Milan Tepić
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Milan Tepić (1957 - September 29, 1991), was major of former Yugoslav People's Army, ethnic Serb from village Komlenica under Kozara mountain. He is the last person that was given Order of the National Hero of Yugoslavia.
After Croatia declared its independence in June 25, 1991 civil war errupted in this former Yugoslav republic, between Croatian forces on one side and YPA and Serbian forces on the other.
In july of 1991, major Tepić was given command of central YPA ammunition depot in village Bedenik near Bjelovar. During YPA retreat from Bjelovar, which was part of temporary ceasefire agreement, YPA barracks in Bjelovar including central ammunition depot were attacked by Croatian forces. Attack was ordered by colonel Josip Tomšić, ethnic Croat who defected from YPA to Croatian army.
YPA Barracks, which weren't supplied with electricity and water for weeks, were captured after heavy fightings. YPA conscripts were given direct order from major Tepić to retreat to safe distance from the base. Soldier Stojadin Mirković refused this direct order, and from his APC he fired at the enemy until he was hited by anti tank projectile. Major Tepić and seven officers under his command, retreated to ammunition depot and blowed entire facility and themselves in the air with dynamite, exactly in the moment when first Croatian soldiers entered depot. He do not wanted to surrender weapons and ammunition, that could kill his soldiers, to the enemy. He did exactly the same brave conduct as Serbian vojvoda from First Serbian Uprising, Stevan Sinđelić, almost 200 years before.
According to official Croatian information 11 Croatian solders were KIA and more then 180 were MIA. In revenge Croatian army executed POW Ranko Stefanović.
Major Milan Tepić was declared for National Hero of Yugoslavia. He is the last person that received this order. One street in Belgrade and one in Novi Sad are named after him. Army of Republika Srpska introduced Order of Milan Tepić for bravery in Bosnian war.
