Art Jibilian shown in his Navy uniform in 1942 died Sunday after battling leukemia. Jibilian, 86, was affectionately called "Jibby".

Jibilian, a radio operator, was nominated for the military's highest honor for his actions during five months in 1944, helping to rescue hundreds of people from a German-occupied area in Serbia.

Jibilian was one of three Office of Strategic Services agents who parachuted into central Serbia in August 1944 to rescue what he thought was 50 downed airmen.

"We didn't find 50," Jibilian would later say. "We found 250."

Over the next six months, Jibilian constructed 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.

His daughter, Debi Jibilian, said the family plans an event Saturday in Fremont, though funeral plans have not been set.

"It's going to be a celebration of his life," Debi Jibilian said. "This is his home, and this is where it'll be."

Debi said her father lived for 18 months after doctors said he had two weeks left.

Instead of battling for his life, he fought to clear the name of a man who helped save him and his fellow colleagues in the mission -- Drazha Mihailovich. Jibilian revisited Serbia on several occasions, speaking to crowds and praising Mihailovich, who had been labeled as a "collaborator" with Nazis and was executed.

The mission was documented in Gregory A. Freeman's 2007 book, "The Forgotten 500."

"With the passing of Arthur Jibilian, our country has lost a true American hero," Freeman wrote in a statement to The News-Messenger. "Arthur's brave work in rescuing downed American airmen in World War II must never be forgotten, and I am honored to have known him.

"He was the quintessential American hero -- humble, modest, quietly proud, but ferocious in seeking justice."

Jibilian was set to received the Golden Deeds Award on April 17 from the Exchange Club of Fremont.

He received a congressional honor for his duty in 2008 from U.S. Rep. Bob Latta. Latta on Monday gave a speech on the floor of Congress to honor Jibilian.

"They have yet to receive a military/government recognition for their actions," Latta said. "I will continue to work on this legislation to honor this exceptional American with the recognition he deserves."

Freeman said "The Forgotten 500" has been optioned for a motion picture by Dana Maksimovich, who co-produced Oscar winner "Crash" and "In the Valley of Elah."

"We're excited about the prospects of seeing 'The Forgotten 500,' on the big screen," Freeman said.

Jibilian also was a strong supporter of making a major film about the WWII story.

****From "The News-Messenger" of Freemont, Ohio. Thanks to Nadine Djordjevic and Mileva Savich for sharing this article.

His Holiness passed away Sunday morning.  May he rest in peace and His memory be eternal.

The Northwest Indiana regional memorial service for Patriarch Pavle will be held tomorrow Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at St. George, 905 Joliet Road in Schererville.  Father Marko is encouraging all parishioners to attend this memorial service.

Special Thanks to Mara Cucuz from Florida for sending us the link to this video.

Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago is part of Northwestern Memorial Hospitals. Construction of the new Prentice Hospital was completed in October 2007. The brand new facility was provided with the latest technology and equipment. As a result of their generosity, Prentice donated 373 pieces of much needed medical supplies and clinical equipment to six hospitals in Serbia. The estimated value of these goods is $1.5 million. This monumental task was arranged by Lifeline Humanitarian Organization, founded by Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia.

St. Sava in Milwaukee and Lifeline will be assisting in transporting donated computers worth $10,000 (specially configured for the blind) for the Brkic triplets in Serbia. You can view the Brkic triplets singing in our Videos section. Lifeline raises funds for the transporting of food and goods to aid people in Serbia.

If you would like to receive the Lifeline Newsletter by email, please contact them at Lifelinel@pkfond.org

San Francisco based Global Fund for Women has worked in partnership with women who are struggling to rebuild their lives in Serbia after recent conflicts. This nonprofit grant-making foundation raises funds for women-led organizations that promote economic independence, health, safety, education, and leadership of women and girls. Understanding the social, political, and economic conditions in which these women live is a critical component of their mission.

In 2006 alone, over $170,000 was donated to the following organizations:

Autonomous Women's Center-Belgrade $16,000, Centar Za Devojke - Nis $30,000, Reconstruction Women's Fund - Belgrade $50,000, Women in Action - Velika Plana $10,000, Women's Center for Democracy and Human Rights - Subotica $5,200, and $34,000 to various Novi Sad and Belgrade organizations. Also receiving contributions in Montenegro were: Montenegrin Women's Lobby - Podgorica $20,000 and Women's Safe House - Podgorica $5,000. You can help by supporting this fund; every contributing donor, regardless of amount, is listed on their website in their Annual Report. Among those on the Board of Directors is Laurene Jobs (the wife of Steve Jobs from Apple Computers).

The 2007 Annual Report listed the following contributions:

Belgrade Women's Studies and Gender Research Center - Belgrade $40,000, BIBIJA Roma Women's Center - Belgrade $20,000, Glas Razlike - Belgrade $7,150, Impuls - Tutin $8,000, Iz Kruga - Belgrade $20,000, Pescanik - Krusevac $6,000, Reconstruction Fund - Belgrade $65,5000, Roma Women's Group Strong Women - Kragujevac $10,000, SOS Vlasotince - Vlasotince, $8,000, Women's Studies and Research - Novi Sad $17,000, ZAR Kikinda (Women's Alternative Workshop) - Kikinda $18,000, totaling $219,650.

Eleven families, including 38 children, have been living at the Grocka Refugee Camp in Belgrade for up to ten years with no way out. The recent shipment of blankets, clothing, essentials, and toys arrived directly to the hands of these very appreciative families, as you can see below. Through the efforts of HRH Princess Katherine's LIFELINE Charity, the need for emergency medical and humanitarian aid has been brought to the attention of many, and should be addressed because our people are suffering the aftermaths of war. We would like to share with you the LIFELINE NEWSLETTER. Please read it and understand that all our help is needed to relieve the suffering in our homeland.

Many Thanks to these contributors for their donated goods: Duneland Resale, Barbara Skala, Xenia Jancarich, Kathy Friedlander, Radmila Milivojevich, Stanja Djinovic, Beba Rudman, Violet Sekulich, Donna Simpson, Deena Galich, Kathleen Baroevich, Gordana Gerbick, Dorothy Paunovich, Sonja Mancich, Manda Andrejich Ellesin, Donna Nickolich, Millicent Orlich, Ljubica Rokosz, Melanie Sever, Djuka Balac, Ruth Ann Bjelopetrovich, and Michelle Langerfeld.

(Click photo to enlarge)