Medal of Honor: Willibald C. Bianchi – U.S. Army – World War II

Name: Willibald C. Bianchi
Rank: First Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts
Place: Near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands
Entered Service At: New Ulm, Minnesota
Born: New Ulm, Minnesota
G.O. No.: 11, 5 March 1942

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Summary of Action

On the embattled Bataan Peninsula in February 1942, American and Filipino forces fought desperately against overwhelming Japanese attacks.

When a rifle platoon was ordered to eliminate two strong enemy machine-gun nests near Bagac, First Lieutenant Willibald C. Bianchi volunteered to accompany the assault and personally led part of the advance.

Early in the action, two bullets tore through his left hand.

He refused first aid.

Discarding his rifle, he drew his pistol and continued forward. Locating one of the enemy machine-gun nests, he attacked it with grenades and personally silenced the position.

Moments later, he was struck again — two machine-gun bullets ripping through his chest muscles.

Still he did not withdraw.

Instead, he climbed onto the top of an American tank, seized its antiaircraft machine gun, and poured fire into the entrenched enemy positions.

Only after being hit a third time — a severe wound that knocked him completely off the tank — was he finally forced from the fight.

His relentless courage under repeated wounds exemplified the highest traditions of the United States Army and the Philippine Scouts during one of the darkest hours of World War II in the Pacific.

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Medal of Honor Citation

BIANCHI, WILLIBALD C.

Place and date: Near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands, 3 February 1942.

Birth: New Ulm, Minn.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 3 February 1942, near Bagac, Province of Bataan, Philippine Islands. When the rifle platoon of another company was ordered to wipe out 2 strong enemy machinegun nests, 1st Lt. Bianchi voluntarily and of his own initiative, advanced with the platoon leading part of the men. When wounded early in the action by 2 bullets through the left hand, he did not stop for first aid but discarded his rifle and began firing a pistol. He located a machinegun nest and personally silenced it with grenades. When wounded the second time by 2 machinegun bullets through the chest muscles, 1st Lt. Bianchi climbed to the top of an American tank, manned its antiaircraft machinegun, and fired into strongly held enemy position until knocked completely off the tank by a third severe wound.