American Serb History 101

Michael Papich initiated a book report contest for young readers the age of 18 or younger:  He donated $100 to the best book report written on The Forgotten 500.  Since first announcing this book report contest, additional offers of donations to the winners came in!

Among those who have offered to contribute to the contest reward was Branko Terzic, U.S. Delegate of HRH Crown Prince Alexander, who donated $200 to be dispersed among the first, second and third prize winners.

Another contributor was your BabaMim hostess, Milana (“Mim”) Bizic of Pennsylvania, who also contributed $100, to be dispersed between the top three winners of the Forgotten 500 Book Report contest. 

UPDATE:

Other contributors were Savo (Sam) Subotich, Catherine Jankovich, Sam and Dorothy Coso, and Curt (Bud) Diles, American Airman WWII rescued by the Mihailovich Serbs.
 
Michael Papich is a native of Windsor, Ontario. He currently lives in California and is a retired aerospace electrical engineer. He was one of the early Presidents of the St. Petka Church in San Marcos, California. In 1976, he hosted His Royal Highness Prince Aleksandar during the 200th anniversary there. Also honored at the banquet was Major Richard Felman, one of the over 500 rescued American airmen about whom the book was written. “It’s unfortunate that he is no longer alive as he would have promoted The Forgotten 500 with fervor,” says Papich.
 
Aleksandra Rebic, who published a review of Freeman’s book, supported Mr. Papich’s efforts, and all book reports to be considered for the contest were sent to her at ravnagora@hotmail.com.

Apart from the financial reward for the best essays, the winners' report were posted on Aleksandra’s three Blogs 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 book reports were also forwarded to Mr. Gregory Freeman, author of The Forgotten 500, and he kindly offered to provide a personalized, signed first edition of the book to the contest winner.
 
The guidelines for the book report contest were the following:
 
Writer must be 18 years old or younger.
There is no limitation on length.
Book Report needs to be written in the English language.
 
Report needed to explain why The Forgotten 500 by Gregory Freeman is an important book that should not be ‘forgotten’.
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Aleksandra Rebic graciously shared this letter from Senator George Voinovich that appears on her website blog about General Draza Mihailovich:  www.generalmihailovich.com

 Click lower right hand corner to enlarge letter--->

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Updates:

Thanks to the efforts of MANY people, led by Nenad Milenkovich, U.S. Congressman Joseph Crowley, Shawn Hodjati, Lt. Col. Steve Oluic, the S.U.C., Dana Maksimovich, Milton Papich, Mim Bizic, Aleksandra Rebic, etc.........

George Vujnovich was awarded the BRONZE STAR!

Click lower right hand corner to enlarge---->

Capt. Vujnovich's daughter speaking on behalf of the Vujnovich Family....... 10/17/10, NYC

Click lower right hand corner to enlarge ----->

Reason:  For Meritorious Achievement

Permanent Orders 242-37  August 20, 2010

Congratulations, George Vujnovich!

Read more about George at this site of

Aleksandra Rebic:

http://www.generalmihailovich.com/2010/09/major-george-vujnovich-serbian-american.html

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Capt. Vujnovich's daughter speaking at St. Sava's Cathedral Hall as George accepts his Bronze Star Award from the U.S. Government, 66 years later.

Here is a link to the CBS coverage of the event:

Story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/17/eveningnews/main6967283.shtml

Video:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6967314n&tag=morephotovideo

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_704881.html

Allegheny TIMES (Front Page) 10/19/10

http://www.timesonline.com/bct_news/news_details/article/1504/2010/october/18/-0e92c49da5.html

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An earlier story by Torsten Ove in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov. 23, 2008

93-year old's WWII feats are hidden no longer

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08328/930101-455.stm

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Another Post-Gazette article of July 31, 2009, by Jack Kelly

Trying to right a wrong

WWII airmen Honored for role in Rescue Operation

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09212/987716-84.stm

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A photo of the author, Gregory Freeman, at the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.

His famous book:

Here's the author's website:

http://www.gregoryafreeman.com/500.html

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The names of the winners of the contest seen here were printed in the American SRBOBRAN in their entirety on Wednesday,  Sept. 2, 2009

First Place:

Michele Popadich, age 15, Chicago Illinois.

Jovanka Potkonjak, age 11, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Second Place:

Tie!

Marica Potkonjak, age 15, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Andjelka Potkanjak, age 12 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

and:

Djuka Potkanjak, age 14, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Third Place:

Vasilije (Vaso) Katanic, age 10, Hermitage, PA (Farrell)

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Honorable Mention:

Tie!

Dusica Solic, Age 15, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

and

Natasha Ignatowski, Age 11, Franklin, Wisconsin

and

Peter George Majetich, Age 12, Poland, Ohio.

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Congratulations to ALL of the young people who entered this contest, including those listed above and also to those who entered the contest and submitted their fine book reports for consideration.  Just by entering, you proved yourselves true sons and daughters of Liberty!

Thank you all very, very much! 

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It was a busy time for men in THE FORGOTTEN 500 this summer/fall 2010.

While George Vujnovich was being awarded THE BRONZE STAR, Captain George (GOV) Musulin was being inducted into the

Cambria County

Military Hall of Fame.

Thanks to Frank Lashinsky for sending this post:

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/542456/Murtha--Saylor-among-inductees.html?nav=742

"The above link takes you to a newspaper story, that tells the story of recent honors awarded  to George Musulin."
 
Frank

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And meanwhile, back in Serbia, this video was being made of the Heavenly Cottages (Rajski-Konaci) near Pranjani.  The man featured here, Slobodan Jevtovic, is one of the fellows, who along with his family helped CHARLIE DAVIS, one of the rescued airmen, for 3 months (hiding, feeding, guarding him with their lives!) This is now a 4 star village household and a place of exceptional village tourism. These cottages are in the village of Leusici, 30 km from Gornji Milanovac and Cacak, nestled among flowery meadows and orchards, hidden within the shades of an old plum orchard.  Its been called an authentic paradise surrounded by the creeks and springs of crystal clear drinking water. Besides the great water, Lt. Col. John Cappello attests to the great KAYMAK they make here!

http://www.rajski-konaci.com/

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G. Vujnovich's

Big Day

Tony Orsini, Tomislav Djurdjevich, and George Vujnovich, 10/17/10

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St. Sava Cathedral, NYC

St. Sava's website:

http://www.stsavanyc.org/english/e01/welcome.html

Inside of St. Sava's Cathedral in NYC

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Mim, thanks for sharing this with us. This is a moving story (George Vujnovich & Operation Halyard). Of course, I knew about this rescue, but what I didn't know was that this has been  the largest air rescue of American soldiers behind enemy lines in any war!

We owe these heroes to remember them, military and civilian alike, those who are still living and those who have passed away. They are the beacons of courage and humanity, they are human bridges of goodwill, they give meaning to the word 'mankind'. We need to cherish the memory of their noble action for generations to come.

Posted by

Nevena Radosevic

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Post this into your Browser to see George Vujnovich accept his Bronze Star Award

http://www.youtube.com/user/SerbianUnityCongress?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/OlQzYZZi0pw

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