Hopper from Velebit

His friend Mišo Miletić made a phone call to him at the hospital. He told him: "Cousin, they sent us to Velebit. I'm on Velebit." Dragan, as soon as he got better, went to the position with the unit. He was in Bukve, Veliki Golić, Mali Golić. And the conditions on the rugged Velebit that December were really harsh.

The beech trees cracked from the cold, and when the wind blew, the young men couldn't even breathe. They had to put a scarf over their mouths because the air was too cold, and all the water they would bring turned into ice.

And Dragan, just out of the hospital and still in pain, was not far behind the team that was in action the whole time. What's more, the courageous Dragan disguised himself as one of the leaders. He never let anyone go first but him.

He would go scouting first and no one could stop him from doing so. His courage cost him his life. Although he went through many sabotage actions and reconnaissance, December 16th was fatal for Dragan.

Dragan, one of the Heroes from Velebit, was hit by a sniper's bullet during reconnaissance. His friend Mišo was in danger himself, he ran to him, turned him around and tried to save him. But it was too late. Dragan's last words were: - Kill him, brother, kill him! -. Micho could only close his eyes when he exhaled...

His beloved comrades carried him from the mountain on their shoulders. There were no stretchers either, only steep roads in Velebit, where even a physically fit person could barely walk.

And that's how Dragan became a legend. On the steep, white and magical mountain Velebit, even today, mountaineers tell stories sitting by the campfire. About good and evil fairies, caves with treasures and a king with a dog's head. And when they come to the big, white cross erected at the place of the hero's tragic death, they talk about Dragan. About a legend that emerged from reality. About the hero who defended our homeland. About the brave and self-sacrificing - Hopscotch from Velebit.