Alexander R. Nininger

He kept attacking enemy positions after taking three wounds.

Alexander Ramsey “Sandy” Nininger Jr. was born in Gainesville, Georgia, in 1918 and grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He entered the United States Military Academy in July 1937 and graduated with the West Point Class of 1941. Commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant that June, he trained at Fort Benning before serving with the 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in the Philippines.

On 12 January 1942, during the Battle of Bataan near Abucay, Japanese snipers in trees and foxholes were blocking a counterattack. Nininger volunteered to fight with Company K even though his own company was not then engaged. Using his rifle and grenades, he attacked enemy positions at close quarters. Wounded three times, he kept advancing until he was killed inside the Japanese position. When the ground was retaken, a Japanese officer and two soldiers were found dead beside him.

His posthumous Medal of Honor was announced in General Order No. 9 on 5 February 1942 and presented to his father at MacDill Field, Florida, on 10 February.

Officers reported that Nininger was buried near the church at Abucay. His remains have not been identified, and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lists him as unaccounted for. He is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery. West Point's Association of Graduates established the Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms in 2006 to recognize graduates who demonstrate heroism in battle.

Full Medal of Honor citation:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on 12 January 1942. This officer, though assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily attached himself to Company K, same regiment, while that unit was being attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and handgrenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after pushing alone far within the enemy position. When his body was found after recapture of the position, 1 enemy officer and 2 enemy soldiers lay dead around him.”