Southern Minnesota WWII Hero Finally Returns Home

New Ulm, MN (MinnesotaNow) - There was a welcome home procession yesterday evening for a fallen southern Minnesota war hero in his hometown.

Killed in Friendly Fire Incident

According to an obituary published by Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm, Willibald “Bill” Bianchi was killed in a friendly fire incident in World War II when the U.S. military mistakenly bombed an unmarked Japanese prison ship off the island of Formosa (Taiwan) on January 9, 1945. He was 29 years old.

Medal of Honor Recipient

Captain Bianchi was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery during the battle for the Philippines in 1942. His obituary says he “personally silenced” a heavily fortified Japanese machine gun nest with grenades after he was shot in the hand. Captain Bianchi was then shot in the chest before he climbed on top of a tank and used its antiaircraft machine gun to fire at enemy positions until he was wounded for a third time and knocked out of action.

Survived Bataan Death March

Two months later, Captain Bianchi was among the 78,000 U.S. service members and Philippine soldiers who were captured by Japanese forces and then survived the Bataan Death March. The obituary says he spent the remainder of the war in Japanese prison camps before he was loaded onto the Japanese prison ship that was hit by an American bomb.

Buried With Unknowns in Hawaii

His then-unidentified remains were eventually interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. The U.S. Army says Captain Bianchi’s remains and the unidentified remains of other service members were disinterred beginning in the fall of 2022 to undergo analysis with modern forensic technology. That led to the positive identification of his remains last August.

Hometown Honors

Captain Bianchi’s obituary says he left no direct descendants, but “his legacy has been preserved by his sisters and their families.” In 1955, the City of New Ulm honored his heroics and sacrifice by dedicating one of its city streets as Bianchi Drive. The obituary also notes that South Dakota State University has honored Captain Bianchi through scholarships and monuments on its campus.

Memorial Service

A formal memorial service is planned for Captain Bianchi on May 2. It will begin with a visitation at the New Ulm National Guard Readiness Center, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at the New Ulm City Cemetery.