Jake A Mandusich

On episode two hundred and ninety-four, the story of Jake A Mandusich is told. All stories in March and April will be recipients from the World War 1. Be sure to visit our website for more information as the show goes on at: www.talesofhonorpodcast.com. Thanks for listening and be sure to share with friends and family!

Jake was born on the 13th of July, 1887, in Prizren, which is in modern day Kosovo. His birth name is Aleksa and I am not entirely certain how he received the name Jake or even how he came to the United States but I do know that he enlisted in the US Army in Chicago, Illinois, and he would also be known as Jake Allex. He was deployed as a Corporal with Company H, 131st Infantry, 33rd Infantry Division and it was his actions in France that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

At a critical point in the action, when all the officers with his platoon had become casualties, Corporal. Allex took command of the platoon and led it forward until the advance was stopped by fire from a machinegun nest. He then advanced alone for about 30 yards in the face of intense fire and attacked the nest. With his bayonet he killed 5 of the enemy, and when it was broken, used the butt of his rifle, capturing 15 prisoners.

Although not much else is known about his life after the War, it is known that Jake returned to Chicago and he received the Medal of Honor on the 2nd of April, 1919. Aleksa Mandusich died on the 28th of August, 1959, at the age of 72 and is buried in the Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sava in Libertyville, Illinois: Section B, Row 6, Lot 446.