The First Medal of Honor Recipient of WWII Was Basically a Modern-Day Berserker

Viking berserkers are remembered centuries later for throwing themselves into a battle without armor, clothing or fear for their lives or safety. Fueled only by rage, they sowed terror into the hearts of their enemies. To look at Lt. Alexander R. "Sandy" Nininger when he began his plebe year at the U.S. Military Academy, one might never have guessed he would channel those old Viking warriors when the time came.

Nininger was a kind soul who listened to classical music and Broadway shows. He drew pictures for fun, joined the debate team and was active in track and field, which lent to his slender build. His classmates loved him, but they might never have guessed that "Sandy" would become the first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II – and that he fought like a Viking berserker in the process.

The 57th Infantry Regiment formed sniper hunting parties to clear that danger. On Jan. 12, 1942, Nininger loaded up with a satchel of grenades, a captured Japanese machine gun and his M1 Garand rifle slung on his back, and set out into Luzon.

When the countersniper attacks began, Nininger began to advance, shooting one sniper down out of a tree. When the Japanese invaders began to open fire in full force, Lt. Nininger opened his grenade satchel and charged enemy positions, strongpoints and foxholes. His company said he killed 20 enemy troops with his grenades alone before pressing on. As Nininger moved forward, Japanese artillery shells started to rain down around him. His men began to fall, but he kept moving forward, guns blazing. He fought on until he ran out of ammunition. Then he used his bayonet.

Nininger's men reported seeing their lieutenant start fighting the Japanese in hand-to-hand combat, and they watched as he was wounded three times in the grim melee. But their officer never stopped fighting. Three enemy soldiers charged Nininger as the regiment, buoyed by his fierce solo combat, launched a charge and reformed its line. When all was said and done, Nininger lay dead, but with an enemy officer and two enlisted troops dead around him.

https://www.military.com/history/first-medal-of-honor-recipient-of-wwii-was-basically-modern-day-berserker.html