Bekim Berisha

During his first period in Croatia, Bekim maintained mostly physical jobs to earn a living and send money back to the family in Kosovo.

[citation needed] He also took part in the Bosnian War, during the Operation Corridor 92, he was heavily injured after being hit by six bullets on 16 June 1992.

[1] The situation in the western part of Kosovo, particularly in Dukagjin—Berisha’s home region—worsened as Yugoslav police intensified their efforts.In response, Berisha, with his close friend and fellow combatant Bedri Shala, traveled to Glogjan, a small town near his hometown of Graboc.

[2] In Glogjan, they joined forces with other KLA militants, including Ramush Haradinaj and his brother, to defend the village against a Serbian police raid.

[1][3] During the battle, Berisha advocated for a reorganization of the KLA, proposing a shift in strategy towards a major offensive rather than a defensive stance in Junik.

Upon learning of his friend's dire condition, Berisha led a group of soldiers in launching hit-and-run attacks against Yugoslav vehicles in the southern part of Junik.

[1] In contrast to his usual conduct in battles, he ceased radio contact with his commanding officer and, along with several soldiers, took shelter in a small house about a hundred meters from Yugoslav positions.

[2] Berisha, severely injured, was taken to the KLA's makeshift headquarters in the center of Junik, where he succumbed to his injuries the same day as Shala.

[2] Berisha was buried in Junik, but later re-buried in his home town of Graboc, he was granted the military title and rank of Brigadier General by the Kosovo Protection Corps (TMK).

[1] According to witnesses, the Croatian President Franjo Tuđman reportedly mourned the loss of Berisha, claiming he was “a one man army, that Croatia and Kosovo would be eternally proud of”.