Alexander R . Nininger Alexander Ramsey Nininger Jr . ( October 20 , 1918 - January 12 , 1942 ) was a Second Lieutenant of the Philippine Scouts who received the Medal of Honor during World War II . Biography . Nininger , nicknamed " Sandy " , was born in Gainesville , Georgia in 1918 . He attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in May 1941 . After being commissioned a Lieutenant he was sent to the Philippines and was attached to the 57th Infantry Regiment ( United States ) of the Philippine Scouts . After entering active service , according to Malcolm Gladwell , Nininger " wrote a friend to say that he had no feelings of hate , and did not think he could ever kill anyone out of hatred . He had none of the swagger of the natural warrior . He worked hard and had a strong sense of duty . " A little known fact about Alexander Nininger is that he loved to draw pictures . During the first month of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines , Nininger ' s unit helped prepare American defenses in Bataan . After the Japanese launched their assault on Bataan , Nininger voluntarily joined another company because his unit was not yet engaged in combat . Nininger was killed in action near Abucay , Bataan on January 12 , 1942 , just shy of his 24th birthday . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on Japanese positions . He was the first American army soldier to be so honored in the Second World War . He is buried in Saint Dominic Parish Church Cemetery at Abucay , Bataan . He is also commemorated with cenopath memorials at ABMC Cemetery at Manila and in Arlington National Cemetery . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Second Lieutenant , 57th Infantry , Philippine Scouts , U . S . Army . Place and date : Near Abucay , Bataan , Philippine Islands , January 12 , 1942 . Entered service at : Fort Lauderdale , Fla . Born : Gainesville , Georgia . Further honors and legacy . The First Division of Cadet Barracks at West Point is named in his honor . Nininger was the first United States soldier to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II . In 2006 an award was created in his honor by the Association of Graduates of the US Military Academy : " The Alexander R . Nininger Award for Valor at Arms " . It is given to West Point graduates who have displayed courage in combat and upheld the values of West Point . The first awardee was Major Ryan L . Worthan . Two transport ships were named in honor of Nininger : was launched as " Alexander R . Nininger , Jr . " , ( but ultimately renamed for another Medal of Honor recipient ) . The second was a Victory ship that was named USAT " Lt . Alexander R . Nininger " . His home town of Ft . Lauderdale , Florida also erected a statue in his honor . Alexander “ Sandy ” Nininger State Veterans ’ Nursing Home is in Pembroke Pines , Florida , near Ft . Lauderdale . A rifle range at the Infantry School , Fort Benning , Georgia " Nininger Range " is named in remembrance of Alexander Nininger . As a high school student , Nininger was a member of Key Club International and annually that organization awards the " Sandy Nininger Award " to high school seniors throughout America who exemplify his character . When a Key Club was organized at Fort Lauderdale High School in January 1936 , Sandy Nininger became a charter member . He showed the same dedication to his work at that time as he would later show in battle . The school ’ s athletic program had deteriorated and only fifteen candidates went out for the school football team . Home games seldom attracted more than a hundred spectators . Sandy decided to change the situation and as chairman of his Key Club ’ s entertainment committee , he arranged a dinner at the school cafeteria to which the town ’ s businessmen were invited . The Key Clubbers asked for help to improve athletics in their community , and within a few weeks had the backing of the people of Fort Lauderdale . The city sold the school board a tract of land two blocks long and one block wide . An electric power company donated poles . Electricians gave their services . The rest of the community loaned money for equipment and a grandstand . Finally , a special football game was played before 1500 spectators . Football receipts eventually paid for the field , the fence around it , another grandstand , and all athletic expenses . In the spring of 1942 , at a convention of Florida Key Clubs , Kiwanian G . Harold Martin of Fort Lauderdale proposed the Sandy Nininger Medal as an award in his memory . As conceived by G . Harold , the medal was to be awarded to high school students who distinguished themselves by making the most of their opportunities , disregarding any school average or group standard . Thus , the award would recognize individuals in terms of their own abilities and weaknesses , opportunities and lack of opportunity . In 1946 , Key Club International formally named Lieutenant Alexander Nininger Jr . as the ideal Key Clubber . At the same time , the Sandy Nininger Medal was also adopted . This gold medal , with Sandy ’ s likeness superimposed upon it , is now given by Key Clubs throughout America to the high school graduate who most exemplifies the tradition begun by Sandy Nininger . Since 1946 , more than 520 Sandy Nininger awards have been presented by Key Clubs to outstanding students .