MABATANG, PHILIPPINES,
0830 hours, 12 January 1942: The 1st Battalion rode out the initial Japanese
offensive facing little action on their front, enabling the unit
to provide support for Colonel Frys more heavily engaged
units. The commander of 1st Platoon, A Company, Second Lieutenant
Alexander R. Nininger, led his men through the night, moving from
hole to hole, facing nothing more than occasional sniper fire.
Nininger, a West Point-trained, 23 year-old, was born to be a
warrior and had no intention of letting enemy snipers go unpunished.
During the morning of January 12th, Nininger directed his men
to fire into the woods edge, where he suspected enemy snipers
were lurking. He then gathered stragglers from 3rd Battalion,
and along with his men headed into the dense vegetation to root
out the Japanese. Enemy fire sent Nininger and his men back out
of the brush. Undaunted, he ordered his charges to push back,
and they attacked again. When the young lieutenant was wounded
he continued to encourage his men to move forward, even managing
to work his way to the front. The 23 year-old warrior refused
evacuation, declined medical help, and went back at it, rallying
his soldiers for a third push. This time he personally took the
point, throwing hand grenades and killing Japanese soldiers as
he inexorably moved ever onward. At about noon on the 12th the
valiant lieutenant finally succumbed to his wounds. For his actions
2nd Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger posthumously received the
first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded during World War II.
His, he first Medal of Honor awarded during World War 2 was not
the first to be won, although Second Lieutenant Alexander R. Nininger
was not aware of the distinction nor is it suspected would he
have cared.
Welcome to the
ON THE ROAD TO BATAAN, a historical VARIANT module that
depicts the fierce fighting for the Abucay/Mabatang Line from
11-15 January, 1942. Situated on the on the Bataan Peninsula,
this position ran through Mauban on the coast of Manila Bay (east
side) to Mabatang on the coast of the South China sea. ON THE
ROAD TO BATAAN contains eight scenarios, all playable on the
historical map included. You also receive a set of Special Rules
and two copies of the new die-cut counter sheet (a total of 269
color die-cut counters) with Philippine Scouts SMC/MMC, new SW,
etc.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
WITH EACH COPY:
- A set of cenarios
set on the Bataan map
- Special rules
in 3-hole format
- A BONUS counter
sheet with Carabao, Japanese tanks and more!
- Color cover
- 22" × 34" mapsheet
in folding paper format