Palaich, Michael: For Baka's Homeland

WINNER OF CROATIA'S 2020 AWARD FOR BEST BOOK ON THE HOMELAND WAR ¿¿FOR BAKA'S HOMELAND is a compelling eyewitness account of an American who was first recruited into the Croatian Liberation Movement at the age of twenty-five. The author's personal story details how the love for his Grandmother (Baka) led to his love for her people, her culture and ultimately to a desire to assist her homeland in realizing its centuries-old quest to achieve independence. The author openly shares his personal journey from the sometimes-violent streets of Detroit to the war-torn streets of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. After traveling acrosss four continents to produce a documentary on post-WWII Yugoslav war crimes, he created his own news agency, and became a Registered Foreign Agent for the Repubolic of Croatia during the country's War of Independence. Palaich was ultimately indicted by the US government for arms smuggling. After more than two decades, Palaich finally reveals the full story, the historical people he met along the way and the unbelievable reason he is a free man today,

Michael Palaich is a third-generation Croatian-American and producer of the documentary film "The Bleiburg Tragedy." He is a contributor to several documentaries on the subject of Yugoslav war crimes. His role in Croatia's liberation movement began in 1979 when he was recruited at the age of twenty-five. That recruitment led him on a long journey that began with anti-Yugoslav street demonstrations and ended with him becoming a Registered Foreign Agent for the Republic of Croatia during Croatia's Homeland War. During Croatia's War of Independence, he created the Pan National News Agency, served as a correspondent for the Croatian Information Center, WXYT Radio and Soldier of Fortune magazine. Ultimately, Palaich was indicted by the American government in 1996 and charged with smuggling weapons and night-vision equipment destined for Croatian forces during Croatia's Homeland War. Palaich graduated Cum Laude from Wayne State University where he earned a BA degree in Political Science and Psychology. He is a father to two grown children and a grandfather to two grandchildren. Palaich is retired and lives in Croatia and Arizona with his wife, Sandra. He actively serves in the Prison Ministry for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.