Willibald C. Bianchi
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant,
U.S. Army, 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts.
Place and date: Near Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands, 3
February 1942.
Entered service at: New Ulm, Minn. Birth: New Ulm,
Minn. G.O. No.: 11, 5 March 1942. Citation: 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.
Congressional Medal of Honor Citations, U.S. Army
Center of Military History
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/moh1.htm |