José B. Nísperos

José Balitón Nísperos (December 30, 1887 – September 1, 1922) was a member of the Philippine Scouts who received the Medal of Honor during the Moro Rebellion.[6] He was the first Asian to be awarded the medal.[7] 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.[8] Nísperos became the first Filipino and Asian to receive the Medal of Honor; the medal was presented by Brigadier General Bell in February 1913.[3][9]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Balitón and the surname or paternal family name is Nísperos.
José Balitón Nísperos[1]
Born(1887-12-30)December 30, 1887
San Fernando, La Union, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedSeptember 1, 1922(1922-09-01) (aged 34)
San Fernando, La Union, Philippine Islands[2][3]
Place of burial
Lingsat Cemetery[4][5]
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch
Years of service1907 - 1912
RankCorporal
Unit34th Company, Philippine Scouts
Battles/wars
AwardsMedal of Honor
Other workPolice Officer[2]

Nisperos joined the Philippine Scouts in December 1907. Due to wounds suffered in his MOH action, he was discharged at the rank of corporal for disability in June 1912.[10]

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.[11]

See also

References
  1. Jun Elias (3 April 2012). "After 100 years, Pinoy hero reburied with military honors". ABS CBN News. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. "Jose Nisperos, First Asian MOH Winner". 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.
  3. Yolanda Sotelo (14 June 2012). "After 90 years, US Medal of Honor returned to heirs of Filipino soldier". Stars and Stripes. Asia News Network. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  4. "Jose Baliton Nisperos". Find a Grave. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  5. Ding Cervantes (2 November 2011). "Forgotten hero to be reburied in Clark". Philippine Star. Retrieved 18 February 2013. There's no Halloween story over the unpainted, unnamed tomb of Pvt. Jose Nisperos of the Philippine Scouts in a public cemetery in Barangay Lingsat, San Fernando, La Union.
  6. Sotelo, Yolanda (11 June 2012). "Missing US medal of honor returned to heirs of Filipino soldier". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  7. James R. Arnold (26 July 2011). The Moro War: How America Battled a Muslim Insurgency in the Philippine Jungle, 1902-1913. Bloomsbury USA. pp. 190–191. ISBN 978-1-60819-024-9.
    Carina A. Del Rosario; Wing Luke Asian Museum (Seattle, Wash.) (1999). A different battle: stories of Asian Pacific American veterans. Wing Luke Asian Museum. ISBN 9780295979199.
  8. "Jose B. Nisperos". Military Times. Army Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  9. "After 90 years of searching, missing medal for valor of Filipino hero returned". San Fernando City. Republic of the Philippines. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
    Philippine Magazine. 1911. p. 1.
  10. Register of Enlistments in the US Army, 1798-1914
  11. "José B. Nísperos, Medal of Honor recipient". Philippine Insurrection. United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2007-11-24.


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