OSS Soldier Honored 64 years later

f50lrrp · 12-04-2008, 10:34

FREMONT -- On Aug. 2, 1944, during World War II, Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian parachuted along with two other Office of Strategic Services personnel into central Serbia to rescue what he thought was 50 downed airmen in a hostile, Nazi-occupied area.

On Dec. 27, they left Serbia after evacuating more than 500 people from behind enemy lines in what was called the Halyard Mission.
Jibilian, of Fremont, is the lone surviving member of the Halyard Mission. He will receive a congressional honor from U.S. Rep. Bob Latta at 11 a.m. Sunday at the National Guard facility at the Toledo Express Airport.

The men, who had bombed oil refiners in Poliesti, Romania, were stranded after their planes were shot down.

"We were told we had a 50/50 chance of coming back," Jibilian remembered, estimating that for every 200 planes sent, 20 would be shot down.
Jibilian, a skilled radio operator, volunteered for the mission. He didn't need prodding.

"If you wave the red, white and blue in front of a 20-year-old kid (death wasn't a thought)," the 85-year-old man said.
Shortly after landing with nothing but radio equipment, clothes and a few toiletries, he realized the mission was much larger.
"We didn't find 50," Jibilian said. "We found 250."

The people in the Serbian village -- around 150 -- housed and cared for the downed airmen under the guidance of Gen. Drazha Mihailovich, leader of the Royal Yugoslav Army, or the Chetniks. They were poor, Jibilian said, with their homes consisting of dirt floors and cement blocks.

"They went hungry to feed our boys," Jibilian said. "Mihailovich said these men that are falling from the sky must be protected at all cost."

He would stay for the next six months with personnel from the OSS -- the forerunner of the CIA -- constructing a landing strip and coordinating evacuation flights at night and medical treatment for the injured. The area was 20 miles away from a German base.

Jibilian, surviving off of mostly dark bread and cheese, said the Americans wouldn't have survived without the Serbian civilians who risked their lives to hide, shelter and feed the men.
"I"m just thankful we didn't lose more planes in the operation," he said.

However, politics made the mission complicated. Mihailovich was labeled as a "collaborator" by the new ruler of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. Mihailovich was executed in 1946.
To this day, Jibilian is on another mission and will talk with anyone willing to listen trying to clear Mihailovich's name.

Jibilian, who will be receiving a flag and a proclamation from Latta on Sunday, will once again give Mihailovich and his men the credit they deserve.
"I"m not very good, I'm not very bright but I"m persistent as hell," he exclaimed. "I'm the messenger of the story."

The Halyard Mission was documented in a book released last year, titled "The Forgotten 500." Gregory A. Freeman, the author of "The Forgotten 500," spent two years researching the story.
"I came across (the story) on the web," Freeman said. After researching and talking to survivors, including Jibilian, "I really got a sense of what an incredible rescue it was."
Freeman said the story has been widely documented and celebrated in Serbia.

"The story was intentionally hidden (in the United States) and it has to do with the international relations," he said. Jibilian said he was happy someone finally published the story and thinks someday it will appear on the big screen. "The book is fine, he did an excellent job," Jibilian stated.

Art"s daughter, Debi Jibilian, said a Serbian band will be there performing for the event.

"It's incredible to me the Serbian community, the love and respect they have for my dad is incredibly overwhelming," she said. "I cannot say enough good."
The Fremont resident has made trips to Serbia to receive honors and retell the story. The award Sunday will be one of many he received from his service.

"I absolutely wish Art the best and am thrilled to see he's getting the recognition he deserves," Freeman said. "Art is a great guy, such a great American. ... I admire so much of what he did."

Mike