Memorial

More information

T/5 Donald N. Pickard was a chauffeur before he enlisted in Syracuse, New York on 7 October 1942.

During the night of 16-17 December 1944, the XO was informed that German parachutists were being dropped in the area between Eupen and Malmédy. Tension then mounted steadily until the Motor Pool was ordered around noon of Sunday, 17 December, to evacuate a platoon of the 47th Field Hospital some distance in advance of the 44th EH at Waimes, which was right in the path of the advancing enemy. All but one truck, driven by T/5 Donald Pickard, which started behind the others, reached the Hospital safely and loaded all personnel and equipment. Then a small German unit suddenly appeared, captured the drivers, along with the remaining 47th Field Hospital personnel, and were about to drive them off when an American half-track put in its appearance and quickly drove the Germans from the scene. The men had been prisoners for perhaps 45 minutes and were grateful for a timely rescue. Not until much later was the fate of Don Pickard discovered and for a period of perhaps a month he was reported as missing in action. Some distance out of Malmedy and enroute to Waimes, he evidently came under enemy artillery fire, perhaps he got wounded or perhaps he turned off the main road to avoid it, just off a small forest road southeast of Malmedy his body was found, shot through the chest.