José B. Nísperos

José B. Nísperos
Born December 30, 1887(1887-12-30)
San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines
Died September 1, 1922(1922-09-01) (aged 34)
San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines[1]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch Philippine Scouts
United States Army
Rank Private
Unit 34th Company, Philippine Scouts
Battles/wars Moro Rebellion
Philippine-American War
Awards Medal of Honor
Other work Police Officer[1]

José B. Nísperos (December 30, 1887–September 1, 1922) was a member of the Philippine Scouts who received the Medal of Honor during the Philippine-American War. He was the first Asian to be awarded the medal. On September 24, 1911, at Lapurap, Basilan, Philippines, Nísperos, a member of the U.S. Army's 34th Company of the Philippine Scouts, defended his unit's position against natives armed with spears despite being severely wounded. [2]

Contents

Medal of Honor citation

Nisperos, Jose B.
Rank and organization:Private, 34th Company, Philippine Scouts.
Place and date:Lapurap, Basilan, Philippine Islands, September 24, 1911.
Entered service at:San Fernandos Union, Philippine Islands
Born:San Fernandos Union, Philippine Islands
Citation:
Having been badly wounded (his left arm was broken and lacerated and he had received several spear wounds in the body so that he could not stand) continued to fire his rifle with one hand until the enemy was repulsed, thereby aiding materially in preventing the annihilation of his party and the mutilation of their bodies.[3]

See also

Biography portal
United States Army portal

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Jose Nisperos, First Asian MOH Winner". http://classroomclips.org/video/3014. Retrieved 25 November 2011. "Jose Nisperos was born in 1887, and in 1907 enlisted in the Scouts in his hometown of San Fernando. Nisperos was honorably discharged and served as a local policeman until his death in 1922." 
  2. ^ "Jose B. Nisperos". Military Times. Army Times Publishing Company. http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=2051. Retrieved 2009-06-07. 
  3. ^ "José B. Nísperos, Medal of Honor recipient". Philippine Insurrection. United States Army Center of Military History. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/philippine.html. Retrieved 2007-11-24. 

References