Local man nominated for Medal of Honor

FREMONT — Art Jibilian could receive the Medal of Honor for a World War II mission he was part of for nearly five months in 1944.

Recently, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, introduced a bill asking President Barack Obama to award the Fremont man the military's highest honor for his actions behind enemy lines during a successful mission known as Operation Halyard.

In that mission, more than 500 soldiers from the United States and other countries were rescued. Jibilian was a radio operator at the time, and volunteered for the "Halyard Mission". He thought it was going to be a 10-day mission to rescue 50 men, but it lasted about five months.

The mission was documented in a 2007 book called “The Forgotten 500,” by Gregory A. Freeman.

Jibilian was about 20 years old at the time of the mission, and was a member of the Office of Strategic Services, which became the Central Intelligence Agency.

Operation Halyard was the largest allied airlift operation behind enemy lines during WWII. More than 500 soldiers were rescued from Nazi-controlled territory in the hills of Yugoslavia.

When asked what the 86-year-old thought about the possibility of receiving the nation’s highest military honor he said, “It’s not about me. It’s about (Gen. Drazha) Mihailovich and the Serbians and what they did for our boys.”

“The Serbs saved 513 American boys, and for that we owe them a debt,” Jibilian said, noting the Serbian people fed the American soldiers when they didn’t have enough to eat for themselves, and risked their lives to hide them. Jibilian has made it a personal mission to thank Mihailovich any chance he gets.

“He did too much for us,” he said, noting Mihailovich, leader of the Royal Yugoslav Army, was labeled a collaborator and traitor by Yugoslavian ruler Josip Broz Tito.

The village that hid and fed the downed airmen was under the guidance of Mihailovich.

Jibilian wasn’t surprised when the mission took longer than estimated, because it didn’t matter how long it took.

“We had one purpose and that was to get the boys out,” Jibilian said. “I don’t know if I could have done what the Serbs did.”

A news release from Latta’s office said: “It truly is an honor to introduce H.R. 3496, which will fully recognize the heroic actions of Mr. Arthur Jibilian and his key participation in ‘Operation Halyard.’ Through his heroism, over 500 brave allied pilots were safely returned to their families.”

Jibilian was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1943.

Jibilian’s wife, Jo, said, “I’m very proud of him. We met in college and I know this is all very dear to him.”

E-mail Leslie Bixler at lbixler@gannett.com

The 65th anniversary of Operation Halyard

Above: The 65th anniversary of Operation Halyard was marked on Saturday in
Pranjani, near Gornji Milanovac, during which the joint team of Yugoslav Royal Army and American service evacuated more than 500 American airmen during World War II, Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) reported. The representatives of the US Embassy in Belgrade, Ohio National Guard, Serbian Government and Army of Serbia laid the wreaths on a monument in Pranjani.

The following was taken from an email corresepondance between John Cappello and Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian regarding the rescue of the 500 American pilots:

From: Art Jibilian [mailto:ajibilian@woh.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 4:25 PM
To: Cappello, John T (Belgrade); Milana Bizic; Aleksandra Rebic; David VUICH; MICHAEL PAPICH
Cc: Brian McMahon; Bill Hirzell; Bill David; blume freunde; Bob Chirdonx
Subject: Re: Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the "Halyard Mission"

Hey John! That is the corn field that I landed in.......but the chicken coop that Muselin demolished is no longer in existence! Pictures brought back a lot of memories.

On my behalf, and the 513 Americans that the Serbs saved, please ask all the youngsters to take their 80, 85, 90, plus years old relatives gently in their arms and give them 513 kisses, one for each American that they rescued..........and thank them for me and on behalf of the American people who are becoming aware of their great contribution to the Allied victory

Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian

----- Original Message -----

From: Cappello, John T (Belgrade)
To: Art Jibilian ; Milana Bizic ; Aleksandra Rebic ; David VUICH ; MICHAEL PAPICH
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 9:50 AM
Subject: Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the "Halyard Mission"

I would like to inform you of the memorial celebration that took place on Galovica Field, in Pranjani, Serbia on Saturday, 15 August.

To commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the beginning of the "Halyard Mission", the US Embassy organized a wreath laying ceremony at the site of the first flights that rescued over 500 US airmen. With the assistance of the Serb Ministry of Defense and the Serb Ministry of Labor and Social Policy the event was a successful commemoration of the mission. It is important to note that this is the first time the Serb government has officially recognized and participated in such an event commemorating the partnership of US-Serb forces during this mission.

Here is an example of the press coverage of the event:

65th Anniversary of Evacuation of 500 American Pilots

The 65th anniversary of Operation Halyard was marked on Saturday in

Pranjani, near Gornji Milanovac, during which the joint team of

Yugoslav Royal Army and American service evacuated more than 500

American airmen during World War II, Radio and Television of

Serbia (RTS) reported.

The representatives of the US Embassy in Belgrade, Ohio

National Guard, Serbian Government and Army of Serbia laid the

wreaths on a monument in Pranjani.

Charge d’Affaires Jennifer Brush led the delegation of

American Embassy in Belgrade, and the USAF Attaché John Capello

was also present.

Brush said that America could never forget what Serbian

people did for their airmen.

Some 1.000 members of US Air Force were struck down in

the summer of 1944 above the occupied Yugoslavia, and the

significant number ended up in Serbia.

During the serie s of day and night flights, the joint team of

Yugoslav Royal Army in the country led by general Draza Mihailovic

and American Service for Strategic Affairs evacuated more than 500

American airmen from the village of Pranjani.

The rescue mission included the action of low-numbered

troops against German forces and this jeopardized the whole village

protected by American military staff.

Operation Halyard was marked as one of the most

successful rescue mission behind enemy lines in the history of

warfare, RTS reported.

You will also find some photos of the event. It was a beautiful day in Pranjani, and there was a terrific turnout.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

John

John Cappello

Lt Col, USAF

Air Attaché, DAO Belgrade

This message is UNCLASSIFIED based on definitions provided in E.O. 12958.

Photo of American pilots saved by Serbians in 1944 during World War II

The photos below were taken from the book "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman:

Letter to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York from the American Hero, Arthur Jibilian, who was saved by Serbs in World War II