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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>

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...

"The first meeting with the General was very brief. Two Canadians, one British airman, and myself were trying to get to the coast to find a way out of Yugoslavia. We were met by Chetnik soldiers and brought to Mihailovich's headquarters. We spoke only to the General's staff members for about half an hour. We told them we were on our way to the coast after having been in their country for over 50 days. We asked for help to get to the coast. It was then that General Mihailovich came into the room. After being briefed by his Staff,...

On a beautiful summer morning in June of 2007, I took a drive out to Libertyville, Illinois for the purpose of taking photos of the new memorial monument that had been erected and dedicated to Voyvoda Momchilo Djujich, a highly revered Chetnik commander under the command of Serbia's General Draza Mihailovich in World War II. When I arrived at St. Sava Monastery, the Serbian Orthodox Church that was home to this new memorial, I found the grounds to be even more lovely and peaceful than I had hoped they would be. The experience exceeded my expectations as the beauty of...

Frederick Heydenau In 1943, a second major novel on Draza Mihailovich and the Chetnik guerrillas was published in the United States by E.P. Dutton in New York. The novel, "The Wrath of the Eagles: A Novel of the Chetniks", was written by Austrian-born émigré author Frederick Heydenau who recounted the emergence and exploits of the guerrilla resistance movement led by Draza Mihailovich. Book Review "The Wrath of the Eagles: A Novel of the Chetniks" by Frederick Heydenau Published by E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., New York. Translated from German by Barrows Mussey. 318 pp. As more and more news accounts...

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...

General Draza Mihailovich Awaits the Verdict // Carl Savich on the Mihailovich Trial Coverage in LIFE Magazine July 15, 1946 In the July 15, 1946 issue, LIFE magazine reported on the Draza Mihailovich trial in an article entitled “Mihailovich Awaits the Verdict”. LIFE photographer John Phillips took pictures of Draza Mihailovich before the Communist military court, smoking a pipe, drinking a bottle of beer, and lying in his bed in his cell reading a book. In a photo essay entitled “Mihailovich: Chetnik leader fights for his life before open Yugoslav court-martial”, Phillips also photographed a military guard, wearing a cap...

Aleksandra's Note: The following is a terrific book review and commentary on George Sava's "The Chetniks" by Carl Savich, who captures the true spirit of what this story conveys. To all the old Chetniks, the true blue freedom fighters who continue to carry the Chetnik spirit in their hearts and have passed it along to their children and grandchildren who look upon them as real heroes, I extend best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving 2009. Those of us who came after you, and who have had the privilege to meet you and know you, will be forever grateful that you...

A Tribute to Major Richard L. Felman, of the United States Air Force, for the 10th Anniversary of his passing in honor of Veterans Day, 2009 Major Richard L. Felman U.S.A.F. May 29, 1921 - November 13, 1999 Major Felman, kneeling and saluting, as the wreath is laid at the eternal flame in Daley Plaza, Chicago, for the 50th Anniversary commemoration of "Operation Halyard", May 1994. Photo by A. Rebic. He never stopped. It became his mission in life. For 55 years, over half of the 20th Century, Major Richard L. Felman of the United States Air Force worked ceaselessly...

Testimony of Captain Walter R. Mansfield, first American Liaison Officer with General Mihailovich, before the Commission of Inquiry Captain Walter R. Mansfield, U.S. General Draza Mihailovich 1943 MR. KIENDL TO CAPTAIN MANSFIELD: You never saw any evidence of collaboration all the time you were there? CAPTAIN MANSFIELD: I never saw any evidence of collaboration between Mihailovich personally and the Germans. Q: Did you ever hear any reports from any Americans to the effect that there was such collaboration between Mihailovich and the Germans? A: I have only heard reports to the contrary, that there was none. From the first day's...

Following the successful organized uprising, the first of its kind in occupied Europe, by the Serbian resistance forces under the command of Serbia’s General Draza Mihailovich that not only threatened Germany’s southern flank in Europe and her occupation of Serbia after Yugoslavia fell to Hitler in April of 1941, but critically delayed Hitler’s planned attack on the Soviet Union that summer, the Germans retaliated. But it wasn’t in the usual way, man to man, soldier to soldier. The method of Nazi retaliation initiated against the Serbs was unprecedented, and the target was the civilian population. Hitler’s aim was to suppress...

NOTE: In an era when it's still "politically incorrect" to recognize the valuable contributions and legacy of the Serbs, most politicians still don't have the guts to support any cause or action that reflects "positively" on Serbia or the Serbians. Senator George Voinovich, Republican of Ohio, is one of the rare ones who is not concerned about "political correctness" in such matters, and for that he should be applauded. Ohio Senator George V. Voinovich has sent out congratulatory letters to the winners of "The Forgotten 500 Book Report Contest 2009" and Vasilije "Vaso" Katanic has graciously shared his letter on...

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...

REVIEW BY CARL SAVICH EIGHT BAILED OUT By Major James M. Inks, U.S.A.F. Edited by Lawrence Klingman. Illustrations by S/Sgt. Morton D. Rosenfeld and M/Sgt. John H Schuffert. NY: W.W. Norton and Company, 1954. Reprint: NY: Popular Library, 1963. On July 28, 1944, eight members of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber bailed out over German-occupied Yugoslavia after the plane sustained damaged following a bombing mission on the Ploesti oil installations in Romania. The American crew landed by parachute behind enemy lines in German-occupied Montenegro where they were rescued by Serbian Chetnik guerrillas, who hid the downed airmen from German troops....

BELGRADE -- The military intelligence services have submitted information to the State Commission that General Dragoljub Mihailovich is buried on Ada Ciganlija. According to the State Commission on Establishing the Truth about the Murder of Dragoljub Mihailovich, digging will shortly begin next to the gates of a former prison on Ada as part of the search for Mihailovich’s remains, writes daily Novosti. “This is the first time that a state body has submitted tangible knowledge of the execution and burial of General Mihailovich. The conditions have therefore been created to begin excavations at that location,“ one member of the commission...

Plaque in Pranjani dedicated to the Halyard Mission on September 12, 2004. The plaque next to it reflects the same inscription in the Serbian language. Photo courtesy of OSS Halyard Mission radioman Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian Serb soldiers in front of the Halyard Mission monument first dedicated in September of 2004,in Pranjani, Serbia August 15, 2009. Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. John Cappello Ohio National Guard troops that are in Serbia doing work on schools in South Serbia. They are working with Serb soldiers, some of which are also in the photo. The older folks are those who participated in assisting...

MAJOR RICHARD L. FELMAN OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE HALYARD MISSION RESCUE OPERATION CHICAGO, ILLINOIS May 31, 1994 Transcription of Major Felman's Speech by Aleksandra Rebic ***** “Distinguished guests… Very Distinguished guests… Reverend Clergy… Fellow airmen who were with me when we were shot downover Yugoslavia in 1944 and Bracho i Sestre (Brothers and Sisters)… 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 now, one of the most...