Kru\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, lived long enough to <strong>bury his own son<\/strong>, passing away in <strong>1934<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevan\u2019s legacy continued through his <strong>five sons<\/strong>, with <strong>Nikola<\/strong>, his grandson, <strong>achieving the rank of Colonel in the Yugoslav Air Defense Forces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#d21414\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/marin-le-pen-osudjena-za-proneveru-preti-joj-5-godina-zatvora-i-zabrana-vrsenja-javne-funkcije\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">MARINE LE PEN CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLEMENT: She faces 5 years in prison and a ban from holding public office!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/interview-duricko-the-glory-and-misery-of-my-hollywood-will-i-return-to-serbia-and-why-i-support-the-students-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">INTERVIEW, \u0110URI\u010cKO: The glory and misery of my Hollywood \u2013 will I return to Serbia and why I support the students (VIDEO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/dokovic-denied-100th-title-by-his-idols-student-mensik-19-overcomes-his-mentor-in-miami-final-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">\u0110OKOVI\u0106 DENIED 100TH TITLE BY HIS IDOL\u2019S STUDENT: Men\u0161ik (19) Overcomes His Mentor in Miami Final! 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A participant in the battles of Cer, Drina, Kolubara, Kosmaj, Prizren, Kajmak\u010dalan, and the Salonika Front, he was a symbol of bravery. Today, fifty of his descendants are spread across America, from California to Arizona [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2169,"featured_media":174009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[71,5899,1437,634,5900,5901,2032,23,5303,5902],"class_list":["post-174005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","tag-amerika","tag-dragan-mitkov-krusic","tag-drugi-svetski-rat","tag-istorija","tag-nepravda","tag-potomci","tag-prvi-svetski-rat","tag-sad","tag-solunski-front","tag-srpski-junak","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Serbiantimes.info EN","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=174005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":174014,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174005\/revisions\/174014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=174005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=174005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=174005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}