Mihailovich is the hero of this story but Mansfield is certainly a courageous, and fascinating figure. A graduate of Harvard Law; a Marine recruited into the OSS; a parachute insertion from 1,000 feet; unraveling the myriad conflicting interests, truths, half-truths, and lies of war time Yugoslavia; and ending up with a seat on the 2nd District Federal Appeals Court.
Mansfield is also a man of integrity.
I love the U.S. Military. I’m always blown away at what they are capable of and who they are individually, as well as together in a battlefield unit.
The Americans who ended up among the Mihailovich Serbs did everything possible to try to secure the opportunity to testify in Belgrade on behalf of General Mihailovich. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to do so. Though I can presume to emphathize, I can’t truly imagine how these Americans felt in their hearts on July 17th, 1946 when they learned that despite all their efforts, Mihailovich was executed by the Tito’s Yugo Communists, who were put in power in Yugoslavia, in large part, by the British, who had been America’s ally in the war.
It would make me crazy just thinking about it.
*****