rutherford b. hayes

1942Who was the first United States soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II?

Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger Jr., born in Gainesville, Georgia and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, became the first United States soldier to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines. Voluntarily joining the embattled Company K, Nininger was killed in action on January 12, 1942, after single-handedly attacking enemy positions despite being wounded three times. His legacy is unique—not only was he the first among his West Point class to fall in WWII, but he remains memorialized at West Point’s Nininger Hall, on the Tablets of the Missing in Manila, and in numerous places across Florida and the nation. The 84th anniversary of his death is honored on January 12, 2026, celebrating a story of valor that continues to inspire generations.

1821Who was nicknamed the "Angel of the Battlefield" during the American Civil War and founded the American Red Cross in 1881?

Clara Harlowe Barton, known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," was a pioneering nurse, educator, and humanitarian from Oxford, Massachusetts, who played a crucial role during the American Civil War. Risking her own safety, Barton provided frontline care and supplies to wounded soldiers at major battles, later founding the American Red Cross in 1881 despite initial resistance from government officials. On September 17, 1862, at the Battle of Antietam, she delivered vital aid, an act commemorated by a granite monument at the battlefield, which features a red cross crafted from a brick of her childhood home. Today, more than 145 years after the founding of the American Red Cross, her legacy continues through the ongoing work she inspired and the memorials that honor her enduring impact.