Pritzker Military Museum and Library - Chicago

On Friday, January 7th, 2022, the Halyard Mission Foundation and the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago co-hosted an event at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, on the occasion of the visit of H. E. Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, to Chicago.

The event included a screening of a documentary about the Halyard Mission which was the largest rescue of U.S. and Allied airmen from behind enemy lines during World War II. From August to December 1944 approximately 500 airmen were rescued and transported from improvised runways in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to U.S. airbases in Italy with the assistance of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland and the Serbian population.

The documentary, The Last Hero of Halyard, tells the story of the Halyard rescue mission through the eyes of George Vujnovich, an American officer with the Office of Strategic Services that helped to play and execute the mission.

It was an excellent opportunity to share this story with friends and supporters in Chicago as the Foundation works to build support across the United States.