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On May 13, 1946, the Committee for a Fair Trial for General Mihailovich announced that a Commission of Inquiry had been established in New York for the purpose of taking testimonies of American officers and airmen whose request to be heard as witnesses at the trial of General Draza Mihailovich in Belgrade, Yugoslavia had been refused by the Tito government.The following is a transcript of Captain George S. Musulin’s testimony before the Commission of InquiryPROCEEDINGS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1946 Committee for a Fair Trial for Draza Mihailovich Commission of Inquiry in the Matter of Depositions of American and Allied...

Happy Fourth of July!May God Bless America.A.R. When the Will defies Fear, When Duty throws the gauntlet down to Fate, When Honor scorns to compromise with Death – That is Heroism. Robert Green Ingersoll______________________Part One of Two On the face of it, they appear to be ordinary old men, going about their daily business, happy to be alive. But they have a story to tell, each and every one of them. They’ll never tell you they weren’t scared. They won’t lie to you that way. They’ll never tell you that it was “nothing”. They were scared to death, and it...

Ohio reporter Jennifer Boresz has just received word that she has been nominated for an Emmy award for her July 2008 human interest story on the American veterans rescued by Serbia's General Draza Mihailovich during the Halyard Mission rescue operation of 1944 in World War II. The following is the story issued in July of 2008 for which she has received her 2009 Emmy nomination. The link will provide a video slide show well worth looking at as we remember the anniversary of D-Day. ___________________ July 4, 2008 By Jennifer Boresz YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN (WTOL) - As we celebrate Independence Day,...

Fifteen years ago on May 31st, 1994, Serbs and Americans commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Halyard Mission rescue operation, a glorious moment in their common history as allies. As we mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day with so many of our American and Serbian WWII veterans that celebrated together that day in May of 1994 no longer with us, let's remember them, their heroism, and the historical milestone they shared... Aleksandra Rebic____________________________________ Americans and Serbs from all over the United States and Canada gathered together on May 31, 1994 in Chicago to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 'Halyard...

WORLD WIDE CELEBRATIONOF THE HALYARD MISSION HEROES!THE FORGOTTEN 500 BOOK REPORT CONTEST!Apart from the generous financial rewards kindly donated by various individuals as the prizes for the top three best book reports, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and the “Runner Up” reports that finish in the “Top Five” will be posted on my three websites on the internet dedicated to recognizing and celebrating Serbian heroes, among them General Draza Mihailovich, who was ultimately responsible for the success of the Halyard Mission Rescue Operation and the saving of the American airmen whose story shines in The Forgotten 500. The top five...

Jibilian is shown with Capt. Gary Bentley (right) of the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing. Photo by MaryAnn Kromer. Navy veteran Arthur Jibilian lived in Tiffin and worked at Basic for 28 years. Now a resident of Fremont, Jibilian spoke of his harrowing experiences in the European Theater of World War II. Last month Jibilian addressed the Midday Fellowship at St. John United Church of Christ in Tiffin. Accompanying Jibilian were his wife, Jo, his daughter, Deborah Jibilian, and Capt. Gary Bentley of the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing. Jibilian gave some background information about himself...

I’m about to tell you a story that, after you’ve read it, if your blood isn’t boiling . . . well, you maybe ought to book an appointment with your favorite mortician. Armchair Generals in the Pentagon during WWII and their civilian counterparts and bosses in the US State Department should have been taken out and given, at a minimum, a sound caning or horse-whipping . . . and at the worst, faced a firing squad. Their absolute ineptitude and politicking almost cost the lives of 513 Allied airmen and, ultimately, ruined the reputation and resulted in the firing squad...

Dear friends, Mike Papich of California has discovered that the discount bookseller Edward R. Hamilton has listed The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II by Gregory A. Freeman as one of the newest arrivals. The book has been discounted to only $5.95. Papich thinks it’s up to all of us Serbs to make the story go further. “I propose that we inform Serbs about this book sale. We should buy all of these books and place them in Public Libraries to help keep the momentum we...

Dnevne Novine Press 24 Aug 08 Halyard English Translation from Serbian RAVNA GORA MEN RESCUED 660 AIRMEN The American Air Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Lt Col John Cappello, USAF, speaks about the Halyard Mission that was led by General Draza Mihailovich in WWII and presents the little known story about the achievements of the Pranjani villagers in Serbia. At the beginning of May 2008 at the American Corner in Kragujevac a very specific exhibition of photographs was opened. Its title was the “Air Bridge”. The citizens of Serbia had an opportunity for the first time to be...

This story was posted on FR back in 2007, but it's fitting to repeat now, since "Jibby" is in many of your prayers at this time. I'd like to share the story below about an O.S.S. World War Two veteran of the Halyard Mission rescue operation returning to Serbia 60 years later to pay tribute to the Serbian and American veterans who played out one of the great, heroic stories of World War Two that has remained largely hidden all these years. ____________________________________ The above is the back of signed photo given to OSS Radioman Arthur Jibilian by General Mihailovich...

World War II Navy vet Arthur Jibilian, whom I have profiled somewhat and who spent the greater part of his life trying to clear the good name of Draza Mihailovic and extract gratitude rather than war-making from our nation for the Serbian nation, is dying of Leukemia. His doctor has given him a maximum of six months, which he will be spending with his family, seemingly confident that his beloved America will one day get back on the right foot with the nation it has so wronged, Serbia. Below are his two most recent letters to me:Dear Julia,If you do...

TOLEDO (WTOL) -- As families remembered their fathers this weekend, the community paid tribute to a local World War II survivor. Toledo Metcalf Field played host to the Plane Fun weekend, where the last living member of Operation Halyard was flown in on a bomber plane. News 11's Tanieya Lewis shares Arthur Jilbian's story. It is the first time in 60 years Arthur Jibilian is seeing these planes. They were flown by US pilots during WW II. Jibilian is the last survivor of Operation Halyard. That mission returned more than 500 American airmen home to their families. "I get goose...

Note: As America celebrates Veteran's Day this November of 2007 when things are so volatile in the world, it's good to hear from the veterans themselves about what remains most memorable about their service in the United States Military. WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN MAJOR RICHARD L. FELMAN OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IS A FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE HALYARD MISSION 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN CHICAGO, IL. May 31, 1994 Before I say a single word, I must first express my everlasting gratitude to the City of Chicago and the Department of Defense today, for honoring the Halyard Mission. Until...

As U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter visits Serbia to pay tribute to the Halyard Mission heroes at Pranjani, in honor of America's Veteran's day holiday, I'd like to share the thoughts of one of America's great leaders on one of Serbia's greatest. FROM THE OFFICE OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RONALD REAGAN September 8, 1979 Mr. Michael Radenkovich Vice President California Citizens' Committee to Commemorate General Mihailovich Dear Mr. Radenkovich: Please convey to the California Citizen's Committee to Commemorate General Draza Mihailovich my sincere appreciation for their kind invitation to attend tonight's dinner to commemorate General Mihailovich. Unfortunately, prior committments prevent...

In honor of Ambassador Munter's Visit to historic Pranjani, Serbia to honor General Draza Mihailovich, his Serbian people, and the American veterans of the Halyard Mission, I'd like to share the story below about an O.S.S. veteran of the Mission returning to Serbia 60 years later to pay tribute to the Serbian and American veterans who played out one of the great, heroic stories of World War Two that has remained largely hidden all these years. THE AMERICAN RADIOMAN RETURNS TO SERBIA TO PAY TRIBUTE TO GENERAL MIHAILOVICH He is among the last of them. The last of the living...

November 8 , 2007 Embassy of the United States of America Belgrade Ambassador Munter Honors Serbian Families in Pranjani U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter will visit Pranjani on November 9, 2007 to honor Serbian families who saved the lives of hundreds of U.S. airmen shot down by Nazi forces during World War II. The Ambassador will present an official proclamation from the Governor of the State of Ohio, thanking the people of Pranjani on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Halyard rescue mission. The State of Ohio is proud to be an active partner with Serbia in...

The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War Two By Gregory A. Freeman Publisher: New American Library, 2007. New York. Review by Aleksandra Rebic When I asked author Gregory Freeman what drew him to the story of ‘Operation Halyard’, he didn’t hesitate: “My interests as an author usually lead me to stories of heroism and sacrifice that went unrecognized for too long, and the story of Operation Halyard fits the bill perfectly. I was drawn to the idea that not only was this an amazing tale of intrigue...