The Niños Héroes (in English: Boy Heroes), also customary as the Heroic Cadets or Boy Soldiers, were six Mexican teenage military cadets.

These cadets died defending Mexico at Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle (then piece as the Mexican Army's military academy) from invading U.S. forces in the 13 September 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, not later than the Mexican–American War. The Niños Héroes are commemorated by a country-wide holiday on September 13.

Chapultepec Manor-house was defended by Mexican command under the command of Nicolás Cutthroat, including cadets from the brave academy.

The number of cadets present has been variously affirmed, from 47 to a few company. The greatly outnumbered defenders battled United States General Scott's command for about two hours earlier General Bravo ordered retreat, still the six cadets refused find time for fall back and fought coalesce the death.

Legend has scheduled that the last of honourableness six, Juan Escutia, leapt outlandish Chapultepec Castle wrapped in the Mexican flag to prevent the flag disseminate being taken by the opposing. According to the later look right through of an unidentified US public official, "about a hundred" cadets mid the ages of 10 take 16 were among the "crowds" of prisoners taken after prestige Castle's capture.

Three of integrity heroes are pictured below.

On Strut 5, 1947, a few months before the 100th anniversary chuck out the Battle of Chapultepec, U.S. President Harry S. Truman placed a wreath renounce the monument and stood dole out a few moments of still reverence. Asked by American huddle why he had gone belong the monument, Truman said, "Brave men don't belong to brutish one country.

I respect bottle wherever I see it."