Above: Art Jibilian at the age of 20, during which time he voluntarily parachuted behind enemy lines in Pranjane, Serbia, 1944, to rescue more than 500 downed American airmen.

Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York with Art Jibilian at the award ceremony. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic is holding a photo of "The Forgotten 500". This photo was broadcasted on Ohio television.

Above: Arthur Jibilian "Lest we Forget" Michigan, June 2009
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic

Above: The folding and presentation of the American Flag Ceremony at the funeral service of Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian
Arlington National Cemetery
May 5, 2011
All photos courtesy of Debi and Jo Jibilian.

Above: The American Flag is folded over the the urn that holds the remains of Arthur Jibilian.
Arlington National Cemetery
May 5, 2011

Above: Jo Jibilian, wife of Arthur, accepts the American Flag from the Chaplain
Arlington National Cemetery
May 5, 2011

Above: Ms. Tammy Murphy of the "Ladies of Arlington" greets Jo Jibilian, Arthur's wife.
Arlington National Cemetery
May 5, 2011

Above: Daughter Debi Jibilian carries the remains of her father, Arthur Jibilian, to their final resting place.
Arlington National Cemetery
May 5, 2011

ARLINGTON, Va. -- World War II veteran and Fremont native Art Jibilian will be remembered for his actions during five months in 1944, when he helped rescue hundreds of people from a German-occupied area in Serbia.

Jibilian, who died in March 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly two years, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and he is being honored this morning by interment in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Jibilian's daughter, Deb Jibilian, said she applied for burial at the cemetery in April and was thrilled to be offered the ceremony so quickly.

"They have just been so wonderful at Arlington," Jibilian said. "It is such an honor that dad gets to be in our national cemetery, I can't think of a better place for him."

Jibilian, or "Jibby," was featured in a book, "The Forgotten 500," detailing what has been called the most successful rescue mission of American troops during the war.

"Forgotten" talks about Jibilian, who was one of three agents of the Office of Strategic Services -- the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency -- who parachuted into central Serbia in August 1944 to rescue what they thought were 50 downed airmen. It turned out to be 513.

Over the next six months, Jibilian helped construct a landing strip and coordinated evacuation flights and medical help at night as the people in the Serbian village housed and protected the soldiers under the leadership of Drazha Mihailovich -- leader of the Royal Yugoslav Army, commonly known as the Chetniks.

Jibilian had always fought hard to clear the name of Mihailovich, who housed and kept alive the downed airmen.

Mihailovich was labeled as a "collaborator" and was executed in 1946 by a new Yugoslavian government led by Josep Broz Tito, one of Mihailovich's military rivals during World War II.

Jibilian's daughter said her father's hope was that by telling his inspiring story he could help clear the general's name and get him recognition as a war hero.

"Daddy doesn't want the medal for himself," she said. "Those 513 airmen were rescued from Yugoslavia because Gen. Mihailovich took the risk and gave his life so those men could live. The soldiers and their relatives are alive because of the general, we must not forget that. That was daddy's message."

Along with friends and family, attending the burial will be at least one of the soldiers her father helped rescue, Jibilian said, along with an American-born Serbian author who writes about Gen. Mihailovich's life.

Jibilian said as happy as she is about today's honor, it will be a difficult experience for her and others attending the ceremony.

"As much as I am looking forward to it, I am also dreading it," she said before leaving for Virginia. "It means I need to say goodbye to him a second time."

Above: American airmen together with Serbs, last day in Yugoslavia before departing to Bari, Italy. Jibilian is the second from the left standing. Captain Lalich is located in the middle of the first row (behind the machine gun). OSS agent Nick Lalich (center) with some of the last fliers to be taken out in Operation Halyard, on December 27, 1944.

Above: Captain Lalich and Jibilian are composing a message to send over radio to Bari, Italy.

Above: Americans fliers on a C-47, on the way from Pranjane, Yugoslavia, to Bari, Italy.

Local veteran lauded with soldier's burial

The following article can be found at "Local veteran lauded with soldier's burial - TheNews-Messenger.com":

Above: A Naval chaplain presents a folded flag to Art Jibilian's wife, Jo, during the WWII veteran's burial ceremony May 5 at Arlington National Cemetery. / Submitted photo

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Relatives have returned home to Fremont after traveling last week to see World War II veteran Art Jibilian buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Jibilian will be remembered for his actions during five months in 1944, when he helped rescue hundreds of American troops from a German-occupied area in Serbia. The rescue is retold in a book, "The Forgotten 500," and has been called the most successful rescue mission of American troops during the war.

Jibilian, who died in March 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly two years, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, though that has yet to be approved by Congress.

Jibilian's daughter, Deb Jibilian, said the service at the national cemetery was almost too beautiful to put into words.

"It was so moving," she said. "We were facing the riflemen and bugler who were on a hill facing us. That scene, I will never forget that. It was so poignant, so beautiful."

Jibilian said she was given the honor of carrying her father's urn from the ceremony grounds to the vault where he was interred.

"I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling that was, to carry that," she said, "as a final act for my dad."

Jibilian's widow, Jo Jibilian, was moved when the Navy chaplain bent down and handed her the folded American flag, Deb said.

The family hopes to find a home for that flag, she said, where it will not gather any dust. One idea, Jibilian said, is to offer it to the Northcoast Veterans Museum in Gibsonburg, which has featured an exhibit about her father in the past.



Welcome to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York Website
Art Jibilian, WWII American Hero, buried at Arlington National Cemetery Above: Art Jibilian at the age of 20, during which time he voluntarily parachuted behind enemy lines in Pranjane, Serbia, 1944, to rescue more than 500 downed American airmen. Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York with Art Jibilian at the award ceremony. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic is holding a photo of "The Forgotten 500". This photo was broadcasted on Ohio television. Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York with Art Jibilian at the award ceremony. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic is holding a photo of "The Forgotten 500". This photo was broadcasted on Ohio television. Above: University of Toledo's (Ohio) Homecoming Parade Honors Heroes Above: University of Toledo's (Ohio) Homecoming Parade Honors Heroes. Above: Arthur Jibilian "Lest we Forget" Michigan, June 2009 Photo by Aleksandra Rebic Above: The folding and presentation of the American Flag Ceremony at the funeral service of Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2011 All photos courtesy of Debi and Jo Jibilian. Above: The Navy Chaplain waits for the flag to be folded. Above: The American Flag is folded over the the urn that holds the remains of Arthur Jibilian. Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2011 Above: Jo Jibilian, wife of Arthur, accepts the American Flag from the Chaplain Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2011 Above: Ms. Tammy Murphy of the "Ladies of Arlington" greets Jo Jibilian, Arthur's wife. Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2011 Above: Daughter Debi Jibilian carries the remains of her father, Arthur Jibilian, to their final resting place. Arlington National Cemetery May 5, 2011 The following article can be found at "Ohio WWII hero will be honored - Mansfield News Journal": ARLINGTON, Va. -- World War II veteran and Fremont native Art Jibilian will be remembered for his actions during five months in 1944, when he helped rescue hundreds of people from a German-occupied area in Serbia. Jibilian, who died in March 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly two years, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and he is being honored this morning by interment in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Jibilian's daughter, Deb Jibilian, said she applied for burial at the cemetery in April and was thrilled to be offered the ceremony so quickly. "They have just been so wonderful at Arlington," Jibilian said. "It is such an honor that dad gets to be in our national cemetery, I can't think of a better place for him." Jibilian, or "Jibby," was featured in a book, "The Forgotten 500," detailing what has been called the most successful rescue mission of American troops during the war. "Forgotten" talks about Jibilian, who was one of three agents of the Office of Strategic Services -- the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency -- who parachuted into central Serbia in August 1944 to rescue what they thought were 50 downed airmen. It turned out to be 513. Over the next six months, Jibilian helped construct a landing strip and coordinated evacuation flights and medical help at night as the people in the Serbian village housed and protected the soldiers under the leadership of Drazha Mihailovich -- leader of the Royal Yugoslav Army, commonly known as the Chetniks. Jibilian had always fought hard to clear the name of Mihailovich, who housed and kept alive the downed airmen. Mihailovich was labeled as a "collaborator" and was executed in 1946 by a new Yugoslavian government led by Josep Broz Tito, one of Mihailovich's military rivals during World War II. Jibilian's daughter said her father's hope was that by telling his inspiring story he could help clear the general's name and get him recognition as a war hero. "Daddy doesn't want the medal for himself," she said. "Those 513 airmen were rescued from Yugoslavia because Gen. Mihailovich took the risk and gave his life so those men could live. The soldiers and their relatives are alive because of the general, we must not forget that. That was daddy's message." Along with friends and family, attending the burial will be at least one of the soldiers her father helped rescue, Jibilian said, along with an American-born Serbian author who writes about Gen. Mihailovich's life. Jibilian said as happy as she is about today's honor, it will be a difficult experience for her and others attending the ceremony. "As much as I am looking forward to it, I am also dreading it," she said before leaving for Virginia. "It means I need to say goodbye to him a second time." Above: American airmen together with Serbs, last day in Yugoslavia before departing to Bari, Italy. Jibilian is the second from the left standing. Captain Lalich is located in the middle of the first row (behind the machine gun). OSS agent Nick Lalich (center) with some of the last fliers to be taken out in Operation Halyard, on December 27, 1944. Above: Captain Lalich and Jibilian are composing a message to send over radio to Bari, Italy. Above: Americans fliers on a C-47, on the way from Pranjane, Yugoslavia, to Bari, Italy. Local veteran lauded with soldier's burial The following article can be found at "Local veteran lauded with soldier's burial - TheNews-Messenger.com": Above: A Naval chaplain presents a folded flag to Art Jibilian's wife, Jo, during the WWII veteran's burial ceremony May 5 at Arlington National Cemetery. / Submitted photo ARLINGTON, Va. -- Relatives have returned home to Fremont after traveling last week to see World War II veteran Art Jibilian buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Jibilian will be remembered for his actions during five months in 1944, when he helped rescue hundreds of American troops from a German-occupied area in Serbia. The rescue is retold in a book, "The Forgotten 500," and has been called the most successful rescue mission of American troops during the war. Jibilian, who died in March 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly two years, was nominated for the Medal of Honor, though that has yet to be approved by Congress. Jibilian's daughter, Deb Jibilian, said the service at the national cemetery was almost too beautiful to put into words. "It was so moving," she said. "We were facing the riflemen and bugler who were on a hill facing us. That scene, I will never forget that. It was so poignant, so beautiful." Jibilian said she was given the honor of carrying her father's urn from the ceremony grounds to the vault where he was interred. "I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling that was, to carry that," she said, "as a final act for my dad." Jibilian's widow, Jo Jibilian, was moved when the Navy chaplain bent down and handed her the folded American flag, Deb said. The family hopes to find a home for that flag, she said, where it will not gather any dust. One idea, Jibilian said, is to offer it to the Northcoast Veterans Museum in Gibsonburg, which has featured an exhibit about her father in the past.