CONGRESSIONAL
MEDAL OF HONOR
The nation's highest decoration
for bravery by a member of the armed forces.
Awarded posthumously to Sandy Nininger
of Fort Lauderdale, Jan. 29, 1942, by President Franklin Roosevelt.
CITATION
Alexander R. Nininger, Jr., Second Lieutenant,
Fifty Seventh Infanty (Philippine Scouts,) United States Army.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near
Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on January 12, 1942. This
officer, although 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 forces superior in
fire power.
Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes
had stopped counter attack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand
fighting which followed, Lieutenant Nininger repeatedly forced
his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy
enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and hand grenades
and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes
and enemy snipers.
Although wounded three times, he continued
his attacks until he was killed after pushing along far within
the enemy position. When his body was found after recapture of
the position one enemy officer and two enemy soldiers lay dead
around him.
The Military Academy is justly proud
that the first award in this war of the Nation's highest honor
should be to one of its most recent graduates. All those who
knew him will remember him as a man who added lustre to the finest
traditions of West Point and of the United States Army. By his
supreme sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty he exemplified
his devotion to the ideals to which he here dedicated himself.
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