Willibald C. Bianchi

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

U.S. Army, 45th Infantry, Philippine Scouts

3 February 1942 · Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands

Public domain. US Army Source file

Branch: U.S. Army
Era: World War II
Home state: Minnesota
Action: Bagac, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands

The citation

Official 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.

Sources

U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.