Arlington, TX — Following today’s announcement by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the remains of Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Army Captain Willibald Bianchi have been identified, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation (NMOHMF) welcomed the news and released the following statement from Chris Cassidy, NMOHMF President and CEO: 

“During one of the most harrowing chapters of World War II, Willibald Bianchi demonstrated remarkable bravery, valor, and selflessness. His leadership and commitment to helping others on the battlefield, during the Bataan Death March, and aboard a Japanese POW ‘hell ship’ saved many lives. Eighty years after he was killed, we are grateful for the work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to account for Captain Bianchi and finally bring him home. At the National Medal of Honor Museum, his legacy of service and sacrifice will be preserved and shared for generations to come.” 

Captain Bianchi’s full citation can be found below. To learn more about his heroism and that of other Medal of Honor Recipients, visit the National Medal of Honor Museum website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

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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About the National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute  

The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute is inspiring individuals by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.  

The Museum, which opened on March 25, 2025, serves as a national landmark located in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas, and provides an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience that commemorates the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that connects members of the United States military service past and present. It is the Museum’s mission to tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients in a dynamic and interactive setting that will inspire visitors to recognize the potential for the extraordinary that resides in us all.   

Through dynamic and far-reaching curriculum and programming, the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute is bringing to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country.  

In 2021, The National Medal of Honor Monument Act was signed into law, paving the way for the monument’s placement in Washington, D.C. Soon, Americans and visitors of every nation will have the opportunity to reflect on the values represented by those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy the world over.  

For more information please visit the National Medal of Honor Museum website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.