President Milanović Posthumously Awards Honorary Brigadier General Ranks to Marko Babić and Damir Tomljanović Gavran
Tonight, President Zoran Milanović, the Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, hosted a formal reception at the Office of the President. The event commemorated Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Defenders Day, and the 29th anniversary of the Military and Police Operation “Storm.” During the reception, he presented decorations, medals, promotions, and commendations.
President Milanović commemorated Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Defenders Day “with special gratitude to those to whom we are most grateful – our defenders and those who paused somewhere in this effort and whom we lost, but whom we will never forget.”
The President presented a total of 69 decorations, of which 56 were awarded to Croatian defenders and 13 were awarded to members of the Ministry of Defense.
He posthumously awarded honorary brigadier general ranks to Major Marko Babić and Colonel Damir Tomljanović Gavran.
The Order of Duke Domagoj with Ribbon, awarded for special bravery and heroism during the Homeland War, was bestowed upon Željko Brkić.
The Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, awarded for a deed of valour during the Homeland War, was bestowed upon Mario Nađ, Ivan Petrinović, and the Kumrovec Special Police Unit.
The Order of Ban Jelačić was bestowed upon Luka Krijan for extraordinary successful command of units of the Croatian Armed Forces, and for extraordinary military services in their organization.
The Order of the Croatian Cross was presented to Jozo Tomas, for being seriously wounded in the Homeland War.
The Order of the Croatian Trefoil, for special services to the Republic of Croatia in the Homeland War, was awarded to Marko Kadija, Zdenko Horvat, Marko Vilić, Boris Nikolić, Marko Karaula, Pejo Lovrinović, Mirko Matijević, Jura Tadić, Mario Škegro, Marko Luketić, Ivan Hovanjec, Vili Šrut, Jerko Mandušić, Mladen Rossi, Sandro Adam, Boro Mišić, and Josip Drmić.
The Order of the Croatian Interlace, for extraordinary contributions to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens, was bestowed upon Mićo Bićanić, Anthony Kurta, Vitomir Burčul, Zvonimir Madunović, Nikola Banjanin, Tihomir Kmet, Tomislav Antolović, Zvonko Rajić, Damir Ištuk, Dražen Rossi, Milan Sekulić, Marinko Matičević, and Miroslav Kovačić.
For their participation in the Homeland War, the Homeland War Memorial Medal was conferred upon Dragan Troskot and Pero Grošeta.
Goran Pernjek was decorated with the medals “Flash,” “Summer ’95” and “Storm” for participating in military and police operations.
For extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war, in an immediate threat of war or under special circumstances in peace, Brigadier General Davor Tretinjak, Colonel Anđelka Mikulić, and Lieutenant Colonel Pere Livaić were decorated with the Order of the Croatian Trefoil.
Lieutenant Colonel Hrvoje Vrdoljak was decorated with the Order of the Croatian Interlace for extraordinary contributions to the development and the standing of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens.
For their honourable and exemplary service, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Grgić, Major Tatjana Šolaja, Major Krešimir Šumiga, Major Mario Vukadin, Captain Boris Miletić, and civil servant Željko Kmezić were decorated with the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal.
Furthermore, a total of 139 active male and female officers and one military specialist officer were promoted.
Ten lieutenant colonels were promoted to the rank of colonel (among them two female lieutenant colonels). The promoted are: Andrija Mihanović, Marijan Cvok, Branimir Gaćina-Bilin, Goran Marunica, Ivan Radić, Davor Zdilar, Toni Lozo, and Ivan Špoljar.
Thirteen majors were promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel/commander (including four female majors who have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel). The promoted are: Luka Dodig, Kruno Štriga, Jozo Brekalo, Tatjana Šolaja, Robert Držajić, Božo Kriletić, and Ante Viduka.
Twenty captains were promoted to the rank of major/lieutenant commander (including eight female captains who have been promoted). The promoted are: Sabina Sačer, Tihomir Kastmiler, Tomislav Dvoraček, Jasmina Vrgoč, Dalibor Turkalj, Goran Tuškan, Maja Mazalin, Andrea Lipovac, Ante Jelinčić, Mihaela Plepelić, Frane Milutin, and Julijana Ferk Ladešić.
Twenty-three first lieutenants were promoted to the rank of captain/lieutenant (including six female first lieutenants).
Seventy-three second lieutenants/lieutenants junior grade were promoted to the rank of first lieutenant (including ten female second lieutenants).
One captain-military specialist was promoted to the rank of major-military specialist.
The President of the Republic commended a total of twelve members of the Ministry of Defense and the Croatian Armed Forces. For achieving outstanding results in fulfilling assigned tasks, the following individuals have been commended by the Commander in Chief: Colonel Boženko Đevoić, Colonel Davor Gren, Major Vedran Barić, Major Ivo Koščević, Major Antonio Nemet, Captain Stipe Bartulović, Captain Ivan Rončević, and Sergeant Major Mladen Stanković.
Young performer Martin Kosovec, along with musicians from the Armed Forces – including the Croatian Navy’s Klapa “Sveti Juraj,” the Police Klapa “Sveti Mihovil,” and the Small Jazz Ensemble of the Croatian Navy – added to the grandeur of the evening at the formal reception held at the Office of the President.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas i Dario Andrišek