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Arthur Jibilian, 86, speaking at the "Forgotten 500 Reunion" 'Lest we Forget' commemoration, Michigan June 17, 2009 Photo by Aleksandra Rebic Back of photograph with personal message from General Mihailovich to Arthur Jibilian in 1944. "To Mr. 'Jibby' Jibilian, an ally and friend in these difficult days in the battle for freedom" American airmen and OSS personnel with General Mihailovich, standing in the center of the photo with his hand over his heart, 1944. Arthur Jibilian is kneeling in the front row in front of General Mihailovich and Captain Nick Lalich. Arthur Jibilian, standing far right, in Pranjani, Serbia, 2004....

Last Monday [March 21, 2011] marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Arthur “Jibby” Jibilian, the WWII O.S.S. radioman who risked his life in Operation Halyard to help rescue more than 500 U.S. pilots who were shot down over Yugoslavia. This was done with brave assistance from the Tuskegee Airmen. The operation was part of the largest WWII rescue from behind enemy lines, and since it couldn’t have happened without the Serbs, the story has been suppressed and remains largely unknown to Americans. Few people can boast Jibby’s patriotic credentials, yet when our fighting men and women were sent...

WTOL Editorial Arthur Jibillian died last week after a long battle with leukemia. His inspiring story as a hero of the World War II Forgotten 500 rescue mission of downed American pilots has received a lot of attention. I last saw Mr. Jibillian at a rotary lunch in his honor. He reminded me, one more time, to call him Jibby -- even though the lunch was about him, he didn't want to talk about that. Instead, he thanked WTOL for the attention we helped bring to this remarkable war story. Jibby was a humble man. He wanted this story told...

<p>ART “Jibby” Jibilian was a hero whose World War II exploits were buried in the mark of global politics. In recent years, details have emerged of the daring, behind-enemy-lines rescue of hundreds of downed Allied airmen in which he played a prominent role. These details make clear that Mr. Jibilian, who died this month at 86, was indeed one of the greatest of the Greatest Generation.</p>

Below you will find a fine example of how a citizen can make a difference. After you read Milana Bizic's published "Letter to the Editor", you will find that the newspaper corrected its original headline to read the way it should have from the beginning. Thank you to Milana Bizic for her vigilance. Aleksandra Rebic ***** Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Letters to the Editor Tuesday, March 30, 2010 Huge differenceI thank Jack Kelly for his March 23 obituary on America's hero, Arthur Jibilian, the World War II Office of Strategic Services radioman who worked with Gen. Draza Mihailovich and the Serbs to...

Arthur Jibilian WTOL Toledo Aleksandra's Note: I had the great fortune, ironically due to unfortunate circumstances, of becoming acquainted with Debi Jibilian, Arthur's only daughter, in July of 2008. Early one morning, I received a voice mail message from her, where she identified who she was then proceeded to tell me that I needed to call her as soon as possible. It was one of those voice mails where you instinctively know it's not going to be "good news". I called as soon as I heard the message, and sure enough, it was bad news. Her Daddy had just been...

Arthur Jibilian January 1945 Arthur Jibilian June 2009 Today, Saturday March 27th, 2010, as the Jibilian family holds their "Celebration of Life" for Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian, I wanted to share with you some of the sentiments expressed by those that knew him over the years on hearing of his passing on March 21st, 2010 at the age of 86. Arthur Jibilian was not only respected and admired, he was loved, by people the world over, some who knew him personally and others who did not, but who knew of him and all that he did on behalf of Truth and...

Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian in 2009 FREMONT -- A local war hero and lone surviving member of 1944's Operation Halyard has died. Art Jibilian, 86, has been battling leukemia since July 2008. He died Sunday afternoon. Jibilian, a radio operator, was nominated for the military's highest honor for his actions during five months in 1944, helping to rescue hundreds of people from a German-occupied area in Serbia. Jibilian was one of three Office of Strategic Services agents who parachuted into central Serbia in August 1944 to rescue what he thought was 50 downed airmen. "We didn't find 50," Jibilian would later...

NOTE: The following story was published in the Herald Palladium of Southwest Michigan on the same day that Arthur Jibilian, who is featured at the end, passed away. My thanks to Don Alsbro of 'Lest we Forget' for making me aware of this story. Aleksandra Rebic ***** Don Alsbro, left, and Frank Buckles March 2010 Frank Buckles last weekend got a big smile on his face as the Lest We Forget veterans left his house and said they were looking forward to his 110th birthday in 2011. Buckles, 109, is America's last living veteran of World War I. The Lest...

For "Vidovdan" a quarterly Serbian magazine published in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. December 2009 More often than not, a war story is about killing and bloodshed. This is not one of those stories of death, but rather one of life. In fact, it’s about an incredible and unprecedented rescue in the hills of Yugoslavia during WWII. This is a story which should have been told long ago, but for political reasons was suppressed until recent years. It’s now told in a book authored by Gregory Freeman, ‘The Forgotten 500’. It is very aptly titled, and involves the heroics and sacrifices of...

The following story about Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian, OSS Radioman of the Halyard Mission Rescue Operation, was published in the November/December 2009 issue of BEACON, "A Joint Publication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio and the Ohio Masonic Home." Congratulations on winning the "Rufus Putnam Award" Arthur - yet another in a long list of well deserved recognitions of your contributions! A. Rebic ***** "Arthur Jibilian was presented the Rufus Putnam Distinguished Service Award at the Grand Lodge Annual Communication in October [2009]. The award is the highest honor presented annually by the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Brother Jibilian, a member...

An Open Letter to Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia: October 18, 2009 Dear President Tadic, My name is Aleksandra, and I'm an American. I was born and raised in America and live in the United States. I am of Serbian descent, the daughter of parents who came to this country after World War Two and made America their permanent home. I wish I could have attended the reception given in your honor in Cleveland, Ohio on September 20th, 2009. Several friends did attend, and everyone was so pleased to have had the opportunity to spend time with...

Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian, 86Forgotten WWII vets to get their due at the University of Toledo Homecoming event to fete alumni heroes The Toledo Blade By MEGHAN GILBERT-CUNNINGHAM BLADE STAFF WRITER OCTOBER 9, 2009 Arthur Jibilian, ever young, at 86 in 2009 Photo: The Toledo Blade Art Jibilian has been an American hero since 1944, but until recently he's lived his life in northwest Ohio without any recognition. The University of Toledo alumnus is now getting the kudos he deserves and is drawing attention to a misrepresented part of World War II history. Mr. Jibilian, 86, born and raised in Toledo...

In all the time I've known Arthur Jibilian personally, there's been one thing he's insisted on from Day One. He has been adamant that any and all attention that might come from his efforts to have 'Operation Halyard' recognized in the annals of history as the great and heroic WWII feat that it was to be focused on General Draza Mihailovich and his Serbian Chetniks. For Arthur Jibilian it was about Mihailovich, never about Jibilian. Well, Arthur, my friend, I'm afraid I must disrespect your wishes. You are, bit by bit, day by day, receiving the acclaim that you so...

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...

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...

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...