American Serb History 101

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Thousands of Serbs attended the 75th anniversary celebration in Pranjani, Serbia, to honor General Draza Mihailovich and his Army of the Homeland Chetniks and Rescued Airmen

 I do not know who authored this magnificent painting of General Draza Miahilaovich.

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The Greatest Rescue

You Never Heard Of

by Milana Bizic, Nov. 24, 2019.

Though scarcely noted in the United States, Sept. 15 marked the 75th anniversary of the rescue of more than 500 U.S. and Allied airmen from behind German-occupied lines in Pranjani, Serbia, orchestrated by Yugoslav Army Gen. Draza Mihailovich and his Serbian Chetniks, as well as loyal villagers.

But the heroic event, known as Operation Halyard, was, for geopolitical reasons, covered up for many years. One of the greatest rescues in our history was hidden and forgotten.

The Serbs, however, loyal to America in both World War I and World War II, found the downed airmen and worked to hide them for months, offering them beds and food when such commodities were in short supply. During that time, Milhailovich collaborated with American forces, including the Office of Strategic Services, the U.S. 15th Air Force and even the famed Tuskegee Airmen, to concoct the daring airlift, allowing the saved airmen to return home to loved ones and raise families.

The airlift operation, the largest such rescue in American history at the time, was conceived in response to the failures of Operation Tidal Wave, a 1943 air attack on the Ploesti oilfields in Romania. The refineries there were critical to the German war machine. But the raid was costly for U.S. forces, as 53 planes and 660 airmen were lost. Others, with limping airplanes, tried to make it back to an Allied base in Italy. Many of these weakened planes were subsequently shot down over Nazi-occupied Serbia.

The airlift operation, the largest such rescue in American history at the time, was conceived in response to the failures of Operation Tidal Wave, a 1943 air attack on the Ploesti oilfields in Romania. The refineries there were critical to the German war machine. But the raid was costly for U.S. forces, as 53 planes and 660 airmen were lost. Others, with limping airplanes, tried to make it back to an Allied base in Italy. Many of these weakened planes were subsequently shot down over Nazi-occupied Serbia.

Read more here:

https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2019/11/24/Operation-Halyard-airlift-rescue-World-War-II-Serbia-Milana-Bizic-Next-Page/stories/201911240017

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Was this FAIR?  Absolutely not! Draza had a mock trail on trumped up charges of collaboration with the Germans and was executed, along with ten of his finest supporters.

Read their honorable names here, and weep!

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This was hidden, covered up for years.... 

 4 Days, 3 Nights in Serbia for the75th Anniversary of the Halyard Missionin Pranjani: 9/13-15/2019

By Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic

Mim meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.  In the middle is Pranjani resident Miodrag Nikitovich. Behind are all representatives of Mission Halyard, I'm sure it was they that made this meeting possibe!

I was there. I made it! For at least the last five years, I have tried to go to Pranjani, Serbia for the 70th-74th anniversary of the Halyard Mission, celebrating the incredible rescue of over 500+ Airmen, 432 of them American and 80 Allied airmen.

It was a story I knew so well from the time I was seven years old, as my father, Milan Karlo, had published the day by day diary of Captain Nick Lalich, of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and forerunner of today’s CIA, along with pages of photos by J.B. Allin, documenting the mission in his American SERB LIFE magazine.  The main hero in the book THE FORGOTTEN 500 was George Vujnovic, who grew up right across the street from my father on 25th and Larkins Way on Pittsburgh’s South Side, where the American Serbian Club parking lot is today.

Major George Musulin, who once played for Pitt and also the Pittsburgh Steelers (then called the Pittsburgh Pirates) was another close associate. Initially chosen to lead the rescue, he was relieved of his duties due to Churchill’s insistence, since Musulin rightly doubted England’s 100% sincerity of the rescue operations that would be done by the Americans, and Lalich took over his duties.

Mim's Memorabilia for Operation Halyard

Throughout my lifetime, I knew many of the men who made the Operation Halyard mission possible: Vujnovic, Musulin, Lalich, and Arthur (Jibby) Jibilian (all of the OSS), and Robert Marjanovich, Aliquippa St. Elijah parishioner, studying for the priesthood in Belgrade who became a valuable asset in the rescue because of his language skills.  

I didn‘t know Mike Rajisich, but he also played a very pivotal role in the rescue and shouldn’t be forgotten!

As a youngster, I loved Captain Marvel and Superman, but these were my REAL LIVE heroes!  And of course, although I never met General Draza Mihailovic in person, he was as real a “Čicha” to me as my own dear uncles.

Over the years, I also met many of the Rescued Airmen, still so vivid in my memory, although most have passed on. Among those were Dick Felman, Clare Musgrave, Curtis (Bud) Diles, Milton Friend, and my own Moon Township neighbor, Carl Walpusk, and others at various affairs, each one who to their last days, were always thanking the Serbian people and “Čicha” (Uncle) Draža Mihailović for their lives that they were able to enjoy with their future wives, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My Pennsylvania State Representative in Harrisburg, Valerie Gaydos, made this trip possible for me. Only a few weeks before THE big date, I read an interview about this human dynamo representing the Sewickley and Moon Township areas. One question asked of her in an interview was, “What is your favorite book?” And without hesitation she answered, THE FORGOTTEN 500” by Gregory Freeman! Valerie had visited the National Air and Space Museum and saw the book in the Gift Shop.  She was intrigued not only by the rescue itself, but also the fact that the heroes in this book had Pittsburgh connections!

I called her and explained how the 75th anniversary of this famous mission was going to take place, and would she want to go with me. Imagine my joy when she immediately exclaimed, “Yes!” Well, I couldn’t believe my ears and good fortune and with less than three weeks to plan, we were off to Serbia!

In the meantime, I wrote a letter to President Donald Trump, explaining the mission and hoping to have formal greetings from the White House, but as yet I haven’t heard back:

September 15, 2019 will mark the anniversary of a rescue of more than 500 U.S. and allied airmen from behind German-occupied lines in Pranjani, Serbia, by WWII General Draza Mihailovich and his Serbian Chetniks and loyal villagers (The Army of the Homeland). This is the largest rescue operation from behind enemy lines in our United States history, involving the O.S.S., the 15th U.S. Air Force and even the Tuskegee Airmen who flew cover, but it was all covered up for geostrategic political purposes. One of the greatest rescues in our history was hidden and forgotten!
During WWII, America lost almost ½ of its fleet of airplanes to bombing raids over the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania, which fed the German war machines.  Hundreds of our pilots lost their lives in trying to extinguish this source of fuel.  Others, with liming airplanes, tried to make it back to their base in Italy. Many were shot down over Nazi-occupied Serbia.  However, the Serbs, loyal to America in both World War I and World War II, found the downed airmen, and hid them without ever revealing where they were, some losing their lives in doing so.  They housed these airmen, giving up their own beds to sleep on the floor, and they fed them, even though they had so little for themselves.  In one of the most daring air rescues of all times, called “Operation Halyard,” the Serbs, with the help of the OSS and the 15th Air Force and the Tuskegee Airmen, managed to save them so that they could come back to America to loved ones, marry and raise families.
Alas, Churchill, and unwillingly the rest of the Allies, chose Communist Tito over the Royalist Chetniks, the Army of the Homeland.  We all know what happened after that.  Mihailovich was tried in a mock trial, found guilty and executed by a firing squad.  Hundreds of American pilots from across the USA were willing to testify in his defense, but they were not allowed.  These almost 500 U.S. airmen canvased the country, and whether they lived in California, Maine, Texas or Ohio, tried to tell their stories in their local newspapers about the rescue.  I have a book compiled of all of these news clippings so you can be assured of the truth.  A good book to read is THEFORGOTTEN 500 by Gregory Freeman.

Hurriedly, we planned out trip. Val and I visited good friend 95-year-old Carl Walpusk from Moon Township, rescued airman mentioned in Freeman’s book. He signed her book and she showed him the Citation from the House of Representatives in Pennsylvania, sending grateful greetings to the people in Pranjani, Serbia.

I had asked members of our St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox parish in Aliquippa to sign their names saluting the rescue and sending thanks and brotherly greetings to all involved. With the help of Fr. Branislav Golic of the St. Elijah S.O. parish in Aliquippa, I was able to collect five pages of happy signatures! Almost everyone we asked wanted to be a part of this event somehow.

At our Cornerstone Men’s Club picnic for our St. Elijah church only four days before we left, parishioner Valerie Tatalovich asked me if I was also collecting money to send. In the meantime, I had already sent a $200 donation just a few weeks before to the Halyard Mission Scholarship fund collected by a friend on line. It was part of a goal to reach $8,000 to give to graduating seniors at the Ivo Andric School in Pranjani. I told Val it was hard for me to ask others for money, but she said, “Nonsense!” And she and Wayne Tatalovich became our first donors with $200 in cash. 

By the time I left the picnic, I had $520. I told my son by phone driving home how happy I was with that and he immediately said he’d send a check for $180 to make it an even $700. I was ecstatic! By the time I got to my apartment, there was an email stating that my cousin, Dennis Astorino, would send $500! I couldn’t believe it. My Astorino, Karlovich and LeFebvre cousins, sisters and good friends added much more.  Our President of the Serb National Federation, John Martich not only brought a beautiful Proclamation, but a check for $1,000 from members of the SNF, and then added his own $100 in cash! I went over to Serbia with $4400 promised! “Just like the year, ‘44, the year of the rescue,” I thought!  (Cvetican, Paich, Wuslich, Kosanovich, Leydig,  Milosh, Torbic and Torbic.)
But even in our Belgrade hotel, the emails kept coming.  Mark Rasevic from Washington, DC promised $500 more! Jeanette Czubek from Johnstown, PA said she wanted to make it an even $5,000, mentioning all her relatives so they could be a part of it: Jeannette Dudukovic Sikirica Czubak! Cousin Paul Belosh from Edinboro, added more, citing the gift was in the name of his five grandchildren. The messages kept coming in, even after we got home. (Papich, Malich, Tarbuck, Gedman, Trylovich, Kosanovich, Potkonjak, De Riva).

John Martich, then President of the Serb National Federation, brought a Proclamation from the SNF Members to the People of Pranjani, and a check for $1.000 for the Halyard Mission Scholarship Fund.

A total of $6,100 was sent to John Cappello, Director of the Mission Halyard Foundation, who the locals have lovingly started calling “St. John of Pranjani” for all he has been able to do to bring light to this important milestone in history that most people, especially those in the former Yugoslavia, had no idea about. 

We arrived at Serbia’s wonderful, clean Nikola Tesla Airport. I had a handsome wheelchair escort, who sang happy Serbian songs with joyous me all through the long hallways, starting with “Oj, Srbijo, moja majka mila!” I thought my heart would burst from happiess. I’m lucky it didn’t burst wide open when I saw both my Danilovich and Markovich families waiting for me! This is SERBIA! Hospitality first class. It was a busy work day, but they were there!  How meaningful that meeting was to me! After more than a decade of not seeing each other, it was like we had parted only yesterday.
We arrived at the hotel suggested by John Cappello, the Courtyard Marriott located right by the Opera House, the National Museum and the Monument to Prince Michael.

We cleaned up a little and I t didn’t matter that we hadn’t slept for two days, we were off again, meeting up at the hotel with cousin Paul Belosh of Edinboro, who had arrived several days earlier.  Cousin Miloš Marković took the three of us touring to see the breathtaking St. Sava HRAM Crypt, and then to the University Library where the Halyard Mission Foundation had a reception highlighting many of the large photographs from the rescue. 

Members of the USAF band played both Serbian and American tunes and there were both lovely desserts and liquid refreshments. It was a pleasure to see so many friends gathered here, starting with David Vuich, greeting us as we climbed the stairs. After several more exchanges with friends from Chicago and then Stephanie Lalich Jones and her beautiful family from Baltimore, Miloš commented, “Mim, you know more people in Belgrade than I do!” I truly loved being there, especially when I learned that our Pittsburgh Andrew Carnegie had donated that Library to Serbia, only one of three libraries that he gave to Europe after WWI.

From there, it was off to Skardalija, where every foreign visitor to Belgrade should visit. We were most graciously hosted by cousins Stojanka Mitić and Dragan Danilović at the Velika Skadarlija Restaurant, a wonderful choice with music delighting us as song after song played by the strolling tamburasi, and the food and presentation were delightful, so worthy of our “ohs and ahs!”  As “Marširala” rang out, I sang my lungs out and rolled my arms as if waving the flag, and couldn’t help but think how proud our dear ancestors would be to know we hadn’t forgotten our roots and how here we all were, together for this special occasion.  EVERYONE sang along, and that made my heart as happy as could be.

Our USAF Professor who accompanied three senior cadets from the USAF Academy holds a poster of the Pranjani rescue.

Off we went the next morning in two vans to our destination in Pranjani. In our van were Cousin Paul Belosh, 3 senior students from the Air Force Academy and their Professor, my “Sherpa”- Guardian Angel-Valerie Gaydos, journalist Nataša Stojanović, driver Milan Randjelovic and his friend Ilija Denic, and Ted Byfield, the son of rescued airman, Floyd Byfield, whose original crew was assigned to the airplane “Peepy,” but when he was shot down, he had been a substitute tail gunner on Lt. Harper’s “The Big Noise From Kentucky.”  Ted proudly wore a replica of his jacket everywhere.
As we tossed up and down over the highways and by-ways, passing deep forests, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “No wonder how they could hide those airmen! Who could find them in these Šumadija woods?”

And then the defining sign for Gornji Milanovac! We were almost there! I thought of all of the people who I knew who had relatives that lived close by this area, like Nick and Nena Jovonovich and Andy Muha’s family.  The excitement grew.
First we stopped at delightful Radiša Jevtović’s Bed and Breakfast, where the people in our other van were staying.  It included several family members of the bombardier, the late +Charlie Davis, who was rescued and taken in by +Manojle Jevtovic and his family.  These two families had forged a lifelong friendship.  Members of rescued airman +Lt. Robert L. Cole’s family were also staying here.  Radiša commented how very special it was that these two families were staying at the same “home” where their fathers/ grandfathers stayed while in Serbia.  Xenia Wilkinson (George Vujnovic’s daughter) and her family, also stayed here.  Although we didn’t stay here, our party ate here both nights while in Pranjani. It’s where we also met burly Fr. Vojislav too, for the first time, who amused us so much with his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers, bringing us up to date scores of the football game!

(Interestingly enough, +Lt. Robert Cole and Gen. Draza Mihailovich exchanged rings, and Draza’s ring is still in possession of the Cole family.  On a photo just seen recently, of Mihailovich on trail, son Gary Cole wondered if the ring Draza had on was from his father! Wow!) 

Pennsylvania Representative from the House Valerie Gaydos and new friend, Natasha Stojanovich, journalist from Belgrade.

We arrived at our Eco Selo Koštunića resort and I immediately thought of Emir Kostunica’s “Drvengrad,” with the lovely wooden cottages spread over the hillside.  Val and I were like two “Heidi’s” in the mountain, but we had warm beds, inside toilet facilities, hot showers, a TV, fresh air and no complaints!

I wrote in the Guest Book at Eco Selo about how I knew about this rescue and of the Serbian and American heroes from the time I was seven years old!

We had a fine time talking with our new companions, and then off to bed for the next morning’s big festivities.  We arrived at the actual airfield by 9:30 AM.  It was exciting to hear the Serbian military band practice the “Star Spangled Banner.”  Thank goodness there were a few chairs there by the stage where the dignitaries spoke set aside.  People began arriving, and at 10:00 AM, the President of Serbia, Alexander Vucic, arrived and the ceremonies officially began.  Both National Anthems were played and a solemn score as the wreaths were delivered with great dignity by US and Serbian officials, Allied countries, and descendants of the rescued airmen from the Smith and Cole families, with John Cappello leading them.

I was happy to meet up with Miodrag Nikitovich who was only 13 years old when two pilots stayed at his parents’ house.  He was such a fine soul, we connected immediately, and talked and sang in between speakers, sharing our stories.  On that Pranjani field, we sang the chorus of “Spremte, se Spremte!” to each other….quietly laughing away, thinking about how happy our ancestors would be.
Speeches were delivered by a former Yugoslav Air Force General, U.S. Air Force Major General Kirk Smith, Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command in Europe, the Serbian President Aleksandar Vućić and the U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott who spoke in Serbian, and John Cappello, Director of Halyard Mission Foundation.All spoke of the heroism of the people involved, how ordinary citizens rose up to challenges to become the finest heroes.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic began by saying that the event brought us much closer to each other. “We speak about the heroic moves from both the Serbian people and American, Canadian and British pilot sin 1944.  We succeeded in making terrific links between our two nations and I hope that we will be able to renew and revive this friendship.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Kyle Scott. Scott spoke in Serbian.

Major General Kirk Smith said, “Instead of being killed by German patrols, the Airmen received a hero’s welcome from the brave Serbian families.”
U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott remarked to the crowd how ordinary people can rise to greatness, of what can be accomplished when we commit to goals larger than ourselves.

“With the selfless support of the Serbian people who cared for the aviators, who helped build an airstrip runway, this rescue became possible,” spoke John Cappello, President of the Halyard Mission Foundation.

After the formal ceremonies, a wonderful thing happened and I really don’t know how.  Suddenly I was talking to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.  The TV cameras were whirling and he said something like “It is a pleasure to meet you.” 

I remembered him saying that he really only heard about the rescue two years ago or so, so I told him he had to look up my website, www.babamim.com, as it had so much information about General Draza Mihailovich and WWII and the rescue. He said, “Everyone spells “Baba” differently, how do you spell it?”  I told him.  He made me repeat it two more times for the cameras. Then looking straight at me, he replied, “I will look it up myself later this afternoon when I get home.”  I almost fainted from happiness.

Wilkinson family with Fr. Vojislav Rasilovic and the iHalyard Mission icon donated by John Cappello to the Church in Pranjani.

After the formal ceremonies on Galovica Field, where thousands attended, it was off to the magnificently fresco-decorated Holy Ascension Serbian Orthodox Church for a short service led by Fr. Vojislav Rasilovic.  The choir sang beautiful responses and I couldn’t help but feel emotional seeing the families of Nick Lalich, George Vujnovic all there together with the rescued airmen’s families too.  I couldn’t help but notice that John Cappello was singing right along with the choir’s responses too.  No wonder why the villagers love him so much!  He had also donated a magnificent icon to the church showing the rescue of the airmen by the Serbian Chetnik villagers.

From there we walked to the Ivo Andric School about a block away and across the street.  As we were walking, my heart melted as I saw my new friend Nikitovich yelling from his nephew’s car where he sat in the passenger’s seat up front, “Mil-e-na! Mil-a-na!”  I reached over and we hugged and kissed one more time in brotherly love.  That’s what this trip represented to me.  ONE.

At the IVO ANDRIC School, presentations were made.  We viewed three videos made by the children of the school representing the Halyard Mission.  Valerie Gaydos exclaimed the meaning of her PA House of Representatives proclamation, and she gifted the school with an afghan showing the seal of the House.  I also produced the book I had hastily finished putting together in the Dulles Airport in Washington before we left, documenting the names, the scholarship donations, photos from my father’s magazine, our visits with Carl Walpusk, and so much more.  

I also turned over a beautiful throw that was entrusted to me by the airmen documenting the Halyard Mission operation who walked in a New York parade carrying the blanket that talked about the rescue of the 500 airmen. I explained that I took that blanket to display in many sites across Pennsylvania over the years as we talked about the rescue… in Johnstown, PA where the author of THE FORGOTTEN 500, Gregory Freeman, gave a speech about his book and George Musulin was inducted into the Cambria County Hall of Fame; in Pittsburgh at the Holy Trinity Cathedral for a talk to the Nikola Tesla Men’s Club; at Robert Morris University where Carl Walpusk was honored for Constitution Day a few years ago, and several more.  But it was getting time to pass the treasure on, and I could think of no better place to turn it over to than to the school where children could see how grateful people across the Atlantic Ocean never forgot either.

There was a lovely, but very crowded reception at the school with many desserts and drinks.  Val, Stephanie Lalich and I were happy to meet the great-grandson of General Draza Mihailovich!

 Beautiful informal ceremonies followed with the United States Air Force Band playing tunes, and John Cappello awarded gifts to more identified families that rescued the flyers, one woman kissing her father’s name, and children were recognized for their achievements.  There was also a paper airplane flying contest, with two young boys assuming ownership of two handsome bikes for their winning efforts.

Eight thousand Chetniks had guarded the Serbian airmen before they made their journey home in 1944.   Afterwards, many were severely persecuted at the hands of the Communists, some imprisoned, others were called TRAITORS and beaten brutally.  But here they were, now legitimately being called the “greatest Heroes.”  It was with the greatest pleasure I heard those words and all the people on stage saying this was THE greatest rescue ever from behind enemy lines, and repatriation.  Ever. 

And Eliot Jordan Belosh will know ALL about it!

 
The next morning found us leaving Selo Eco Kostinici to drive back to the Belgrade airport, and then another great news event.  SNF member Jordan Belosh contacted his father, cousin Paul Belosh, alerting him that his fifth grandchild, Elliot Jordan was born and healthy, the first male child to carry on the BELOSH name.  Good thing we had to stop at the Jevtovic’s B&B to pick up other passengers.  Paul jumped off the van to pick up some more great rakija from their “store,” for celebrating later!  Here comes one more Serb National Federation member!  Our +Mamula/Karajlovich relatives had to be beaming away in Heaven this weekend!  What a whirlwind trip!

Paul Belosh jumped out of the van while we stopped at the Rajski Konjaci to buy some rakija to  help celebrate Eliot Jordan Belosh's birth back home!

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Update:  We celebrated Jordan Eliot's Christening in the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church on Saturday, 12/7/19

 From our family to yours, ENJOY!

 













As far as your eyes could see! (Click the lower right hand corner to expand the photo.)  And parked Buses, Vans and Cars were everywhere!

Our Serbian kids represented us well!

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The Serbian Band stirringly played the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Boze Pravde!"

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We were very fortunate to have good press coverage of  the exciting event in Pranjani, Serbia, in the Sewickley HERALD (Oct. 28, 2019), the American SRBOBRAN (Nov. 20, 2019, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Next Page" (Nov. 24, 2019).

The Superintendent of the Ivo Andric School, Mim Bizic, and John Cappello.

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There was also TV coverage on Veteran's Day, 11/11/19  by WTAE  (Channel 4 in Pittsburgh, PA USA) as they came to rescued airman Carl Walpusk's home in Moon Township as he received a Proclamation from PA State Representative, Valerie Gaydos. Many of his family members were present.

A huge 75th Halyard Mission Anniversary appeared in the display case at the Masonic Village of Sewickley in time for Veteran's Day and received mamy compliments during the six weeks of the display.

(And now, this website!)

Mim Bizic with her display case of the Halyard Mission at the Masonic Village of Sewickley, where she now resides.

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(Posters courtesy of Mission Halyard and Bojan Dragicevic

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Retired Quaker Valley Teacher, Rep. Valerie Gaydos travel to Serbia for WWII Anniversary

by Natalie Miller

Of World War II’s countless accounts of devastation and triumph — the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of the Bulge — Operation Halyard is one of the more obscure.
For Mim Bizic, though, the amazing-but-true account of a secret mission in which more than 500 Allied airmen were rescued from Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia is one she has cherished since childhood.

“To me, they were real-life American heroes,” said Bizic, a retired Quaker Valley School District teacher. “Everyone else had Captain Marvel and Superman. I had my Pittsburgh heroes.”

Toward the end of World War II, hundreds of Allied airmen were being shot down by the Germans in a region that is now Serbia. As many as 50% of Allied planes that flew over the area were shot down as they targeted the Ploesti oil fields that supplied German war machines. Many were killed or captured.

Read more here:

https://sewickley.triblive.com/retired-quaker-valley-teacher-rep-gaydos-travel-to-serbia-for-world-war-ii-anniversary/

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The American SRBOBRAN came out on Nov. 20, 2019.

Halyard Mission 75th Anniversary, Pranjani, September 2019

by Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic

Two Air Force Academy Seniors and their Professor, Ted Byfield, the son of rescued airman, cousin Paul Belosh with his "Niko Nema" badge, Natasa Stojanovich, and Mim Bizic.

Mim and Miodrag Nikitovich, who was only 13 years old when his parents rescued two U.S. Airmen. On the field at Pranjani, Serbia 9/15/19/

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Caroline Lalich Adams, on the field early in the morning 9/15/2019, standing on the same field in Pranjani as her grandfather, Capt. Nick Lalich did, when he was in charge of the largest rescue ever from behind enemy lines! xoxoxox Photo by Stephanie Lalich Adams Jones.

Two grandchildren share their grandparents' dogtags. (Caroline Lalich Adams and Julia Vujnovic Wilkinson.)

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Julia Vujnovich Wilkinson with representatives of our United States Air Force on the field.

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John Martich in my home, before our trip, displaying the precious blanket.

I donated this blanket that was entrusted to me years ago.  I had it on display in many places, talking about the rescue. It was time to pass it on, and I thought the Ivo Andric School on Pranjani was the perfect place for it! John Cappello is holding the other end.

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Paul Belosh meeting author of the book THE FORGOTTEN 500, Gregory Freeman, at the picnic in Pranjani 9/15/19

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Ted Byfield displays a copy of the leather jacket his father, Floyd Byfield, a rescued airman, wore.

At the same picnic, Mim receives book "Price Ispod Oxiljaka" by Poet Biljana Bralovic.  Biljana heard me singing the responses in church and was impressed that I knew the words! She ran home to get this book for me.  How kind!  xoxox

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The Halyard Mission is dedicated to finding the people who helped save the airmen.  This is just one of the many who received recognition at the picnic for their ancestors' great deeds.

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Scholarship Donors to the Mission Halyard Foundation

 Passing the book of signatures and  scholarship donations on to the Ivo Andric School Representative

 $200.00 Wayne and Valerie Tatalovich 

$20.00 Ron Cvetican 

$100.00 Yvonne and George Paich 

$100.00 Mark and Natalie Paich Wuslich 

$100.00 Nick and Carla Kosanovich, Nicky, Eli, Luka 

$180.00 Nick, Dana and Jocelyn Bizic 

$500.00 Dennis and Jill Astorino DLA Associates 

$100.00 Rose Karlo Gantner 

$100.00 Alexandra Karlo Nolan and Dejan Maksimovich 

$100.00 Cheryl and Thomas Leydig 

$100.00 Milana and Larry Milosh 

$50.00 V. Rev. Fr. Dr. Rodney Torbic 

$100.00 Rodney and Molly Torbic 

$200.00 Edward and Susan Karlovich 

$100.00 Kosta and Sophie Papich 

$500.00 Paul and Leslie LeFebvre and Family 

$100.00 Alex and Zora Malich, Philip, Luka and Sophia 

$1,000.00 Serb National Federation 

$100.00 Dan Radakovich and LuAnn Radakovich Thompson 

$100.00 John and Djuka Martich 

$50.00 Valerie Gaydos, Member of PA House of Representatives 

$500.00 Lou and Jean Astorino 

$500.00 Mark Rasevic 

$100.00 Jeanne Dudukovic Sikirica Czubak   

$125.00 Paul and Kathy Belosh (5 grandchildren)

$100.00 John Tarbuck 

$100.00 Mike & Marianne Gedman IMO George Pevac 

$50.00 Denise Ann Trylovich 

$525.00 Karen Kosanovich 

$100.00 Ted Potkonjak 

$100.00 Joanne de Rivera 

Total:  $6,100.00

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State Representative Valerie Gydos  shows rescued airman, Carl Walpusk "To the people in Serbia from the House of Representatives" before our trip.

State Representative gives Carl Walpusk his OWN recogniation from the State of Pennsylvania for his service to his country on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2019.  Channel 4 Television showed segments of this in the evening and then throughout the next day. Behind Carl are members of his wonderful family.  They're also grateful to the Serbian people for Carl's ability to come home and raise his family. 

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George Musulin's family at Arlington National Cemetery.