Charles Louis Trinkard was born on May 25, 1891 in Vevey, District de la Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut, Vaud, Switzerland. Orphaned at a young age, Charles was raised by his older sister Josephine. On August 24, 1914 he joined the French Foreign Legion and served as an infantryman on the front lines.

On March 1, 1917, Charles transferred to France's Service Aeronautique. He underwent aviation, acrobatic, and gunnery training at Avord, Pau, and the G.D.E. earning his brevet on the Caudron on July 24, 1917 and graduating from the training pipeline on August 30, 1917. He was assigned and flew at the Front with Escadrille N.68. On Thanksgiving Day, 1917, Charles was killed when his aircraft crashed while stunting for his comrades after returning from a patrol. He was initially buried in the De Choloy cemetery at Toul. In 1919 his remains were moved to the St. Mihiel American Cemetery at Thiaucourt. Finally, in 1928, his remains were moved to the Lafayette Flying Corps Monument just West of Paris.

Source of information: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000