World War II Honoree

William James Pickard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Waverly, Tennessee

Honored By

Bobby & Janelle

Relationship

Children

ASSIGNED TO 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, 320TH GLIDER FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. WAS OVERSEAS 29 MONTHS FIRST LANDING AT SICILY AND THEN INTO ITALY. NOVEMBER 1943 WENT TO ENGLAND FOR PREPARATION OF OPERATION OVERLORD D-DAY INVASION WHEN ON 6 JUNE 1944 MADE COMBAT ASSAULT VIA GLIDER LANDINGS. RETURNED TO ENGLAND 14 JULY 1944 FOR PREPARATION OF OPERATION MARKET GARDEN AND AGAIN MADE COMBAT ASSAULT VIA GLIDER LANDINGS IN THE RHINELAND'S AND FOUGHT THEIR WAY TO THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 6 BRONZE BATTLE STARS FOR SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, NORMANDY, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE AND ARDENNES, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION. WHEN DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1945, HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS SERVICE BATTERY 680TH GLIDER FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION.