American Serb History 101

This article in the LIBERTY magazine by Robert Low was reprinted with permission in the American SRBOBRAN on April, 1942.

Ruth Mitchell, sister of U.S. Air Force General Billy Mitchell, is shown here in her Chetnik uniform with Lou Christopher, Vice President of BOTH the Serb National Federation and the Serb National Defense Council.  Mitchell was in town to address a crowd of over 500 Americans gathered at the Schenley Hotel in Oakland (now part of Pitt's campus) to raise money for the Serbian orphans of WWII.  The above photo is from the former Pittsburgh newspaper, THE PITTSBURGH SUN-TELEGRAPH.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This program was printed on the back of the card featuring Miss Ruth Mitchell on the front.  Miss Mitchell was also the author of the incredible book THE SERBS CHOSE WAR, documenting her time with General Draza Mihailovich and his Chetniks, and also her life as a German prisoner of war.  The card information you see here was given to me years ago by my childhood friend, John Shatlan, who inherited it from his late aunt and uncle, Teta Mayme and Pero Kovachevich of 2123 Sidney Street, on Pittsburgh's South Side.  The articles were sent to me by the late +Dinka Christi of Lebanon, PA years ago, right before her failing health necessitated a move to a nursing home.  Our Serbian ancestors guarded these treasures for the younger generations to learn from.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

 To read the above, click lower right hand corner to enlarge the photo.

Click lower right hand corner to enlarge.

A Program Card of Ruth Mitchell was signed by Spencer D. Irwin, associate editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  The affair was held on Sunday, April 4, 1943, to raise money for the Serbian War Orphans of WWII. The event drew a crowd of more than 500 people at the Schenley Hotel, which is now a part of the Student Union on the University of Pittsburgh's (Pitt's) Oakland campus.  The sponsor of the program was the Serb National Defense or SND.

------------------------------------