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Willibald C. Bianchi (1915-1945) a native of New Ulm, Minnesota, and a 1940 graduate of South Dakota State University. He was commissioned in 1940 and joined the 45th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts in 1941. For his actions during the Battle of Bataan, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1942. He was promoted to captain and returned to battle only to be captured by the Japanese on April 9, 1942. He spent over two years in multiple prison camps before dying on an unmarked prison ship after it was bombed by an American airplane on Jan. 9, 1945.   

 The collection contains information regarding the Willibald C. Bianchi Memorial scholarship, ceremony and plaque at South Dakota State University. The records also include news clippings, remembrances and a photocopy of the Congressional Medal of Honor certificate. In addition, there are photocopies of letters from Bianchi to his family while he was stationed in the Philippines and as a prisoner of war.