[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TRIBUTE TO MIODRAG ``JOE'' DJOKIC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you an amazing story 
of a man who conquered great adversity in life and emerged as a fine 
American citizen. Miodrag ``Joe'' Djokic tragically passed away 
recently in his home in Collbran, Colorado. Though he is gone, he will 
live in the hearts of all who knew him and be remembered for many years 
by those who have heard his amazing story.
  Joe's story begins in 1912, in Sarbanovac, Serbia. As a young man, he 
was drafted into the Yugoslav Army to fight in World War II. Soon after 
the fighting broke out, he was captured by the German Army and taken to 
a labor camp. He was repeatedly moved from camp to camp across Central 
Europe. Eventually, he ended up in a displaced persons camp in West 
Germany where he and his wife, Helena, remained until 1951.
  To fulfill his dream of becoming an American citizen, he gathered up 
his family and moved to Colorado. There he worked countless hours as a 
farmer and a dedicated father. Although his accomplishments in life 
were many, none were as weighty as the legacy that he leaves in his 
family. He is survived by his wife, Helena, their son, Sveto, his wife, 
Anne, and their daughter. These fine people will undoubtedly carry on 
the legacy of hard work and dedication to their family that their 
father embodied.
  Although his life's accomplishments will long be remembered and 
admired, most who knew him well will remember Joe, above all else, as a 
friend. It is clear that the multitude of those who have come to know 
Joe as a friend will be worse off in his absence. However, Mr. Speaker, 
I am confident that, in spite of this profound loss, Joe's family and 
friends can take solace in the knowledge that each is a better person 
for having known him.

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