A monument to distinguished Croatian-American hero, Peter Tomich (Peter Tonich Herzeg), was unveiled in the town of Ljubuški in Bosnia Herzegovina in 2023, near his birthplace. For a long time, the origin of Peter Tonich Herzeg was not know. His relatives were discovered in the town of Ljubuški in Bosnia and Herzegovina, neighboring Croatia. We show an educative video about the history of Chief Peter Tomich, who died during the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This video was taken aboard the Battleship Wisconsin in August 2019.
Category: Croatian Heroes
Raveno Cuvalo assassinated on 2nd July 1991 in Zagreb by the Yugoslav Army
Raveno Čuvalo was one of those citizens of Zagreb, who on 2nd July 1991 tried to stop with their bare hands the tanks leaving the the infamous “Marshall Tito Military Camp” (also called “Maršalka”). He was then at the age of 32, employed at Kemoboja, playing piano and counterbass, singing at the Ivan Goran Kovačić Choir , one of the best of Croatia. On these days, most of the citizens of Zagreb were hiding in cellars of their houses for months.
Zoran Filipovic Zoro distinguished Croatian photographer
Professional photographer and writer, born in 1959 in Brčko (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Zoran Filipović has lived in Croatia’s capital Zagreb since 1978 where, in the last few years, he’s been turning more and more towards graphic and product design. As photographer, he has worked and seen his work published in a number of distinguished world magazines, such as Paris Match, Life, Photo, Le Figaro Magazine, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin, Vogue/GQ and others. He is the author of 22 photo-monographs.
Vladimir Novak: Croatians in America, fascinating photomonograph published in 2018
 Vladimir Novak (1928-2016)
Michael J. Novosel of Croatian origin recipient of the Medal of Honor for saving 5589 wounded people
During the Vietnam war, Novosel flew 2,543 missions and extracted 5,589 wounded personnel, among them his own son Michael J. Novosel Jr. The following week, Michael Jr. returned the favor by extracting his father after he was shot down. On the morning of October 2, 1969, Novosel set out to evacuate a group of South Vietnamese soldiers who were surrounded by several thousand North Vietnamese light infantry near the Cambodian border. Radio communication was lost and the soldiers had expended their ammunition. Without air cover or fire support, Novosel flew at low altitude under continuous enemy fire… He completed 15 hazardous extractions, was wounded in a barrage of enemy fire, and momentarily lost control of his helicopter, but when it was over, he had rescued 29 men.
Peter Tomich 1893-1941 recipient of the Medal of Honor for his courage at Pearl Harbour in 1941
Peter Tomich, Croatian-American hero born in Bosnia and Herzegovina (town of Prolog), one of 15 men to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Named for him were a destroyer escort ship in 1943, the USS Tomich, and Tomich Hall in 1989, where the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, R.I., is housed. Medal of Honor is a film about double heroism. One hero, Peter Tomich, made an instant decision that cost him his life but saved hundreds of others. He won the Medal of Honor. Another man, Robert Lunney, worked for nine years and spent thousands of dollars to find a rightful home for the Medal. Solemn premiere of the film ‘Heros are Not Forgotten’ will be on 7th December, 6 pm, at the House of Military Forces of the Republic of Croatia ‘Zvonimir’, with Symphonic orchestra of Croatian TV under the baton of Olja Dešić which will play the original film music of Nenad Bach. The film (52 min) will be shown by HRT1 (Croatian TV), 8th Dec.at 13:15.
Stjepan Radic 1871-1928 a great Croatian politician, humanist and martyr
In 2018 we commemorate a tragic death of Stjepan Radić, one of the greatest Croatian politicians and humanists in history (on the photo with his grandchildren), assassinated in 1928 in the Belgrade Parliament. We provide an articl written by Dr. Ante Cuvalo, an information about a new street in the Prague bearing his name (and his wife Marija was a Czech schoolteacher), as well as an article about him written by a Danish writer Karin Michaelis, who used to know his family in person. We conclude the article with a very interesting article of Stjepan Radić about the Russian Branch of the noble Croatian family of Jelačić.
Esther Gitman's interview 2016 about Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac and his role in saving the Jews in Croatia
Dr Esther Gitman analized about 5000 archival documents kept in various Croatian archives. Especially important among them are 500 signed petitions for the rescue of Jews in Croatia during the WW2. Some of these documents contain as many as 150 names, signed by ordinary people, who risked their lifes in order to save the lifes of their endangered Jewish neighbors and friends. Furthermore, according to Dr Girtman, THOSANDS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE signed these petitions, which is a fact totally unknown in historigraphy (not only Croatian). Similar documents in such abundonce, cannot be found in any other European country, said Dr Gitman. We invite you to see and listen to this extremely interesting and important interview, conducted by the Laudato TV in Zagreb, Croatia.
The Story of Ilija Letica by distinguished Croatian filmmaker Jakov Sedlar
We present the readers of the CROWN a fascinating documentary by Croatian filmmaker Jakov Sedlar about the life and work of Ilija Letica in the USA, about his very successful LETICA CORPORATION in the USA, with a special emphasis on his ties with Croatia and on his life philosophy. LETICA is a multi-faceted packaging company with diverse talent and technologies to support business on a number of fronts. The company works in multiple technologies such as thermoform, injection mold, paper-forming and sheet extrusion as well as with multiple mediums including paper, rigid and thinwall plastic, reclaimed post-consumer fiber, and other environmentally-friendly materials.
Bijeli Put – White Path 10-26 December 1993 the greatest humanitarian action in European History
Dr. Slobodan Lang is one of initators of White Path / Bijeli Put humanitarian project. Bijeli Put 1993 is the greatest humanitarian project in European History. It is the first and only successful joint humanitarian project of Catholic Christians and Muslims. In December 2013 the 20 years since the White Path has been solmenly marked in the building of the Council of the City of Zagreb.
Vukovar is an indelible part of European and World History
In this article we have collected some of the songs and verses dedicated to the tragic destiny of the city of Vukovar and its citizens. The destiny of numerous victims is still not known. This Baroque city on the Danube river was savagely destroyed in 1991.
Merry Christmas to Mr. Slobodan Praljak and to Mr. Dario Kordic with their families
Christmas of joy and pain.
Brian Gallagher: a historic day – the Croatian diaspora can take pride in its support of Croatian generals
Brian Gallagher: Certainly there were those outside Croatia who also supported the generals. I will single out here the former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, Robin Harris. He helped raise the profile of the case and was forthright in support. That was quite brave; believing in the innocent of alleged war criminals is not necessarily a very popular thing to do. The Croatian diaspora can take pride in its support. Indeed, Croatian Americans took part in the defence – Luka Misetic and Tom Kuzmanovic. And from Canada was Ana Katalinic, the Gotovina case manager.
Petar Janjic – Tromblon defendor of Vukovar and Croatia in 1991 and twenty years after
Petar Janjić nicknamed Tromblon, was an active participant of the defense of Vukovar in 1991, and survived infamous concentration camps in Serbia. He is speaking about his life and about Croatian defenders in his important and unique autobiographic book about the 1991 Vukovar tragedy, entitled “Žedni krvi gladni izdaje” (Those Thirsty of Blood and Hungry of Treason). He is openly and very courageously describing some of the current problems of contemporary Croatia.
Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markach with their families in Croatia after seven years of grave injustice in the Hague
We are pleased to send our cordial greetings to Mr. Ante Gotovina, Mr. Mladen Markač, Mr. Slobodan Praljak, Mr. Dario Kordić, and their families, in the name of the readers of the CROWN. They are all defenders of European values and true Croatian ambassadors in the EU. Croatian general Mr. Ante Gotovina contributed enormously to the dignity of Europe during the operation STORM in 1995, which according to distinguished Croatian humanist Dr. Slobodan Lang, was the first ever military action that prevented genocide.
The unbelievable story of a Croatian hero: Michael Palaich
We asked Mr. Palaich about his activities during the 1991-1995 war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as about an indictment against him in the USA, that stemmed from his efforts to help Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina to defend themselves against Serbian aggression. Those who know Mike, are well aware of his hesitation to talk about himself. But since so many have already forgotten about what happened in a not so distant past, and for the sake of new generations, he agreed to answer to a few questions, so that we may all remember how much liberty and independence meant, not only to Croatians in the homeland but to those around the world as well.
Kathy Wilkes Dr Honoris Causa of the University of Zagreb 2001
Dr. Katheleen Wilkes (1946-2003), during her speech at the University of Zagreb in 2001: A charming thought to start a rather depressing talk. Johann Gottfried von Herder, in 1791: “How wonderfully has Nature separated nations, not only by woods and mountains, seas and deserts, rivers and climates, but most particularly by languages, inclinations and characters, so that the work of subjugating despotism might be rendered more difficult…”
To the Security Council of The United Nations regarding the Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Croatian general Slobodan Praljak, exceptionally educated person, has diplomas of three faculties: Faculty of Arts, Electrical Engineering and Film Academy, all from the University of Zagreb. He elaborates about: The training and equipping of entire BH Army units in Croatia; The taking up of hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees in Croatia; The organisation of ex-territorial education and schooling for Muslim refugees in the Republic of Croatia; About low blows of Carla del Ponte and a Canadian general plus many other issues.
Thomas Crowley 1949-1995 Irish hero of Croatian defense 1991-1995
Thomas Crawley (1949-1995) arrived to Croatia in 1991, where he participated in its defense. He tragically died in 1995 at the age of 46. He was a Major of Croatian Army. Commemorative Mass in his honor has been organized in the city of Split on 10th June 2012 in the Cathedral of St. Dujam. His earthy remains are buried in the Split cemetery. Thomas Crowley is not only the son of Ireland, but also the son of Croatia.