George Vojnovich in 1943.
George Vojnovich now.
He was handsome back then!
Posted on 10/15/2010 10:08:57 AM PDT by Ravnagora
Edited on 10/15/2010 10:12:17 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
George Vujnovich at home in Jackson Heights, Queens. On Sunday, he is to receive a Bronze Star for his role in a daring rescue of more than 500 Allied forces airmen during World War II.
For more than 50 years, George Vujnovich was a mild-mannered salesman working away at his small business in Queens and living a quiet life on a quiet block in Jackson Heights. He never spoke, even to his closest friends, about his secret role organizing one of the greatest rescue missions of World War II.
(Excerpt) Read more at cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Ping!
Please remember this the next time someone on this forum tries to tell you that Serbs were not our ally in WWI and WWII. In this case an American of Serbian ancestry.
Good post.
George Vojnovich in 1943.
George Vojnovich now.
He was handsome back then!
The OSS agent named Musilin, (3rd from left, standing) pictured here...
...had been a linebacker for the University of Pittsburgh prior to the war. During his insertion to the Balkans in support of Operation Halyard, he became the heaviest man recorded on the allied side to make a parachute jump during the war :-)
Hi Boka!
I posted the “George Now” photo, but it was removed by the Moderator due to being a New York Times photo. The 1943 photo, though, is a personal photo of his.
And yes, I agree, very handsome!
Rav
*****
Above: George Vujnovich (standing, right) greets Nick Lalich (standing, center, with mustache) and the last group of downed airmen returning from Pranjane, Yugoslavia, on December 28, 1944.There are lots more photos here
Great story—remarkable man, in remarkable times.
I love the old photos of that time and the stories behind them.
We were a great people... will we be again?
My comment submitted to the New York Times
on Friday, October 15, 2010:
“Thank you very much for this lovely tribute to George Vujnovich. I know him personally and am not only impressed with his military career, but with him as a man. He was and is a man of true character – a gentle, humble soul, who did great and important things in his life. What pleases me most is that this well-deserved award is being bestowed upon him while he is still living.”
Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
*****
We still are, it's our government --the people we keep electing-- who suck!
I found this copy of a video on YouTube. I recall seeing the original and getting really choked up!
My dad was US Army during WWII and had nothing to do with this rescue, but if he had, I'd wish he found people like this to save him.
Great video... thanks.
My grandfather (rest his soul) was in the USN for 20 years and on a battle ship during WWII. Most everything I know, that is good, came from the teachings of that great man... I miss him dearly, as well as his strong and wonderful bride, and his only daughter, my mom.
I know, we all lost much when we lost that generation of wonderful people. My father has been gone for ten years, and I still miss him more than words can say. He was my hero, too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.