95-year-old NYC man gets medal for WWII rescue

[vikingBerserker]

from 95-year-old NYC man gets medal for WWII rescue

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government has recognized the World War II architect of a mission to rescue more than 500 U.S. bomber crew members shot down over Nazi-occupied Serbia.

It was the largest air rescue of Americans behind enemy lines in any war.



George Vujnovich (VOOY'-noh-veech) is credited with leading the so-called Halyard Mission in what was then Yugoslavia.

The 95-year-old New York City man was awarded the Bronze Star in a ceremony Sunday at Manhattan's St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. He received a standing ovation from a crowd of several hundred.

He's long retired from his job as a salesman of aircraft parts.

Vujnovich says of the honor, "better now than never" — but he regrets most of the men on his wartime mission are no longer alive.

[Trebor]

[Wayne Little]

[RabidAlien]

[Thorlifter]

Good for him!

[evangilder]

Its about time.

[diddyriddick]

[Gnomey]

[weareborg]

[GrauGeist]

Incredible story, VB...I hadn't heard of this operation before!

I just read up on the mission's details. See it here: Rescue Behind Enemy Lines - Operation Halyard and the Rescue in Occupied Serbia HistoryNet

Mr. Vujnovich should have been recognized long before this!

[ToughOmbre]

TO