Dragutin Matić

Dragutin Matić (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгутин Матић; 10 January 1888 – 1 January 1970), known as Hawkeye , was a Serbian military scout during the Balkan Wars and World War I. He participated in all the battles of the Serbian army from 1910 through the end of World War I.

A photo of Matić taken in 1914 has become famous and has been featured on media such as postcards and record sleeves, leading Matić to be one of the most noted Serbian soldiers of his era. He died on 1 January 1970 in his native village of Kaletinac, Serbia.

Early life and youth (1888–1910) Dragutin Matić was born on 10 January 1888 in the village of Kaletinac on the slopes of Suva Planina. His father Peša and his grandfather Mata raised horses and from early age Matić learned the art of horse riding which later proved to be a decisive factor in recruiting into the cavalry.

His mother and father died when he was very young and his oldest brother Đorđe, nicknamed Đora, raised him and several other siblings. Thus, in his native village he was known as Dragutin Đorin (Đora's Dragutin).

Matić never attended any formal education, but he educated himself during his 9-year long military service.

When the First Balkan War broke out, he was still serving his military service, and he volunteered to take part in the war. He took part in both Balkan Wars and showed great courage in them. The photography depicted Matić with mustache and with full military gear during his mission. Soon after the photography was presented at the photo exhibition in New York City in 1916, and was later printed as a postcard when it became world-famous, symbolizing the Serbian struggle in the First World War. The soldier's name was not known and sometimes instead of a name there was an inscription under the photo "Oko sokolovo" or "Serbian soldier – scout on the Drina".

It was not until 1965 that Dragutin found out about this photograph. That year, the gramophone record March on the Drina with the famous photography on the front cover. His comrades-in-arms immediately recognized him and Kostadinka Matić from Niš, who knew Matić, bought the record and sent it by mail to Kaletinac, to his address.

Monuments and birth house In 1998, on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of the breakthrough at the Salonica front, a monument to Matić was erected in front of the Gadžin Han municipal building. It was consecrated by the then bishop of Niš and future patriarch Irinej. A commemorative plaque displayed at the Veterans' Club Building in Belgrade. The top reads "Hawkeye" and the bottom "In Defense of the Homeland 1914–2014" A memorial plaque with the famous image has been on display on the Veterans' Club Building in Belgrade since February 2015, where it was unveiled by then Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić for Statehood Day with the presence of general Ljubiša Diković, Chief of the Serbian General Staff, and Bratislav Gašić, Minister of Defence. The artist of the plaque was Mirko Mrkić Ostroški.

In the 2010s, there were plans to reconstruct the house in which Matić was born, his headstone, as well as the road leading to his native village of Kaletinac for an estimated four million dinars. The reconstruction was finished in June 2022 and the house is now open to tourists.

Medals Order of Karađorđe's Star, Kingdom of Serbia (x2) Order of the White Eagle, Kingdom of Serbia (x3)