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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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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