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The Bosnian war has been a confusing one for many Americans. Seeming age-old hatreds erupted in 1992 to cause the bloodiest fighting on European soil since World War II. In four years, more than 200,000 people - most of them civilians - were killed. Millions more were left homeless.

Throughout the fighting, European counterparts plodded along with numerous peace proposals, all of which got nowhere. Finally, the United States got involved. Talks culminated in around-the-clock sessions held in seclusion at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. On Nov. 21, 1995, the leaders of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia initialed a comprehensive peace accord that called for about 60,000 NATO troops (more than 20,000 Americans). Within weeks, a extremely fragile peace had descended upon the shattered nation.

"Assignment: Bosnia" sent two Enquirer staffers, reporter Cameron McWhirter and photographer Glenn Hartong, to the war-torn nation with Omar Velagic, 21, of Loveland, a Bosnian whose family left Sarajevo just before war erupted in 1992. Mr. Velagic returned with The Enquirer to visit his grandparents and destroyed city.

The series chronicled that return, while also looking at the war's impact on ordinary Bosnians. They spoke with Muslims, Serbs and Croats from all walks of life about the war and, importantly, the prospects for a lasting peace. They interviewed leading political and military officials about the status of the Dayton Peace accords.

McWhirter and Hartong also visited an American base and profiled an American soldier from Cincinnati.

After their return, McWhirter continued to report on various aspects of the Bosnian story, including the plane crash that killed Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.

About the staffers

Glenn Hartong, 35, has been on the staff of The Enquirer for seven years. He traveled to Hanoi in 1990 and won the 1990 Best of Gannett award for photographs chronicling "Operation Smile." He also won the 1993 Best of Gannett award for color photography.

Story list

Journey to a shattered land Published Jan 28, 1996

A History of conflict Jan 28, 1996

A last call home, then a call to duty Jan 29, 1996

Streets of Zagreb resurrect memories Feb. 1, 1996

'My best friend for a decade just disappeared' Feb. 7, 1996

One family's story: Broken up by war Feb. 8, 1996

War-related stress major health concern Feb. 8, 1996

Service a matter of honor Feb. 11, 1996

Tuzla welcomes American troops: 'They are our friends.' Feb. 14, 1996

Serbs in Sarajevo: A very uneasy peace Feb. 16, 1996

War-zone duty is frozen hell for Westwood soldier Feb. 19, 1996

He leaves a homeland of too many tragedies Feb. 20, 1996

U.S. troops face danger: 'Really, nowhere is safe right now' March 10, 1996

Getting to the heart of Bosnia March 19, 1996

Brown's Bosnia mission: Rebuilding ecomomy crucial to peace April 4, 1996

A lesson from Bosnia: How prejudice can destroy a nation April 14, 1996

Dayton accords stopped shooting, but wounds of war still bleed April 21, 1996

Tristate finding ways to help April 21, 1996

Family ties pull Bosnian teens after a year in America June 9, 1996

War on hold, but pain continues Feb. 23, 1997

Westwood soldier committed to mission Feb. 23, 1997

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