Kosta Aleksic "Koja" (80)
With his wife, Ljubica defended the village from the Shiptar(Albanian) terrorists
in the village Tačevac located on the administrative line with Kosovo.There is no longer anyone to remember the heroism of Kosta Aleksic and his wife Ljubica in the summer of 1999. when they themselves defended the village from hordes of the KLA who attacked the Serb village Tačevac!
Kosta and Ljubica, who after fierce fighting only after several days of convincing from the police and army withdrew to the reserve position in the small village of Mala Satra, which is about five kilometers away.
They believe they are only there temporarily because they hope to one day return to their property and their home.
- It was the worst of times back then, we had to be very careful. Ljubica and I did not sleep in the house, instead I dug a bunker nearby in the forest and we slept in shifts. During the day we worked the land and with our livestock, because then I had about 1,000 sheep and more than 20 cows and all that
is needed to be taken care of. At each step of the lurking danger of the Albanians, people in fear began to leave the village. One family after the other left, Only Ljubica and I remained in the village, because we did not want to leave the house built by the grandfather Blagoje and the father Peter.
The two of us decided to stay at any cost, but we knew that they can not catch us alive.
Our neighbor Mirko Saric was caught by the Albanian terrorists and they cut him with knives and saws, all photographed and they put the images into his pockets so that his parents and the children coulld see what was done to him and how they tortured him.
Well, that was not going to happen to me because I left two bullets one for me and one for Ljubica.
- One morning I saw the hay and the house of Saric burst into flames and I knew that
my house was to be next. Well, then i started to take cover behind an oak tree preparing
my machinegun, rifles and grenades, and a lot of ammunition, I said to myself: Well, Albanians now you will see how Mujo beats the goat. To Ljubica, who was more courageous than me, I said that she only give me the ammunition and from time to time let me know shes alive.
- Meanwhile, I somehow managed to through some old military radio station, which I had for 20 years, inform the police in Kursumlija about the coming clash with the KLA and me, as it turned out, that probably saved us.
Well the KLA, when they were done with Saric house they started to approach screamingand shouting, and I let them come to one hundred meters, before the first bursts of fire from my machinegun started to talk. I alternate shot from the machinegun, rifles and everything else that I had. So that
they woulld beleive there were many of us here.
And so, on one side Ljubica and I defend our home, and the other side dozens of KLA who were armed to the teeth. Around me thousands of shells, ammunition and my old lady bringing in new ammo all the time. By God, this was a fierce fight and lasted more than two hours. I shot out everything I had, but Albanians were approaching closer and closer, I was looking at the road all the time to see if the Police is coming. And really, when I thought we were done, I see police
officers running and just a few minutes later the KLA unit was scattered.
That's how Ljubica and I defended our village and I did not have to use the two bullets
intended for Ljubica, and me.
After a heroic defense of Tačevac it was clear that due to a possible retaliation,
Ljubica and Kosta can not stay in the village and the police and army proposed that
they withdraw to the reserve position in the village of Mali Satar.
Only after recognising the incredible cost of having constant police protection, did they agree to move from their native home to the forest house situated five kilometers away.
- Well there i left all but I miss the most my 30 acres of forest that is now relentlessly cut by Albanians. The forest has been guarded by my grandfather Blagoje, my father Peter and I, and now "they" enter the woods with chainsaws as if its theirs. Sometimes, but only with police escort, I visit my house and property, but every time when I return from there I feel more sick and old.