Friday, August 29, 2014

HALYARD MISSION legend Captain Nick A. Lalich of the OSS shares diary entries from 1944 of great WWII Mihailovich rescue operations in the former Yugoslavia at Chicago celebration marking 50th Anniversary


Captain Nick A. Lalich of the OSS sharing a light moment
with General Draza Mihailovich in Bosnia or Serbia September 1944.

Captain Nick Lalich addressing the audience at Daley Plaza in Chicago
for the Halyard Mission 50th Anniversary Celebration May 31, 1994.
Photo courtesy of Sam Subotich.

Aleksandra's Note: Captain Nick A. Lalich, a WWII American O.S.S. Officer, was instrumental in setting up and successfully carrying through the classified, top secret "Halyard Mission Rescue Operation"
(Halyard Mission/later Ranger Mission) evacuations in Nazi occupied Yugoslavia in 1944, during which over 500 American airmen along with a couple hundred other Allied airmen were all safely evacuated from behind enemy lines and returned to their families and their homes. He was an honored speaker at the "Halyard Mission 50th Anniversary Commemoration" event on May 31, 1994 which was part of the weeklong D-Day 50th anniversary celebration in Chicago, Illinois. In his address both at Daley Plaza and later at the Swiss Hotel, Captain Lalich read directly from the diary he kept in 1944, vividly describing for the audience what it was like to be there during those critical months in 1944, reliving for us his participation in what has been called 'the greatest rescue of American lives from behind enemy lines in the history of warfare.' By doing so, he made it all come alive and we took that incredible journey with him.

Captain Nick Lalich was a good and honorable man. He was my friend. Like so many others who were participants in the great Halyard Mission adventure, he is no longer with us, but will remain with us always.

I'm so thankful to Captain Lalich for keeping that diary of his through all those years which documented these historic evacuations made possible by General Mihailovich and his Chetniks that took place over the course of several months in 1944, beginning in August and ending in December of that year.

Memory eternal.

Sincerely,

Aleksandra Rebic

*****

Major George Vujnovich and Captain Nick Lalich
at Halyard Mission 50th Anniversary Reunion Chicago, May 30, 1994.
Photo: Rebic collection.
 
Captain Nick Lalich (center) with two rescued American WWII airmen,
Curtis Diles (left) and Milton Friend (right) at Halyard Mission 50th anniversary reunion, Chicago May 30, 1994. Photo: Rebic collection.
 
THE FOLLOWING IS THE PRESENTATION BY CAPTAIN NICK LALICH AT THE
HALYARD MISSION 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN CHICAGO MAY 31, 1994:

Captain Nick A. Lalich:

"...I would first like to recognize the following people, those who are here, and those who are not, who have been so active in the cause:

Metropolitan Iriney, Serbian Orthodox Metropolinate, New Gracanica, Illinois; Metropolitan Christopher, Serbian Orthodox Metropolinate, Libertyville, Illinois;
Honorary Chairman Mayor Richard Daley, City of Chicago;
Colonel Kenneth A. Plummer, Committee Co-Chairman;
Rade Rebic, Chairman "Halyard Mission Celebration" and his daughter Aleksandra Rebic;
Honorable Congressman Philip M. Crane; the Honorable Edward J. Derwinski; and Major Richard L. Felman, President of the National Committee of American Airmen rescued by General Mihailovich.

I would like to pay tribute and dedicate this presentation to:

General Draza Mihailovich,
Captain George "Guv" Musulin,
and the American airmen rescued by General Mihailovich.

Since the "Halyard Mission" is being celebrated here in Chicago, let me name a few American airmen from the Chicago tri-state area who are being honored:

Major General Donald J. Smith
William L. Rogers
Major Kenneth C. Fulven
Charles Kenneth Gracz
Richard S. Sheehy
Robert I. Wilson
Donald H. Parkenson
Thomas Pettigrew
David E. La Bissoniere
Del Salman
Neil Janosky
William A. Crockett
Robert Eagan
Arthur J. Lund
David J. O'Connell, Jr.
John Fox
Fred Zvechner
Robert W. Eckman (who died just this last February 5, 1994 who came out with the last group of airmen, Halyard's last evacuation, December 27th, 1944)


During July of 1946 many of these flyers, and many more across the country, flew to Washington, D.C. hoping to persuade Congress and the U.S. State Department to intervene to save Draza Mihailovich from the communist firing squad. They also generated many media news stories favoring the General.

Before I narrate the rescue of the American airmen, starting with the night evacuation of August 9, 1944, I would like to recognize two very important Americans who contributed greatly to the Halyard Mission:

The late Colonel Nick Stepanovich, U.S. Army, from nearby Indiana Harbor. Colonel Nick was the one who recommended and helped recruit our American Serbs in the O.S.S. -- we are grateful and proud.

Major George Vujnovich, (Ambridge, PA and New York City), who was the O.S.S. chief in Bari, Italy and responsible for selecting and sending into Yugoslavia the Halyard Mission members to Draza Mihailovich.

Now to narrate to you some excerpts from my diary - the dramatic daylight rescue of the American airmen from enemy-occupied Serbia and Bosnia...

August 9 [1944], after the first night evacuation of 48 injured airmen, including our Major Felman, I reminded Captain George Musulin, our leader of the Halyard Mission, that headquarters, Bari, Italy, was going ahead with the daylight evacuation - this morning, August 10th - today, yes, today - of 240 American airmen, from a make-shift airfield at the mountain plateau of Pranjani, near Ravna Gora, only 60 miles southwest of Belgrade, with the German headquarters for the Balkans in Serbia proper.

Back at our headquarters "Gov" Musulin and I caught a few winks plus a bite to eat -- we went over our plans -- all American airmen were ordered to be at the airstrip no later than 8:00 in the morning. We were expecting to arrive at 8:15 a.m. 6 C-47 air transports with 25 P-51 fighter escorts as coverage. At 9:15 a.m. another group of air transports were to arrive with air coverage.

Gosh, I could hardly wait!

The people in the nearby villages were absolutely tops - to think that each of our 240 airmen were given a comfortable lodging with food by the Serbian people. They had faith in our airmen and in the Halyard Mission -- that's what I call real democracy.

August 10th, 1944:

We are ready! The field was as inviting as a billiard table - our Chetnik guard was out 8,000 strong. Suddenly, I heard the Brrr-rr of plane engines -- they were coming - 6 C47s with a fighter cover escort of 25 P-51s. What a sight! My God, it was beautiful! The pilots of the 60th troop carrier command.

The fighters buzzed the vicinity of Gornji Milanovac, Chachak, and other nearby German-occupied areas -- everything seemed okay. I let out a sigh of relief and turned to watch. The people were straining their eyes upward, disbelief on their faces - then cheering and waving. They pounded each other on the back so full of emotion! That here was "the greatest show on earth!" And what a show they put on - our American air force.

Six C-47s landed at 8:45 a.m. Twenty airmen went to each plane. We boarded 120 airmen on the first six planes. Then at 9:15 six more planes arrived. The remaining 120 airmen were boarded and off they went!

At last it was over. 12 planes flew away. Gosh, we sure sweated them out. Some 300 peasants had rushed the field to say 'Good-bye' to the American flyers. Flowers were being strewn all over the airfield - the airmen were throwing out their clothing - jackets, shoes, etc. The people were crying - honestly, by far, the greatest day in my life!

During the months of August and early September, the Halyard Mission continued daylight and night evacuations from Pranjani. The count of American airmen, American civilians, Russians, Italians, French and British evacuated was over 380 at that time.

On August 29th, Captain George S. Musulin, leader of the Halyard Mission, was recalled to Bari, Italy to prepare new escape routes and airfields. I, in turn, was put in full charge of the Halyard Mission.

With Tito's communist Partisans making attacks on Draza Mihailovich's forces, the Halyard Mission moved with Draza over the Suvobor Mountain into Mijonica. We proceeded to Koceljevo in Machva to locate a new airstrip. September 17th two C-47s landed at noon to evacuate 24 airmen and Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Mitrani, his two aides and our naval officer, along with O.S.S. photographer J.B. Allin. It was a successful evacuation.

From Koceljevo, we moved toward Bosnia, crossing the Drina River at Badovinci to Medjaci -- on toward the Trebava mountains, picking up American airmen on the way. There we met Father Sava, leader priest of the Chetnik forces for that area of Bosnia.

We moved south toward Doboj, where we could observe the German garrison from a nearby mountain. We then crossed the Sprechna River, moving to Boljanic where we readied a new airstrip for possible evacuations then headed south toward Sarajevo and on to Okruglice, after crossing the Krivaja River at Stog. Colonel McDowell, of the RANGER Intelligence Mission was recalled back to Bari, Italy. The mission and eight American airmen returned to Boljanic where they were evacuated on November 1, 1944. I was told to continue with the Halyard Mission and stay with Draza -- also told to pick up 16 additional American airmen in Visegrad. Instead, the 16 airmen arrived with an escort in Okruglice with our American citizen Bobby Marijanovich of Alquippa, Pennsylvania.

The Halyard Mission was ordered to evacuate -- we now had 16 airmen all in terrible physical shape. In addition, we had received word that 9 more airmen were holding up at Boljanic, waiting for our arrival.

Bari suggested two proposals for our evacuation:

First, have the nine airmen at Boljanic join us at Okruglice, then move to Bugojno, across the Bosna River, then travel to the Adriatic Sea for a pick-up. Second, turn ourselves, the Halyard Mission with our 25 flyers, over to Tito's Partisans. My answer: "No way!" I insisted that, "since you people sent me in - I want you to come and evacuate us - including all the airmen at Boljanic, our last last airstrip." O.S.S. approved!

The 15th Air Force came to get us on December 27th at noon. Two C-47s and a cover of 17 P-51s - the ' 51s' known as "The Black Squadron". They were terrific. All came from Foggia, Italy. It was a successful evacuation.

Now to recall our last day in Okruglice, Bosnia, with Draza Mihailovich:

Before leaving Draza, I told him that O.S.S. headquarters had gotten permission from our State Department, via George Vujnovich, Chief of Operations in Bari, Italy, to bring Draza out of Yugoslavia.

Draza quoted to me from Georges Danton, the leader of the French Revolution:

"You can't," he said, "carry your country out on the sole of your shoes."

He then told me this:

"I was born here on this this soil. I will stay with my people on this soil, and I will be buried in this soil."

[Lalich becomes visibly teary-eyed.]

We left Draza Mihailovich on the 11th of December, 1944, with our American flyers, from the village of Okruglice, not too far from Sarajevo. There, in the pre-morning dawn, during a heavy snowfall, Draza Mihailovich assembled two thousand of his Chetniks for a farewell salute to the 16 flyers of the Halyard Mission, who were leaving Draza's Ravna Gora fighters, the first guerrilla forces in Europe.

There, in front of his troops, we kissed Draza 'good-bye' -- yes, the American airmen, Jibby, and I -- Jibby, of course, being the radio operator. Draza presented me with a "Kama" - a two edged Serbian knife and also a Kama for Captain George Vujnovich.

Draza then tore off his Serbian patch, an insignia he had worn for four years, and gave it to me as an uspomena - a souvenir. It said: "Samo Sloga Srbina Spasava" - "Only Unity Saves the Serbs."

....Applause...

I, in turn, gave Draza my American carbine, I told him he never did receive Allied jets and other material to fight this war. I had a deep sadness in my heart. I could hardly talk. In fact, tears rolled down my cheeks. Believe you me, it was a sad situation.

I thanked Draza for returning to America our American airmen and allies. What else could I say but, 'Hvala za sve" - Thank you for everything.'

We parted, our airmen, Jibby, and I, waving to Draza. The Chetnik rifles saluted long in the morning.

For the trip back to the Boljanic airstrip, Draza gave us 40 Chetniks, led by "Shane", the champion skier of Yugoslavia - he really knew the mountains in the snow and would help carry us over the hardships - and Major Blagojevich as my liaison officer. We slowly took through the Zvezda planina, over to Stog, across the Krivaja River, across the Ozren mountains, stopping for Serbian Orthodox church services at the monastery, and on to Boljanic where our brave American airmen, Jibby, and I, were evacuated on December 27, 1944.

Glory to Draza!"

-Standing ovation-


END
Captain Nick A. Lalich
May 31, 1994
Chicago, IL U.S.A.

Final evacuation: Nick Lalich, kneeling front center, Dec. 27, 1944, before departing to Bari, Italy. Arthur Jibilian is standing second from left (facing photo), with the last of the American airmen to be evacuated from Yugoslavia.
 
 
Aleksandra's Note: Captain Nick Lalich passed away on May 11, 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 85.


*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Texas Attorney Joe Geary, 90, a World War II hero, still faces down enemies — in court / "A guy named General [Draža] Mihailovic got us out [of Yugoslavia]." / "The Dallas Morning News" August 26, 2014

The Dallas Morning News
Cheryl Hall
August 26, 2014

Joe Geary has practiced law in North Texas
since he passed the bar 67 years ago.
 G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer
 
Joe Geary (standing, third from left) flew 50 bombing missions in the liberation of Europe and learned valuable lessons for the legal profession.
 
 Joe Geary (far right), and other veterans pose for a group photo at the Utah Beach American Memorial June 2014 in France. Geary is a WWII veteran and former Dallas City Councilman.


ADDISON — August has been busy for Joe Geary.

The founder of Geary, Porter & Donovan PC went before a jury in Denton County and won $309,000 for his client in a state property condemnation case.

He resolved a dispute involving a legal immigrant ranchhand and a high-interest loan company. For that case, Geary waived his $480-an-hour fee because he felt the terms of the loan were “morally unconscionable.”

And he’s knee-deep in depositions on another case that’s headed for trial later this year.

The thing is, Geary is 90 years old. He’s been practicing law in North Texas since he passed the bar 67 years ago.

“Work is the nearest thing to competitive athletics that I can do,” Geary says in his office along the Dallas North Tollway. “It keeps your mind working. You get to see a lot of different people in different circumstances. It’s still a deal where you can make a difference for poor folks. And it’s just fun.”

On a typical day, Geary shows up at the office between 8:30 and 9 and leaves at noon for lunch at Preston Trail Golf Club. If his workload allows it, he stays and plays honor-count gin, a complicated version of gin rummy.

“I play for fun and to challenge myself mentally,” he says. “It makes you think competitively, just as you do in law.”

Geary’s legal career began as an assistant district attorney for Dallas County in 1947. He left the DA’s office for private practice in 1951 and was elected to the Dallas City Council in 1959.

Two years later, he was the business establishment’s mayoral candidate but was beaten by Earle Cabell. It was just as well, Geary shrugs. “I would have been mayor when Kennedy was assassinated.”

Former Dallas City Manager George Schrader met Geary in 1960. He has seen Geary operate as a legal adversary, as his comrade in zoning cases and now as his personal attorney.

“He’s a distinguished attorney — very tough, represents his clients exceedingly well,” Schrader says. “But he also has a soft spot that most people don’t get to see. He’s done things for the city that he’s not gotten recognition for.”‘The gift of gab’Mike Geary, 60, has been at his dad’s side since he started coming to work with him on Saturdays as a 7-year-old. Mike joined his father’s firm fresh out of law school 35 years ago.

“He’s got the gift of gab,” Mike says. “He’s still very good in the courtroom. I tell people I hope I’m upright at 90, much less showing up here. He’s that generation. They don’t know anything else but to work.”

Geary is a highly decorated World War II navigator who flew 50 bombing missions in the liberation of Europe.

He left Southern Methodist University when he was 18 to enlist as an aviation cadet in the Army, traveling to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls for basic training. His bus mates included Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry and Ben Love of Houston, who became one of Texas’ most prominent bankers.

Geary and his comrades missed the D-Day invasion, waiting to hitch a ride across the Atlantic aboard a USO plane.

They were miffed that their grand adventure was being delayed. But they matured in a hurry when they arrived to join the 450th Bomb Group in Italy later that summer.

“We were green as grass, not knowing anything about anything,” Geary says. “We asked the company colonel where we should put our stuff. His response turned on the light for us. ‘I can’t tell you right now. We’ll see who doesn’t come back today.’ That was the greeting. And that was the way it was.”

Geary doesn’t know how many men cycled through the 450th, but he’s read that 1,505 didn’t make it home. He and the flight crew almost made it 1,515 when they were shot down on Oct. 7, 1944.

They were flying lead in a bombing mission outside Vienna. Five of the seven airplanes were shot down before the formation reached the oil refinery and storage depot target. Their plane was hit hard but they continued on and dropped their bombs even though it had lost its instruments and most of its fuel.

The crew couldn’t bail without deserting their severely injured co-pilot.

Somehow, Geary found an airfield on an island off the coast of Yugoslavia.

“The pilot said he was going to try to take it in, but that anybody who wanted to could bail out,” Geary recalls. “We all said, ‘Hell, we all came together. We’ll stay together.’ The pilot was able to make the landing on an emergency strip. A guy named Gen. [Draža] Mihailovic got us out [of Yugoslavia]. He was [Marshal] Tito’s opposition.”

Geary’s role earned him the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal and the Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest military decoration. Feeling appreciated, Geary depends on expensive hearing aids and uses a walker. But other than that, he’s still going strong.

In June, he traveled to France for D-Day and French liberation celebrations. “The high point of the trip for me was the appreciation shown us from old to young, including little schoolkids,” Geary says. “It was a very heartwarming experience.”

Shortly after he returned from France, Geary flew to New Orleans to be interviewed by the National World War II Museum for its archives.

“They wanted to hear the basic bull about how tough things were,” he says. “I kept telling them — which is the absolute truth — we had a dry bed and a hot meal if you got home. The guys walking [infantry] also got shot at, but they had rain and snow to sleep in when they got through with their day. They had it far worse than we did.”

The war taught Geary responsibility and how to assess the enemy — useful skills for the legal profession.

“That’s the key to the law business. Knowing the opposition. Knowing the hot buttons that may rattle their witness or the lawyer,” he says. “I like to agitate. My forte is cross examination.”

It also taught him how to figure out whom he could rely on in structuring his case handling.

“There are people here that I would use in some instances but in some instances I wouldn’t because of their peculiarities as I see them. Now, my peculiarities as they see them is another matter.”

AT A GLANCE: Joe Geary

Title: Founder and chairman, Geary, Porter & Donovan PC in Addison

Age: 90

Born: St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, Feb. 2, 1924.

Resides: Bent Tree neighborhood.

Education: North Dallas High School, 1940; bachelor of arts in pre-law and government, 1946, and law degree from Southern Methodist University, January 1948. (He passed the bar in 1947, before he graduated.)

Personal: Married for 56 years to Charlotte Geary, who died in 2005; one son and three daughters, nine grandchildren and five (soon to be six) great-grandchildren.


http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/cheryl-hall/20140826-world-war-ii-hero-still-faces-down-courtroom-enemies.ece


*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

Sunday, August 24, 2014

SERBIA TO OFFICIALLY COMMEMORATE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "HALYARD MISSION" IN PRANJANI, SERBIA September 22-23, 2014 !


Plaque dedicated to the Halyard Mission Rescue Operation of 1944 erected in Pranjani, Serbia in September of 2004. Another plaque, with the same inscription in Serbian Cyrillic, stands next to the English language plaque.
Foto courtesy of "Wikipedia". Author unknown at this time.

Aleksandra's Note: I was so pleased to hear this news from good friend Milana "Mim" Bizic, someone who has shared so much wonderful information about the historic Halyard Mission Rescue Operation of WWII on her great website www.babamim.com. Serbia will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Halyard Mission right there in Pranjani where a series of incredible rescues of American and Allied airmen from Nazi-occupied territory began in August of 1944. The successful rescue missions continued in various other areas through the end of December of 1944 in Serbia and Bosnia. The Halyard Mission evolved into the "Ranger Mission," but it was all part of the same series of events made possible by General Draza Mihailovich, his Serbian Chetnik forces, and the Serbian civilians loyal to them.

What follows is a current schedule of events. I also provide contact information for Lt. John Cappello who has been, and continues to be, seriously involved in the efforts to properly commemorate the Halyard Mission Rescue Operation.

This Halyard celebration "in the homeland" truly is a significant move forward in the historical context, because it appears that there is going to be "official" recognition by the Serbian government of what was, for a very long time, a taboo subject in Serbia due to "political" restraints. High level representatives of the current Serbian government have committed to participating in the ceremonies.

Thank you, Mim and Lt. Cappello, for sharing this great news!

Sincerely,

Aleksandra Rebic

General Draza Mihailovich with Serbian Orthodox clergy in Pranjani, Serbia
September 6, 1944.


*****

From Mim Bizic:
 
"So important! This is great news for all of those who know the story of General Draza Mihailovich and his Chetniks and the rescue of over 500 U.S. airmen. I'm sharing this message from a GREAT FRIEND of the Serbian people..."

*****

From Lt. John Cappello, August 2014.

"I also wanted to let you know about the 70th Anniversary Ceremony commemorating the Halyard Mission we are planning. The event will take place in Serbia, with activities on both 22 and 23 September 2014. Dan and Bojan have been working closely with both the President's and Minister of Defense's offices and they have committed to participate in the event.

Here is the agenda:

22 September 2014: Pranjani ceremony:
-Galovica field 1200-1220


Wreath laying by President, US Ambassador to Serbia, MoD delegation, Halyard Foundation.
-Galovica field 1220-1245


Remarks by President, Ambassador, and Defense Minister.

-Church/School area 1300 - 1330
Tour of Wooden church and Pranjani elementary school.

23 September 2014: Military Museum, Belgrade
1900- Ceremony

"I will be traveling to Serbia for the ceremony. While we have come a long way in recognizing the sacrifice of those who rescued American airmen, we have a long way to go. We are still working on completing the documentary and I believe we are getting close to completion. Dan, Bojan and a few associates will be back in the U.S. to conduct some more research and a few last interviews. After this I hope they will be able to put the finishing touches on the documentary.

"You mentioned that your class will be interviewing Carl Walpusk. Please pass him my sincerest regards and wish him well. I hope we can put something together that will make him proud.

"If you can think of any other veterans of the rescue mission that we have not been in contact with please let me know."

All the best,
Lt. John Cappello
August 2014

*****

TO CONTACT LT. CAPPELLO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE TO HIM AT:

Jcapp12@hotmail.com


*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

Thursday, August 14, 2014

VIDEO! Marking the 30th Anniversary of the Consecration of New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Third Lake, IL with original documentary film by MIR Productions of Chicago / "BUILD THYSELF A CHURCH"


New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Third Lake, IL U.S.A.
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic June 30, 2013.

A perfect moment of reflection and prayer
at New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Third Lake, IL U.S.A.
Photo by Aleksandra Rebic June 30, 2013.

Aleksandra's Note: I am so pleased to have the opportunity to share this wonderful documentary film produced and directed by Mirko Popadic of Mir Productions in Chicago and written by Joe McGarry! This film gives the historical background of the development of the New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Third Lake, IL along with fantastic documentary footage of the process. Before your very eyes, you will see the birth of this Christian landmark in Chicagoland that's been welcoming the Orthodox faithful for 30 years now since August 12, 1984.

When I first saw this film courtesy of producer and director Mirko Popadic back in 2009, I was in awe of how well it was done and watching the process of the building of the New Gracanica Monastery was absolutely mesmerizing. The historical background provided in the narration complements the film footage beautifully. For this extraordinary documentary, Mirko received a Chicago Emmy Award in 1990 as producer.

In "BUILD THYSELF A CHURCH" Mirko Popadic gives the Christian community a real historical and visual treasure through the magic of film. If one would like to learn more about his production company here in Chicagoland, please visit http://mirproductionsinc.com

As you watch, and I encourage you to watch the 35 minute video from start to finish, you will undoubtedly see many people you recognize or have known over the years, especially if you live in the Chicagoland area.

A heartfelt "Thank You" goes out to Mirko Popadic, for making "BUILD THYSELF A CHURCH" available for all of us and for future generations to enjoy and learn from!

Sincerely,

Aleksandra Rebic
August 2014

*****

"BUILD THYSELF A CHURCH"
Published on You Tube by "jelmirolimic"
Published on Aug 13, 2014


http://youtu.be/lHaqlgaAmRk


ABOUT THE VIDEO:

"Build Thyself A Church was produced and directed by Mirko Popadic and written by Joe McGarry.

"Thirty years ago Bishop Iriney and the Serbian Orthodox Free Diocese of United States and Canada consecrated their new church monastery, Gracanica.

"As Bishop Iriney wrote, Build Thyself a Church has and will continue to impact future generations."


*****

If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com

*****

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

"Дража из студентског угла" / Милош Николин 17.07.2014 / July 17, 2014


 
"Дража из студентског угла"
 
Испрљана, умрљана, гарава, сва у блату, мусава, тешко оболела, крастава, сва у ранама, утучена, неутешна, сва малодушна, огњеним мачем исечена. То је данас Србија.

Наравно пошто смо давно у установили да смо стручњаци у лечењу последица а не узрока како би у ствари требало, кад читалац прочита овај претходно речени први пасус, онда га он и не би требало да га прими пуно к срцу. Па то је још само један „почетак краја“ или „крај почетка“ што би рекао Черчил, ал` онако извучено из садржаја његове пуне реченице. Нама је ето остао још само тај јадни „крај“, само да се за њега ухватимо па можда наиђемо на неки део тог спасоносног ужета који се зове „почетак“ .

За мене, као студента Факултета политичких наука, генеза настанка мука сваког становника Србије потпуно је јасна. Овде је завладала малодушност, људи примају плата не више сваког месеца него негде чекају и до годину дана. Ал` добро, сетимо се оног сјајног времена од 1944. на овамо. Не беше ли то наш „највећи тренутак“? Било је то време великих парола, идеја. „Комунизам од Трста до Владивостока“, „променићемо човека у Србији“ тако су говорили другови и променили су га. Држава је тад као и сад „увек и свугде “има је свугде само тамо где треба нема је. Учени смо да мрзимо класне непријатеље. „Класне непријатеље“? Јел се то овде мисли на Југословенску војску у отаџбини, на остатак војске из априлског рата? Да. Свака војска у свету носи име свог народа али се ту нашао изузетак. Само је НОВЈ била „народна“ војска. као да у свету постоје и некакве приватне војске. Добро ајде, руку на срце, нису баш сви партијски руководиоци били одбојни према том „приватној“ својини, нарочито не они на највишим местима. Кад је 1944. дошло време „ослобођења“ од живота ,од имовине, партизани су се показали  као вешти стручњаци у приватизацији. Нема те дедињске виле коју нису ослободили и која им се није свидела и на коју нису поболи црвену заставу на којој је било исписано „ово је моје“. И данас ми основу закона о реституцији враћамо ту одузету имовину правим власницима. Тако је и војвода Петар Бојовић ослобођен.

А Дража? Човек који нас је волео, вожд који је волео да чује реч свог народа, сељака, студента, омладине. Шта је он скривио? Ма, Срби су увек волели и дивили се својим џелатима као што је био Броз. А кнез Павле и Дража који су хтели да спасу народ проглашени су за неке издајнике. Кога су издали? Па је л то Дража био у партизанима па да може да их изда. Дража је осећао присност са тим сељацима јер то је био „буке“ нашег народа. Данас тих сељака и нема, а ако их и има онда је то углавном старачко становништво без наследника огњишта и будућности. Народ је под таласом вештачке индустријализације извучен из села и доведен у градове. Крахом комунизма и пљачкашком приватизацијом они су остали без посла.

После рата су они који су нас гурали у смрт кићени титулама „народних хероја“. Највећа уметност тада постаде заглупљивање људи уместо да на универзитетима предају они су митинговали ,учили да говоре и зборе до зоре о бескласном друштву а високошколске установе су у потпуности обезвређене и подређене партији. Сви партијски руководиоци врло брзо постадоше доктори наука. Све што је после рата мирисало на памет, надареност и интелигенцију стрпано је у воз без повратне карте за „ненародне елементе“. Нама ето остаје да се окренемо будућности, само се надам да када будемо градили и копали темеље за будућност не налетимо на неку комунистичку масовну гробницу „народних непријатеља“.


Милош Николин

17.07.2014
 
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If you would like to get in touch with me, Aleksandra, please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com
 
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