She was (a typical teen-aged girl crazy about her horse at the time, same as I was at her age)originally from just north of Banja Luka. One day the Serbs came to tell her family that it would be better if they left their home. They fled north (along with her horse) to Former Sector West (which was at that time RSK-held) and her family were welcomed by a Serb family into their home. Then came "Op Flash" and Croat soldiers came and told her family to "get out of here, you Muslim scum" and shot her horse in the face, although she begged them not to. End result: Leila loved Serbs and hated Croats with a passion. She was one of the most mature and straight-thinking girls of her age I ever met in former Yugoslavia. Poor, dear Leila had to grow up fast. What a sweet girl she was, how much tragedy she endured.
Sometimes, I look at the duplicate photos of the horses of Leila and I , the photos she begged me to make and which I gave to her, in Former Sector North (who were released by their fleeing owners, later shot by Croat forces, as was necessary, I guess.) So terribly sad.
At the end of the UNCRO Missions in former Sectors North, South, and West, Leila had the opportunity to transfer to UNMIBH, to work among Bosnian Muslims. She chose instead to word in UNTAES, to try to help the Serbs of Former Sector East. I still pray for Leila. She would certainly make some good man a wonderful wife. I hope this came true for her.
Oh yeah, Leila's blondeness was a plus for me in my job. The Croat soldiers, knowing me (blonde American lady) and seeing me with Leila, assumed Leila was an American, too. Made life so much easier!