Klobuchar Statement Honoring Army Captain Bianchi

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's announcement that the remains of U.S. Army Captain Willibald Charles Bianchi, a World War II veteran from New Ulm, Minnesota who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions fighting in the Philippine province of Bataan, have been identified. This announcement comes on National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

"On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, I join all Americans in honoring U.S. Army Captain Willibald Charles Bianchi of New Ulm, Minnesota, whose remains have been identified after more than 80 years. Captain Bianchi, a Medal of Honor recipient, showed valor during World War II and compassion for fellow prisoners during the Bataan Death March and aboard Japanese transport ships. His recovery reflects our nation's commitment to bring our missing heroes home - no matter how much time has passed. I thank the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency for their tireless work to bring closure to families of our missing heroes, including the family of Captain Bianchi. Minnesotans look forward to honoring Captain Bianchi and finally bringing him home."

In 1942, Bianchi served as commander of Company D, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. On Feb. 3, he volunteered to help clear a series of Japanese machine gun nests and despite being wounded multiple times, he continued leading the attack, earning him the Medal of Honor for his actions. On April 9, he was captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Empire of Japan in the Philippines until 1944 when the Japanese military moved POWs to Manila for transport to Japan aboard the transport ship Oryoku Maru. Unaware the allied POWs were on board, a U.S. carrier-borne aircraft attacked the Oryoku Maru, which eventually sank in Subic Bay. Bianchi was then transported to Takao, Formosa, known today as Taiwan, aboard the Enoura Maru. The Japanese reported that Bianchi was killed on Jan. 9 when U.S. forces attacked and sank the Enoura Maru.

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