PFC Charles Benjamin Pickard

Pfc Charles B. Pickard enlisted in Camp Dodge Herrold, Iowa on 8 March 1944.

He attended Washington Junior high school and graduated from Senior high school in absentia with the class of 1944, since he was drafted during the second semester of his senior year. While in high school, he was a member of the DeMolay organization, and in the National Honor society. He was the first member of his senior class in high school to be drafted, and in his absence his parents were awarded a cup for his being the outstanding member of his class. Pfc Pickard received training at Camp Blanding, Fla., Camp Howie, Tex., Camp Polk, La. He landed in England about Nov.20, 1944, entered France Jan. 1, and went into Holland approximately a month later. He had been in combat since the middle of February.

He was a PFC in the 8th Armored Division.

"As the platoon was assembling, someone mentioned that Piccard of the third platoon had been killed by machine gun fire during the night. This was depressing to us since most of us knew him and as yet we hadn't grown accustomed to the annoucement of casualties. Pickard was the company's first fatality due to direct enemy action".

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