Jean-Michelu Nicolieru, nakon trideset i četiri godine tvoji su posmrtni ostaci pronađeni, a hrvatski narod za čiju si se slobodu borio napokon te može pokopati u svetoj zemlji koju si branio u studenome 1991. Jean-Michel, rođen si kao Francuz, ali umro si kao hrvatski junak.

Zalaganje da se razotkrije istina o ubojstvu Jean-Michela Nicoliera bio je iznimno težak zadatak, osobito za njegovu obitelj, majku Lyliane i brata Paula. Sada, kad znamo da njegova obitelj i Hrvatska napokon mogu položiti njegovo tijelo u vječni počinak 6. studenoga 2025., ova je vijest donijela suze na moje oči i na oči mnogih Hrvata nakon tako dugotrajnog nastojanja koje je naposljetku kulminiralo potvrdom da je njegovo tijelo pronađeno. Svojedobno je svojoj majci Lyliane rekao: „Želim pomoći tom narodu; trebaju me“, a sada je naša dužnost kao Hrvata brinuti za njegovu obitelj i čuvati uspomenu na našeg brata po oružju, Jean-Michela Nicoliera.

Njegov je put vodio od slobodne Francuske do grada pod opsadom. To je čovjek čije ga je životno putovanje vodilo u prekrasne krajolike Hrvatske, koja se u to doba oslobađala od okupacije komunističke Jugoslavije. Dajući svoj doprinos oslobađanju Hrvatske, platio je najvišu cijenu svojim životom, u Vukovaru. Rođen kao Francuz, Jean-Michel je prigrlio hrvatsku borbu za slobodu i duboko se poistovjetio s hrvatskim narodom. Njegova je priča priča o hrabrosti, strasti i nepokolebljivoj odanosti cilju koji mu je toliko značio da je za njega dao život. Njegova strast nije iščezla; umnožila se kroz nas koji se sjećamo njegove žrtve.

Kao i Jean-Michel, i sam kao pripadnik HOS-a, teško nalazim riječi kojima bih izrazio duboki osjećaj tuge, ali i olakšanja, koji sam osjetio kad sam čuo da je njegovo tijelo napokon pronađeno. Nakon dugih godina traganja, to je bila gorko-slatka kulminacija neumornog zalaganja i svjedočanstvo ljubavi i poštovanja koje smo kao narod gajili prema njemu. Teško je dočarati vihor emocija koji je navirao u nama-tugu, ponos i buđenje još dubljeg osjećaja svrhe.

Kao netko tko je stajao uz one koji su odlučili braniti ovu zemlju, mučio sam se pronaći riječi koje bi se mogle mjeriti s njegovim darom. Njegova priča nije samo o tome kako je umro; ona je i o tome kako je živio-sa srcem koje se uskladilo s vapajem neznanaca sve dok više nisu bili neznanci.

Jean-Michel nije bio samo vojnik; bio je hrabra duša koja se suočila s nezamislivim užasima. Bio je ozlijeđen i liječen u vukovarskoj bolnici, a nakon pada Vukovara zarobili su ga srpski četnici i podvrgnuli sudbini koju nijedan čovjek ne može podnijeti. Njegov je život tragično prekinut u logoru Ovčara, gdje je mučen do smrti-žrtva brutalnosti koju smo kao narod trpjeli tih mračnih dana. Njegova je hrabrost bila tolika da je odlučio ne izbjeći svoju sudbinu s francuskim novinarima koji su mu ponudili spas, nego ostati sa svojim suborcima.

Ipak, njegov ubojica, Spasoja Petković Štuka, jezivo podsjeća na barbarska zla koja neki ljudi mogu nanijeti drugima. Takvome je čovjeku takozvani Specijalni sud za ratne zločine u Beogradu, nakon što je priznao dio svojih nedjela, dodijelio status „svjedoka-pokajnika“ te mu je darovan novi identitet-nagrađen za ubojstvo-pa je danas zaštićen i skriva se.

Hrvatska mora tražiti pravdu za Jean-Michela i ostale žrtve zatraživši izručenje Spasoje Petkovića te ga lišiti svakog preostalog vremena na slobodi izricanjem doživotne kazne zatvora za oduzimanje tuđih života na najstrašnije moguće načine.

Jean-Michelova ostavština razbuktala je vatru i u mome srcu kad sam navršio 18 godina. Njegova žrtva i žrtva Vukovara nadahnule su me da ostavim sve i 1992. krenem na vlastiti put u Hrvatsku, vođen željom da odam počast hrabrim braniteljima Vukovara. Put koji je on utro bio je naš put prema slobodi, a grad koji je branio ponovno je slobodan. Naši identiteti nisu ograničeni granicama; isprepleteni su našim djelima i vezama koje smo zajedno iskovali u borbi protiv tiranije.

Uz sadašnje napade na naš pozdrav HOS-a „Za Dom Spremni“ od strane onih koji idoliziraju komunističke partizane i neprestano nastoje sve pretvoriti u temu o Drugom svjetskom ratu, sjećanje na Jean-Michela pravodobno nas podsjeća da je „Za Dom Spremni“ bio naš pozdrav tijekom Domovinskog rata za neovisnost 1990-ih i da ga treba-i zaslužuje—častiti s ponosom i poštovanjem. HOS i „Za Dom Spremni“ ono su što je Jean-Michel ponosno nosio na rukavu i u srcu. Danas cijeli svijet odaje počast njegovoj uspomeni, zajedno s njegovom rodnom Francuskom i hrvatskom Domovinom koju je bio spreman braniti do svojega posljednjeg dana.

Dok se prisjećamo Jean-Michela Nicoliera, slavimo ne samo njegov život nego i neizbrisiv trag koji je ostavio u našim srcima. Bio je više od vojnika; bio je simbol nade i otpornosti, podsjećajući nas da ljubav prema slobodi može nadilaziti podrijetlo. U njegov spomen nosimo dalje duh jedinstva i predanosti, kako bi njegova ostavština nastavila nadahnjivati nove naraštaje da služe i štite kad god se čuje poziv.

Zato te nosimo, Jean-Michel-u obećanju da ćemo se brinuti za tvoju obitelj kao što si ti nekoć brinuo za naš narod. Počivaj sada u miru i leti slobodan hrvatskim nebom i krajevima koje si se borio osloboditi. Počivaj kao sin Francuske i heroj kojeg je Hrvatska prigrlila. Neka zvona odjekuju tvojim imenom, čovjeka hrabrosti, bez ukrasa.

Počivaj u miru, Jean-Michel Nicolier. Rođen si kao Francuz, ali zauvijek ćeš biti zapamćen kao hrvatski junak. U tvoju čast, pozdravljamo te kao što si ti pozdravljao nas - Za Dom Spremni.

BORN A FRENCHMAN, DIED A CROATIAN HERO

By Steve Ravić

Jean-Michel Nicolier, after thirty-four years, your remains have been found, and the Croatian people you fought to liberate are finally able to bury you in the sacred grounds you died defending in November of 1991. Jean-Michel, you were born a Frenchman, but you died a Croatian hero.

Lobbying to expose the truth about Jean-Michel Nicolier’s murder has been a daunting task, but especially strenuous for his family, his mother, Lyliane, and brother, Paul. Now knowing that his family and Croatia can finally lay his body to rest in that final resting place on November 6, 2025, this news has brought tears to my eyes and to so many Croatians after such a long pursual that has finally culminated in the confirmation that his body had been found. He once told his mother, Lyliane, “I want to help these people; they need me,” and now it is our duty as Croatians to look out for his family and to honour the memory of our brother in battle, Jean-Michel Nicolier.

His path led from the freedoms of France to a city under siege. This is a man whose journey led him to the beautiful landscapes of Croatia, at the time liberating itself from the occupation of communist Yugoslavia. Playing his part in liberating Croatia was where he paid the ultimate price with his life, in Vukovar. Born a Frenchman, Jean-Michel embraced the Croatian struggle to be free, and he resonated deeply with the people of Croatia. His story is one of courage, passion, and unwavering devotion to a cause that meant so much to him that he would give his life to defend it. His passion did not vanish; it multiplied through those of us who remember his sacrifice.

As a member of HOS myself, like Jean-Michel, I found it difficult to articulate the profound sense of sadness but relief I felt upon hearing that Jean-Michel's body had finally been found. After years of searching, this was a bittersweet culmination of tireless lobbying and a testament to the love and respect we held for him as a nation. It’s hard to express the whirlwind of emotions that surged within me-grief, pride, and the awakening of an even deeper sense of purpose.

As one who stood beside those who chose to defend this land, I struggled to find the words that could measure up to his gift. His story is not only about how he died; it is about how he lived-with such a heart that tuned into the cry of strangers until they were strangers no more.

Jean-Michel was not just a soldier; he was a brave soul who faced unimaginable horrors. Injured and being treated in Vukovar hospital, he was taken captive by Serbian Chetniks after the fall of Vukovar, and was subjected to a fate no human can endure. His life was tragically cut short in the Ovčara camp, where he was tortured until death, a victim of the brutality that we endured as a people during those dark days. His bravery was so enormous that he chose not to escape his fate with French journalists who offered to save him but to stay with his fellow defenders.

Yet his murderer, Spasoja Petković Štuka, serves as a haunting reminder of the barbaric evils that some humans can inflict upon others. The so-called Special Court for War Crimes in Belgrade gave this monster the status of a “repentant witness” after admitting some of his wrongdoings and was gifted with a new identity, rewarding him for murder, where he is now protected in hiding.

Croatia must seek justice for Jean-Michel and other victims by having Spasoja Petković extradited and destroying whatever time Spasoja has left as a free man by giving him a life sentence for taking the lives of others in the most horrific ways imaginable.

Jean-Michel’s legacy sparked a fire in my own heart when I turned 18. His sacrifice and that of Vukovar inspired my commitment to drop everything and make my own journey to Croatia in 1992, driven by the desire to honour the memory of the brave defenders of Vukovar. The path he paved was our path to freedom, and the city he defended is once again free. Our identities are not confined to borders; they are woven through our actions and the connections we forged together to fight against tyranny.

With the current attack on our HOS salute, “Za Dom Spremni,” by those who idolize the communist partisans and continuously campaign to make everything a World War II discussion point, Jean-Michel’s memory is a timely reminder that “Za Dom Spremni” was our salute during the homeland war for independence in the 1990s and must be and deserves to be honoured with pride and respect. HOS and “Za Dom Spremni” are what Jean-Michel proudly wore on his sleeve and in his heart. Now, the entire world is honouring his memory together with his native France and the Croatian homeland for which he was ready to defend until his last day.

As we remember Jean-Michel Nicolier, let us celebrate not only his life but also the indelible mark he left on our hearts. He was more than a soldier; he was a symbol of hope and resilience, reminding us that a love for freedom can transcend origins. In his memory, let us carry forward the spirit of unity and dedication, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire new generations to serve and protect whenever there may be a calling.

So we carry you, Jean-Michel-in the promise to look after your family as you once looked after our nation. Rest now in peace and fly free across the Croatian skies and lands you fought to liberate. Rest as a son of France and the hero Croatia adopted. May the bells echo your name, a man of courage, unadorned.

Rest in peace, Jean-Michel Nicolier. You were born as a Frenchman, but you will forever be remembered as a Croatian hero. In your honour, we salute you as you did us, Za Dom Spremni.