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Remembering Pearl Harbor

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello The Brown County Historical Society Museum at 2 N. Broadway is marking the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor today with a special exhibit that includes pictures and the medals of Clarence J. Aschenbrenner, Willibald C. Bianchi and Merritt M. Christle, all World War II veterans from New Ulm serving in the Pacific Theatre.

NEW ULM — The Brown County Historical Society Museum at 2 N. Broadway is marking the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor today with a special exhibit.

The exhibit on the second floor of the museum includes pictures and the medals of Clarence J. Aschenbrenner, Willibald C. Bianchi and Merritt M. Christle, all World War II veterans from New Ulm serving in the Pacific Theatre.

Clarence Aschenbrenner was born May 30, 1918, and died March 18, 1942. He enlisted in the Navy on June 13, 1938, was commended for bravery during the bombing of his vessel, the U.S.S. Marblehead, and posthumously received the Navy Silver Star for his efforts in trying to rescue fellow seaman from a gas-filled compartment. He also received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, and was posthumously awarded the Cross of Merit by Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands.

Willibald Bianchi was born on March 12, 1915, and became an officer in the Philippine Scouts who saw action in Bataan, Philippines during the country’s capitulation to Japanese forces during World War II. He was among the troops captured by the Japanese at the fall of Bataan and the Bataan “Death March” and was killed on Jan. 9, 1945, in an unmarked Japanese prison ship when an American plane dropped a bomb in the cargo hold. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, Prisoner of War medal and the Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Meritt Christle was born Aug. 1, 1922, and died on March 25, 2009. He joined the Marine Corps in 1940 and was stationed in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was imprisoned at several camps in the Philippines and Japan from April 1942 to the end of the war, when he was honorably discharged.

Photos of the men, their medals and stories may be viewed on the 2nd floor of the museum.

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The Brown County Historical Society also is continuing its exhibit “Dollhouses, Teddy Bears and Trains” through Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.  The exhibit features 13 doll houses of all shapes, sizes and vintages and adorned with furniture, rugs, and other features.

Winter hours at the BCHS are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Research Library is open during regular museum hours but closed from noon to 1 p.m.

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