He’s Alive!: SERGEANT JAMES I. MESTROVITCH (1243675)

In his meticulously researched and moving biography, He’s Alive! American Immortal, Živojin Žika Petrović breathes life into the long-dormant story of Sergeant James I. Mestrovitch, a Montenegrin immigrant who became a symbol of American valor during the First World War. I often find historical biographies can feel like a dry march through dates and maps, but Petrović manages to craft a narrative that feels as urgent and visceral as a modern thriller. The book tracks the improbable journey of a young man born in the rugged olive groves of Luštica, Montenegro, who sought a new life in Fresno, California, only to find himself in the “inferno” of the Western Front.

Petrović’s writing is at its best when capturing the sensory overload of the trenches, describing the air in Fismes, France, as being “thick with the stench of gunpowder and blood” while the ground “shuddered… from continuous explosions”. The centerpiece of the book is the harrowing account of August 10, 1918, when Mestrovitch witnessed his company commander, Captain James A. Williams, fall in an exposed field under heavy German machine-gun fire. Despite being pinned down, Mestrovitch refused to leave his leader behind, and Petrović captures the raw determination in James’s voice when he mutters, “Getting you home, Sir,” before slinging the wounded officer over his shoulder and sprinting through a “hail of lead”. It is a cinematic moment that underscores why Mestrovitch was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

What makes this biography stand out is its exploration of the “miracle” of Mestrovitch’s survival, and the subsequent tragedy of his end. After being declared dead and even having his “death” reported to his family, James was found alive in a trench, “recovering in field hospital”. The book poignantly captures the short-lived joy of his recovery, only for him to return to the front and fall in battle just weeks before the Armistice. Petrović does not just recount military facts; he builds “a bridge between eras and worlds,” incorporating personal letters and family memories to ensure that Mestrovitch is seen not just as a name on a citation, but as a “noble, brave, quiet yet proud” young man who gave his life at just twenty-four years old.

This book is an essential read for military history buffs who crave detailed accounts of the 28th “Keystone” Division’s operations in France, as well as for anyone interested in immigrant stories and the pursuit of the American Dream. Young professionals like myself will also find it to be a compelling coming-of-age story about a peer who demonstrated extraordinary “grit and perseverance” in the face of unimaginable chaos. He’s Alive! is a stirring reminder that true heroism is about the humanity that persists when the world is at its darkest.