Jovan was born into a family of commoners, his father a day laborer and his mother a domestic servant. Little opportunity was afforded to the young Lilic, but one thing pushed him forward: An extreme zeal of patriotism. Although an ethnic Serbian, Jovan rarely considered himself such, seeing himself loyal not to his fellow Serbs, but to the nation as a whole. Given his love of country and little chance for a future, a military career was a given. Upon minimum age, Lilic enlisted with joy, knowing a road of public service and adventure awaited.