President of Croatia. He was born in the Croatian village of Veliko Trgovisce. Most of his family was killed pursuing political venues. His mother died when Tudjman was seven, his brother was slain during World War II and his father was killed during his activities supporting an independent Croatia. He rose quickly to become the youngest general in the Yugoslav People's Army during the rule of Marshal Josip Broz Tito. But later became a nationalist dissident resulting in imprisonment. Once he was in power as President of Croatia, he is credited with the Republic of Croatia achieving full sovereignty, independence, and international recognition brought on mainly by military action of its army. Franjo Tudjman had a history of heart problems and received treatment at a Washington clinic and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. An estimated 100,000 people turned out in a steady drizzle to line the route of Tudjman's last journey from the presidential palace to Mirogoj Cemetery where a military graveside service was conducted before several thousands mourners. Church bells across the country tolled, sirens wailed and fighter jets flew over the burial ground in a final salute as Franjo Tudjman's remains were entombed in a black granite crypt erected on the doorstep of the cemetery's Christ the King Church. Later in the day, a requiem mass in memory of President Tudjman was held at the Zagreb Cathedral Assumption of Virgin Mary & St Stephen, conducted by special Papal envoy Cardinal Franjo Kuharic. In attendance were all Croatian bishops and several hundred priests. Besides the late President's family, attending the service were numerous officials from Croatia and members of the diplomatic corps with many world leaders shunning the funeral.