On Friday, U.S. Secretary of War Peter Hegseth made the announcement that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced U.S. Army Capt. Willibald C. Bianchi’s remains had officially been identified. The announcement came on National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

DPAA laboratories were able to positively identify Bianchi’s remains through DNA on Aug. 11 of this year. His surviving family was notified of the positive identification a few weeks later. News of the identification was a surprise to many of the family.

Bianchi’s niece, Carolyn Marti Smith, said the family provided the DPAA with DNA a few years ago to help with the identification process, but none of the family was expecting to receive any news.

Smith said she learned they had identified her uncle’s remains on Aug. 25 and it was a shock.

Medals awarded to Willibald Bianchi. The awards include include Service in World War II, Service in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, Foreign Service, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor (blue ribbon). Submitted photo by Brown County Historical Society

“I almost could breathe,” she said. “I was not expecting it. I was born after the war. When my grandmother accepted his Medal of Honor, my mom was pregnant with me.”

Smith and her siblings were all told about their Uncle Bill their entire lives. He has always been this hero to them.

“Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps,” Smith said.

Mary Borstad, another of Bianchi’s nieces still residing in New Ulm, said news that her uncle’s remains were identified left her “surprised, overwhelmed and humbled by his legacy.”

Joseph Marti, a nephew of Bianchi now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said he received the news, thought of his mother, Magdalene, and how much it would have meant to her.

A special ceremony was held in Washington, D.C. Friday announcing the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) had identified the remains of New Ulm native Capt. Willibald Bianchi. Bianchi. Three of Bianchi’s nieces, Mary Borstad, Carolyn Marti Smith and Sue Marti; and his nephew Steve Marti were able to attend the ceremony. U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth announced that in identifying Bianchi’s remains, he could be returned to New Ulm for the burial he deserved. In photo L to R: Mary Borstad, Carolyn Marti Smith, Sue Marti and Steve Marti.

“We all knew of Uncle Bill’s amazing and tragic story; it was part of our lives growing up,” Joseph Marti said. “I felt a sense of peace for my brothers, sisters and cousins that our Uncle Bill was finally coming home. I never thought something like this could happen in my lifetime and I’m grateful to all who worked so hard to make this happen.”

Scott Torpey, another Bianchi nephew, was one of the family members who submitted DNA to the DPAA in 2018 to help with the identification process.

“As the years went by, I thought it might not happen in my lifetime,” he said. “When the announcement came, I was flooded with emotions knowing that he would be coming home after 80 years. Growing up with Uncle Bill’s medals hanging on my bedroom wall influenced me to join the Navy. During my time in the Navy, we stopped in the Philippines, where I was able to reflect on Uncle Bill’s impact there. It was a  deeply moving experience.  I am grateful that we are finally able to have him home.”

Bianchi’s relatives were invited to attend the official DPAA announcement in Washington, D.C.

Smith and Borstad were able to attend along with their sister Sue Marti and brother, Steve Marti. The four siblings were flown out to D.C. on Thursday ahead of the official announcement on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth announces the positive identification Capt. Willibald Bianchi’s remains 80 years after his death during a National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Friday. Photo by Carolyn Marti Smith

Smith said they had a special private meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth on Thursday and had a front seat during the announcement on Friday.

Bianchi received the Medal of Honor for actions taken on Feb. 3, 1942, in the Philippines. During a battle near Bagac in the Bataan Province, Bianchi performed the feats of courage that earned him the Medal of Honor. Though wounded multiple times, he advanced on a Japanese machine gun nest, silencing it with a grenade. He was again wounded, but instead of seeking medical aid, climbed on an American tank and manned its anti-aircraft machine gun, firing into the enemy position until he was knocked off the tank by enemy fire.

Bianchi recovered from his wounds, but was taken as a prisoner of war two months later in April 1942. He would survive the Bataan Death March and would be moved between POW camps, where he was credited with saving the lives of other POWs.

On Jan. 9, 1945, Bianchi was transported on a prison ship called the Enoura Maru that was mistakenly sunk by the United States Army Air Forces, resulting in the deaths of several hundred Allied POWs, including Bianchi.

Hesgseth said the identification of Capt. Bianchi’s remains were part of the DPAA’s laboratory’s Enoura Maru project, which aims to identify the 431 unknowns associated with the ship’s sinking.

“Thanks to their steadfast work, Capt. Bianchi will be coming home to his family in New Ulm, Minnesota,” Hesgeth said. “We will finally be able to give him the burial he deserves 80 years later.”

Smith said currently her uncle’s remains are in Hawaii, but will eventually be transported back to New Ulm for a full burial with honors.

Smith said the family chose to return him to New Ulm because most of his family was laid to rest in the city’s cemetery, including his two sisters.

The family does not know the exact date his remains will be returned, but they are excited to have him come home.