Alexander R. Ninninger, Jr. – First Lisutenant, United States Army

Alexander R. Ninninger, Jr. is a World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient.

Born in Gainesville, Georgia, he was graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in June 1941.  He served as a Second Lieutenant, United States Army, 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands.

After the recapture of the enemy position his body was reportedly placed in a church cemetery near Abucay. The recommendation for the Medal was made by General Douglas MacArthur and posthumously awarded by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on January 29, 1942. He was the first United States soldier awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II.

NININGER, ALEXANDER R., JR.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts.
Place and date: Near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, 12 January 1942.
Entered service at: Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Birth: Gainesville, Georgia.
G.O. No.: 9, 5 February 1942.

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 a position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, Second 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 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.

NININGER, ALEXANDER R JR

• 1ST LT   US ARMY
• WORLD WAR II
• DATE OF BIRTH: 10/30/1918
• DATE OF DEATH: 01/12/1942
• BURIED AT: SECTION MK  SITE 139
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard