Return to Bosnia

BRIG (rtd) Howie Duffy served as a United Nations Military Observer between August 1992-August 1993, in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.

This mission was UNPROFOR. A small deployment of 4 officers before larger contingents arrived. During his 12-month deployment, he experienced a range of emotions and was exposed to the brutal realities of a civil war. It included being sieged inside Sarajevo for 4 months and leading the first UN mission into the Muslim enclave of Zepa.

Howie wanted to return to Sarajevo and Zepa to bring closure to these life-changing experiences for himself and to show his wife (with whom he wrote regularly during his deployment) where he served. He visited the 'Mandate of Memories Museum in Sarajevo, where he presented his UN beret and other memorabilia. He recommends a visit to the Museum for anyone who served in the Balkans.

The Commemorative Travel Fund

Howie received support from the Veterans' Affairs' Commemorative Travel Fund. We might be able to help you return to the place of your qualifying service. For more information, check out our website.

Commemorative Travel Contribution

The following is Howie's description, written in 1993 (now abbreviated for this article), of his mission to Zepa

Former Republic of Yugoslavia

Leading the first UNMO team into the Muslim enclave of Zepa

Captain Howard Duffy, New Zealand, UN Military Observer, 1993

I spent nine months in the former Yugoslavia, and a key moment for me was when I led the first United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) team to enter the Muslim enclave of Zepa.

Zepa is in eastern Bosnia, and it had been under attack from Serb forces. Reports described the town as under intensive artillery fire and in flames. It was agreed that a UNMO team would be sent into Zepa.

I was given five hours to get a team together and deploy. It then took us five days to reach Zepa. We were held up at Pale for a few days while the Bosnian Serb parliament discussed but failed to agree a peace plan. Another night was spent outside a Serb checkpoint waiting for clearance from General Mladic to let us through.

Following his approval, a Serb patrol escorted us to their position on the outskirts of Zepa, where they left us to proceed through no-man's land towards the Muslim positions. Trees had been felled across the road to block Serb tanks, so we got out of our vehicles and walked towards the Muslim frontline with only a blue helmet as protection. Every time we thought we were close, we called out "UNPROFOR" to avoid getting shot.

Instead, we met some very happy Muslim soldiers. They'd been expecting us for some time. They helped us into Zepa. Our arrival was very emotional.

Grown men cried and old people kissed us in gratitude. During the five days it had taken us to get there, the heavy shelling had continued.

We saw dead bodies in a mosque which had taken a direct impact through the roof.

We saw people living in caves and in makeshift shelters in the forest. They slowly came down from the mountains and back into their village.

Then the 'real' UNMO work began. We set up meetings between the factions and negotiated a demilitarised zone (DMZ). We conducted dead body exchanges and prepared for the arrival of the Ukrainian company, which was going to be responsible for the overall demilitarisation of the area.