Filipino soldier receives 2024 Nininger award for valor

Philippine Army Major and West Point graduate Floren Herrera became the first Filipino recipient of the 2024 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms, which was presented by the West Point Association of Graduates in New York, USA.

In an Instagram post, the US Military Academy (USMA) in West Point highlighted Herrera’s heroic role and contributions during the Marawi siege in 2017.

“Then-1st Lieutenant Herrera displayed remarkable bravery from June 12 to October 16, 2017, as the executive officer of 2nd Scout Ranger Company, 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, Philippine Army, and leadership during the Battle of Marawi against 1,000 foreign militants and local terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State,” WPAG said.

“Herrera daringly maneuvered his platoon around a 50-meter open area and tactically seized a building, paving the way for a successful ambush against unsuspecting enemy forces,” it added.

According to the USMA, Herrera’s actions back then resulted in a significant number of casualties from the enemy’s side and saved the lives of troops deployed.

“Furthermore, during the clearing of several buildings occupied by enemy snipers, Herrera displayed exceptional bravery and tactical expertise by maneuvering his platoon through unexpected avenues of approach and catching the enemy by surprise,” the citation said.

“Herrera was also instrumental in the neutralization of two key terrorist leaders when he spearheaded the assault in the buildings adjacent to their occupied structure.”

Herrera, who is a 2013 graduate of the USMA, received the 2024 Nininger Award on October 10.

The West Point Association of Graduates said that the award is given to an “exemplar of heroic action in battle.”

“In addition to recognizing the recipient for his or her bravery as an individual, the Association regards the recipient as a given year’s representative of all West Point-commissioned officers who have heroically led Soldiers in combat,” it noted.

The award was created in 2006 by the Association of Graduates of the US Military Academy in honor of Alexander Ramsey Nininger Jr., a Second Lieutenant of the Philippine Scouts who was killed in action in the Battle of Bataan. He was the first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II.
—Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News