Hi friends, you have probably already noticed this photo.
I want to tell you that this is my countryman. Whenever I see this picture, I will be very proud.
His name is Dragutin Matic, born on January 10, 1888 in Kaletinac, died on January 1, 1970 also in Kaletinac.
He was nicknamed Zaplanjac after the area, which is located in the southern part of Serbia. Southeast of Nis, and northeast of Leskovac, bordered by the mountains Selicevica from the north, Suva planina from the east and Babicka gora from the west, so it got the name Zaplanje (behind, for mountains). With its southern part it is spacious towards Vlasina and Luznica. Near the town is Gadzin Han, the center of Zaplanje is Donji Dusnik.
This painting often appeared on military encyclopedias, museums, and history textbooks with the inscription Serbian Vonji scout on the Drina or "Falcon's eye".
His father and mother died early, he was the youngest, there were five children in the family, and his oldest brother took care of him.
Dragutin Matic left for military service in 1910, so he was hit by the Balkan wars, then when the First World War broke out. Due to his courage and bravery, during the Battle of Cer and Kolubara, the military authorities entrusted him with the task of scout.
He returned to his homeland "sometime around Christmas 1919". He fought in the war for six years, and spent two years serving his military service. For his heroism and courage, he was decorated with several war decorations. Upon his return to his native village. He was engaged in agriculture, and he also went to work, working as a bricklayer and a potter.
Matic's military service lasted for a full nine years. He was in the frame in 1910. In 1912 he fought with the Turks, in 1913 with the Bulgarians, and in 1914 with the Swabians. He was among those who, in Corfu, recovered, sang: "Who does not know what hardships are, let him cross Albania on foot ..." cemetery and then thrown into the sea, he went to the Thessaloniki front.
Each of his reports was reliable and valuable, and it is no wonder that the commanders, company commander Lieutenant Aleksandar Mijalkovic, battalion commander Captain Vladimir Pesic and regiment commander Milic Milicevic, entrusted him only with those tasks that show resourcefulness, wisdom, cunning and courage.
Quote from Albanian Golgotha:
"People were trampling, the wheels of kitchens and gun carriages, carts and cannons were crossing, horses were climbing and biting each other, almost going wild from whipping and preferring drivers, it was often impossible to go back and forth ..."
He had a very struggling life. Thank you so much for giving us such information, for finding out about a man who was so nice.