His name is Milo Radulovich, and his story is remarkable. Yet many people probably know little about this American citizen of Montenegrin (Serbian) descent.

Radulovich died Nov. 19 at the age of 81.

I counted him as a friend even though ours was not a close relationship (I only met him a few years ago).

I counted him as a friend even though I only spoke with him face-to-face twice (he loved to talk and tell stories).

I counted him as a friend even if most people would describe us only as casual acquaintances (two weeks ago he might not have remembered my name).

But most of all, I counted him as a friend because I wanted to be the friend of one of the most principled individuals I ever met. I had a deep respect for this man, who became a victim of an out-of-control politician with a personal agenda.

Milo Radulovich is a man to model. The announcement of his death was the shortest (91 words) of eight milestones on the Briefing page in Time magazine. What made him eligible for a milestone mention apparently didn't qualify him for the lead article. That was taken by Joe Nuxhall, a 16-year professional baseball pitcher who won 135 games and later became the Cincinnati Reds announcer. Nuxhall's accomplishments were impressive, but I'm not so sure he needed to muster up nearly as much courage as Radulovich found in his soul when he stood up against all odds and fought for what was right.

Radulovich was not nearly as famous as Edward R. Murrow, who is known as setting the early standards for journalism, specifically in the broadcast arena. But Radulovich and Murrow will forever be linked together, just like McCarthyism and United States Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

In the language of the craft of journalism, Radulovich was the "back story" in one of Murrow's greatest and most significant storytelling efforts, and he deserves to be credited with an assist in Murrow's success and helping to lead a necessary directional change in America.

Radulovich, 28 at the time, was one of several targets for McCarthy in the Red Scare of communists hiding behind every tree.

The strong suggestions of Radulovich's loyalties, or anti-American loyalty, contributed to McCarthy's demise after Murrow exposed the entire travesty.

All the details are a bit complicated to explain in a newspaper column, but for an entertaining and educational night that presents a much clearer picture in black-and-white about the Murrow-Radulovich-McCarthy connection and era, rent the 2005 film "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Radulovich's "sin" that cast the communist fishing net upon him came in 1953 when the military told Radulovich, an Air Force lieutenant, that he would be discharged if he did not renounce his father, who was suspected of being a communist sympathizer (along with Milo's sister), all because of a Serbian newspaper.

Apparently, the military and others in positions of power wouldn't consider all the facts, including the key reason the father was reading a Serbian newspaper - it was the only language the immigrant knew fluently, and he was interested in keeping up on his native Yugoslavia.

CBS, Murrow's old network, gave Radulovich a grand send-off on Nov. 20 with a report by Bill Plante that can be found at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories /2007/11/20/eveningnews /main3528798.shtml. It ended with this statement: "Radulovich wasn't the only American deemed a security risk. But he was one who chose to fight back."

His was a stand that took unusual courage in an era of fear. The same can be said of Murrow.

The Milo Radulovich I briefly knew was a humble, kind, considerate and appreciative man. He treasured the freedoms and opportunities he experienced as an American.

I remember asking him how he felt after watching a Seattle screening of "Good Night, and Good Luck," specifically what he thought about actor David Strathairn's portrayal of Murrow.

"That was Murrow," he said, tears filling his eyes, continuing his personal connection by repeating: "That WAS Murrow."

History is a great teacher. Even today, more than 50 years later, we have much to learn from Murrow, his ethical and principled journalistic practices of the time, and Radulovich, a lesser-known but equally impressive hero who helped change America.

One lesson that seems paramount in my mind is that freedom isn't always free. There is a price many have paid, and a price that will continue to be gladly paid by others.

(You can reach editor John Irby at 250-8266 or john.irby@;bismarcktribune.com and go to http:/ /www.bismarcktribune.com/blog/?wthepaper&e_id2671/ to read his blog.)