Jake Allex
Encyclopedia
Jake Allex, born Jake Allex Mandusich in Prizren
, Kosovo
, Ottoman Empire
(July 13, 1887 – August 28, 1959) was an American
soldier
of ethnic Serbian
descent who received the Medal of Honor
for his service in the U.S. Army
during World War I
.
, 33rd Infantry Division. On August 9, 1918, near Chippilly Ridge, France
, when finding all of their officers either wounded or killed and his platoon
under heavy attack from the opposing German
forces, Allex, a Corporal, took command. Leading his platoon forward toward the machine gun
nest, his platoon was able to overwhelm the opposition. Allex alone killed five enemy soldiers, and when his bayonet
broke, he used the butt of his rifle
in close quarters combat, taking fifteen German prisoners.
Little is known about his life following the First World War.
He died August 28, 1959 in a Veterans Administration hospital in Chicago. He was buried in Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sava cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois
.
He is praised with the highest honors and he is an inspiration to all.
Citation:
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(July 13, 1887 – August 28, 1959) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
of ethnic Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
descent who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his service in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Military service
Allex entered the US Army in Chicago, Illinois, and returned there following World War I, with the rank of Sergeant. While in the Army he served in Company H, 131st InfantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, 33rd Infantry Division. On August 9, 1918, near Chippilly Ridge, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when finding all of their officers either wounded or killed and his platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
under heavy attack from the opposing German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
forces, Allex, a Corporal, took command. Leading his platoon forward toward the machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
nest, his platoon was able to overwhelm the opposition. Allex alone killed five enemy soldiers, and when his bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
broke, he used the butt of his rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
in close quarters combat, taking fifteen German prisoners.
Little is known about his life following the First World War.
He died August 28, 1959 in a Veterans Administration hospital in Chicago. He was buried in Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sava cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...
.
He is praised with the highest honors and he is an inspiration to all.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company H, 131st Infantry, 33d Division. Place and date: At Chippilly Ridge, France, August 9, 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: July 13, 1887, Prizren, Kosovo. G.O. No.: 44, W.D., 1919.Citation:
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.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I