José B. Nísperos — Philippine Scouts Medal of Honor recipient

Action at Lapurap

On September 24, 1911, while serving with the 34th Company of the Philippine Scouts, Nísperos took part in a patrol in Lapurap on the island of Basilan in the southern Philippines. His unit came under sudden attack by armed local fighters. Despite being severely wounded in the engagement, Nísperos continued to defend his comrades and his position. Contemporary accounts and the official recognition emphasize his steadfastness and the crucial role his resistance played in preventing greater losses to his company.

Medal of Honor and recognition

For his conduct during the Lapurap action, Nísperos was awarded the Medal of Honor. The decoration was presented to him in February 1913 by Brigadier General Bell. The award marked an important precedent: Nísperos was the first person of Asian descent and the first Filipino to receive the U.S. military’s highest award for gallantry. His citation and records are retained in U.S. military archives and referenced in historical reviews of the Philippine Scouts and early twentieth-century campaigns in the southern Philippines. Medal of Honor citation and records.

Context: Philippine Scouts and the southern campaigns

The Philippine Scouts were units of native Filipino soldiers organized and officered by the U.S. Army beginning in the early 1900s. They served in a variety of roles across the archipelago, including frontier patrols and actions against armed opposition in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The 1911 encounter in Basilan occurred in the broader context of post‑war pacification efforts and local resistance that continued after the main Philippine‑American War period.

Legacy and significance

Nísperos’s award is often cited in discussions about the participation of colonial and indigenous troops in U.S. military history, and about the early inclusion of non‑American-born soldiers in U.S. honors. He died in 1922, but his story remains a touchpoint for historians of the Philippine Scouts, Filipino service in American forces, and the evolving recognition of valor across diverse military communities.

Notable facts

• First Filipino and first Asian recipient of the U.S. Medal of Honor.
• Service unit: 34th Company, Philippine Scouts.
• Action took place at Lapurap, Basilan, on September 24, 1911.