SUPERIOR, Wis. (Northern News Now) - As a Minnesota state legislator, John Blatnik was exempt from military service in World War II, but that didn’t stop him from volunteering with the OSS and being dropped into Yugoslavia.

Minnesota State Senator John Blatnik was a Slovenian American from Chisholm.

His knowledge of that language earned him an officer’s commission in the Office of Strategic Services which was the predecessor of the CIA.

Captain Blatnik was tasked with working with the Yugoslav partisans fighting Hitler.

“Going behind enemy lines and rescuing downed allied airmen,” said Briana Fiandt of the Richard Bong Heritage Center in Superior.

It’s been said Blatnik rescued several dozen pilots and bomber crewmen while earning a Bronze Star for valor.

The exact number isn’t known

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