US Army CPT Willibald Bianchi: WWII Medal of Honor Recipient

On February 3, 1942, near Bagac in Bataan, the Philippines, 1st Lt. Willibald Bianchi volunteered to lead an assault on two enemy machine-gun nests. Shot twice through the hand, he refused first aid, grabbed a pistol, and took out one of the nests with grenades. Then, hit again in the chest, Bianchi climbed atop a tank, manned the anti-aircraft machine gun, and rained fire on the enemy—until a third wound knocked him off the tank. For his incredible bravery and refusal to quit, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor 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 two strong enemy machine-gun 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 two bullets through the left hand, he did not stop for first aid but discarded his rifle and began firing a pistol. He located a machine-gun nest and personally silenced it with grenades. When wounded the second time by two machine-gun bullets through the chest muscles, 1st Lt. Bianchi climbed to the top of an American tank, manned its antiaircraft machine gun, and fired into strongly held enemy position until knocked completely off the tank by a third severe wound.

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Photos Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

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