Willibald Bianchi received an ROTC commission for the US Army in 1940, a year after graduating from college at South Dakota State University. Bianchi entered the service from New Ulm, Minnesota, his hometown. Assigned to the Pacific Theater of combat with the 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, First Lieutenant (1st Lt.) Bianchi fought on the Philippine Islands. While there, Bianchi received the Medal of Honor.
On February 3, 1942, Bianchi and his unit were fighting with the Japanese near Bagac in the Province of Bataan, Philippine Islands. During the fighting, a rifle platoon from another company was tasked with disabling the two enemy machine gun nests. Bianchi volunteered to lead the assault and soon was advancing into gun fire with the platoon. Early in the advance, Bianchi received two gunshot wounds to his left hand. Refusing medical assistance, Bianchi merely dropped his rifle, which needed both hands, and pulled out a pistol. 1st Lt. Bianchi located one of the machine guns and personally destroyed it with a couple of well-tossed grenades. For the second time during the strike, Bianchi was hit by two more bullets, this time in the chest. He also ignored these wounds and instead climbed into an American tank to man the anti-aircraft machine gun. He continued firing into the enemy positions until he was knocked off of the tank by a third severe wound.
Despite the numerous injuries Bianchi sustained during the fighting on February 3rd, he recovered. At some point, he was promoted to the rank of captain, likely due to his actions on February 3rd. Two months later, however, Bianchi was captured by Japanese troops after the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942. Bianchi survived through two years of being a prisoner of war despite horrible conditions in the camps and the Bataan Death March. Other prisoners remember Bianchi’s kindness and consideration at the camps and how he often bartered with the guards to receive better food and medical supplies. On January 9, 1945, Bianchi was on an unmarked Japanese prison ship that was bombed by an American plane, unaware of the Allied prisoners on board. He either died from drowning, or was shot for attempting to escape the sinking ship.
Bianchi was also awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters for his deeds during WWII.
A monument was erected at Bianchi's alma mater, South Dakota State University, in honor of him and a fellow Medal of Honor recipient and alumnus, Leo K. Thorsness.
Sources Consulted:
Army Website, Medal of Honor Recipients, WWII
Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Philippine Scout Heroes of WWII
The National Archives, Access to Archival Databases, Prisoners of War
