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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

James I. Mestrovitch

Sergeant James I. Mestrovitch, Army, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on August 10, 1918 in Fismette, France during World War I.

World War I August 10, 1918PosthumousBorn in Yugoslavia

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant James I. Mestrovitch was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on August 10, 1918 in Fismette, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company C, 111th Infantry, 28th Division. Mestrovitch was 24 years old.

The medal was presented on 1922, 4 years after the action.

Mestrovitch was born on May 22, 1894 in Crna Cora, Yugoslavia — one of 3 recipients born in Yugoslavia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Mestrovitch died on November 4, 1918 in France, at the age of 24. He is buried at Cemetery in Crna Gora, Yugoslavia. Records also list him as Mestrovic, James I..

Mestrovitch is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seeing his company commander lying wounded 30 yards in front of the line after his company had withdrawn to a sheltered position behind a stone wall, Sgt. Mestrovitch voluntarily left cover and crawled through heavy machine-gun and shell fire to where the officer lay. He took the officer upon his back and crawled to a place of safety, where he administered first-aid treatment, his exceptional heroism saving the officer's life.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

How he died

  • Awarded posthumously — died November 4, 1918.
  • Manner of death: natural causes
  • Cause of death: 1918–1920 flu pandemic, influenza
  • Age at death: 24
  • Resting place: Cemetery

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Bay of Kotor — map
  • Died: France — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

From the archives

James I. Mestrovitch was killed in action a week before the Armistace for World War I. According to the reports following his death, he was shot by a sniper through the right thigh. He refused medical evacuation and instead sent his men back for reinforcements. His last words were reported as, "Volunteers to go to Battalion Headquarters for help. Good luck and God bless you brothers."

Timeline

  1. May 22, 1894
    Born in Crna Cora, Yugoslavia
  2. August 10, 1918
    Act of valor — Fismette, France
    Age 24. Company C, 111th Infantry, 28th Division
  3. November 4, 1918
    Died in France
    Age 24.
  4. 1922
    Medal of Honor presented posthumously
  5. Resting place
    Cemetery
    Crna Gora

Biography

Sergeant James I. Mestrovitch (May 22, 1894 – November 4, 1918) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor, America's highest military decoration, for his valiant actions in World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “James I. Mestrovitch”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More World War I recipients from Pennsylvania

Joel Thompson Boone Lieutenant Commander · Navy World War I · 1918 Orlando Henderson Petty Lieutenant · Navy World War I · 1918 OS Oscar Schmidt Jr. Chief Gunner's Mate · Navy World War I · 1918 DS Dwite H. Schaffner First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 Joseph Henry Thompson Major · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.